Vintage Patterns are making a comeback!

With today's high demand for vintage clothing, vintage patterns are a SMART choice for those who can sew.

Ever sine I was a child, playing with my sister's Jet Black BUBBLECUT hairdo BARBIE, I was obsessed with "fashion." I loved to look at all my mothers old pictures, along with her three older sisters, their clothing was so beautiful. It was not until i was an adult and started frequenting estate sales, did I discover my love for the vintage clothing, and better yet, vintage PATTERNS! It can easily become an addiction. Every sale I go to, I always ask, any patterns? Then I head straight for them. The beautiful artwork of the older 30's - 50's usually speak to me the most.

Sewing with the real vintage pattern in its original form is a wonderful experience and a fun way to re-create the innovative details and flattering designs of the past. However, vintage patterns can be intimidating. Aside from their fragile envelopes and delicate pattern tissue, they look and read much differently from the commercial patterns we're used to today.

Glossary of terms:

Vintage patterns come with vintage terminology, not all of which may be familiar. Here are some of the terms you might encounter.

Continuous Lap: A strip of fabric cut on the straight grain and used to face edges of an opening or slit in a garment.

Jabot: A ruffle or cravat-like accent attached to the front of a dress or blouse.

Lapped Seam: A seam in which one seam allowance edge is lapped over the seam allowance of its joining piece and stitched.

Pintuck:
Very small tucks stitched just a pin's width from the fold to slightly
shape a garment piece. In the late 1920s, a series of pin tucks were
often applied across the natural waistline of a frock for shaping and
detail.

Plaits: An array of narrow
(known today as "knife") pleats often applied at the hem of a dress,
the ends of sleeves, or around the neck opening.

Shirring: Three or more rows of gathers made by small running stitches in parallel lines. The rows are spaced as desired.

Slide Fastener: The original term for zippers.

True Bias: Fabric that is cut at a precise 45-degree angle to the fabric grainline.

Toile: The French term for fabric pattern. Originally pertained to the muslin test garment.

When addressing size, the first thing you'll

note is that vintage patterns come one size per envelope. This means
you'll often need to grade a pattern you like to your size.

Next, the sizing standards (the set of body measurements) that were

once used are not the same standards used today. For example, a pattern
in size 18 from before the late 1950s was made to fit a figure with a
36-inch bust, 30-inch waist, and 39-inch low hip (taken 7 inches below
the natural waistline). Generally, today's pattern size 18 has been
made to fit a 40-inch bust, 32-inch waist, and 42-inch low hip. So,
when choosing a size, be sure to look at the measurements on the
envelope rather than going by the given size.

I have three stores to serve your vintage addiction.
My eCraterstore
My eBay store
My Esty store
All three are named SANDRITOCAT's Vintage Sewing Shop/Patterns and specialize in ORIGINAL Vintage Sewing Patterns dating from the 1920s - 1990s & newer. We also carry a great selection of knitting/crochet patterns. Buy 5 Sewing Patterns and get 5% OFF + FREE SHIPPING

Buy 10 Sewing Patterns and get 10% OFF + FREE SHIPPING
Buy 15 Sewing Patterns and get 15% OFF + FREE SHIPPING
Buy 20+ Sewing Patterns and get 20% OFF + FREE SHIPPING

We offer combined shipping and believe in proper packaging for your items. We ship First Class on patterns, media mail for books & magazines will ship Parcel Post unless otherwise requested.
Patterns will come in a protective plastic bag to preserve your pattern for years to come.

Pattern envelopes may have some crinkled and or torn areas and some wrinkles due to storage. They may have some writing on the envelope or a store stamp or sticker. Older patterns may have some yellowing or stains due to age.

All patterns are personally checked for completeness by me. If there is a piece missing it will be noted in the description.

Thanks for "shopping" by!