Show us your vintage patterns!

[imoldfashioned]

What is the highest you've ever spent on a pattern?

I take the Fifth!

Seriously though, I think the highest I ever paid was around $50 for a large size early 30's coat pattern. On occasion I've paid more than I thought I would for a pattern, made a copy and resold the original. But I know it's important to some gals to own the original so that might not work for you.

Have you seen the prices some of the ebay patterns have been going for lately? $165, $195 for a single pattern! I never say never but that seems pretty amazing to me.

 

[kamikat]

Thanks, ladies! I don't feel so bad, now. My max bid is $20, so I guess it's not that extravagent.

 

[PolkaDotMeggie]

I was wondering if anyone has ever used muslin or fabric to create their patterns? I am an apron-aholic and I have found that after repeated usage, my paper patterns go all to pieces.

Also, is there a particular pattern that is popular in the Lounge that would be good for the beginning seamstress. I have never done clothing items before, only household goods. I would be willing to trade or purchase. I have also never gone to JoAnn's and searched their books. Their employees are always too busy to help and I don't know how to begin or how to read the patterns. Help!

 

[Miss 1929]

Do a muslin!

I was wondering if anyone has ever used muslin or fabric to create their patterns? I am an apron-aholic and I have found that after repeated usage, my paper patterns go all to pieces.

Also, is there a particular pattern that is popular in the Lounge that would be good for the beginning seamstress. I have never done clothing items before, only household goods. I would be willing to trade or purchase. I have also never gone to JoAnn's and searched their books. Their employees are always too busy to help and I don't know how to begin or how to read the patterns. Help!

Not only does it save the wear and tear on the pattern, it is easier to see where it needs adjustment! And I find it helps me puzzle out the sometimes incomplete instructions if I can sew it together in don't-give-a-damn fabric first.

I think the pattern prices are going through the roof because of the buyers who are buying them for their businesses - whether they are couturiers or pattern reproducers.

I'm Old Fashioned, I crave an early 30s large size coat pattern! Show us!

 

[PolkaDotMeggie]

Miss 1928, thank you! I never thought about pinning them together if there is an incomplete pattern. I will have to give it a try.

Is it recommended to purchase a bust/ model to pin the dress/outfit? Also, I have a veeery old Singer sewing machine- it is probably 50 years old. Do most patterns require a newer sewing machine to do proper/fancier hems?

I have the very basic supplies: pins, needles, thread, yard stick, watersoluable pencil, pinking shears, hem ripper, etc. Anything I am missing??

 

[GreyAndWhiteCat]

sewing

If your old Singer is in good working condition you don't need a new one. New sewing machines are not necessarly better than old ones. But I guess it dosn't have sigsag seam so you will have to use french seam when making clothing.

This page explaines how to do french seems:
http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/french.seam.html

I find that heming is usually best done by hand. It looks better and it is easy to undo if you get it wrong

g&wCat

 

[PolkaDotMeggie]

Thank you for the tutorial. It was very informative and easy to follow. Like I said, all I have made are aprons... so I am not used to the fancier techniques.

 

[imoldfashioned]

I have also never gone to JoAnn's and searched their books. Their employees are always too busy to help and I don't know how to begin or how to read the patterns. Help!

Don't get me started on JoAnn's--in my experience their employees go out of their way to be unhelpful. They have good pattern sales and once in a blue moon some nice, non-synthetic fabric but I try to get in and out as quickly as possible.

PS I love your tagline PolkaDotMeggie!

 

[imoldfashioned]

I'm Old Fashioned, I crave an early 30s large size coat pattern! Show us!

Your wish is my command Miss 1929. Here 'tis;

I've made a muslin of this and I adore it. Despite the description of it as a "Ladies' Spring Coat" I'm on the lookout for some deep green ultrasuede to make the final version.

 

[PolkaDotMeggie]

Grr and I think a MONKEY could cut a straighter line when it comes to cutting fabric off the bolt. I just bought lipstick red fabric to make minor repairs on the swimming suit I bought and it looks like they cut it using a Great White Shark!

 

[Joie DeVive]

Grr and I think a MONKEY could cut a straighter line when it comes to cutting fabric off the bolt. I just bought lipstick red fabric to make minor repairs on the swimming suit I bought and it looks like they cut it using a Great White Shark!

lol lol That is the best visual!! lol lol

You're not the only person who has this problem. I've occasionally been astounded by the mangling that goes on at the cutting table. Sometimes I want to ask to do it myself. (Of course, I don't ask because I know they wouldn't let me.)

 

[kamikat]

Does anyone wear a modern size 20-22-24 pattern? I just received a pattern that I assumed was a vintage size 20 and it turns out that it's one of those Butterick reprints and is a modern 20. I'll try to post pics later, if anyone is interested. The envelope says '42 and it's a very cute dress, but just too big and after looking over the instructions, is not petite-able, due to the placement of tucks and darts.

 

[PolkaDotMeggie]

Someone needs to send them back to the 3rd grade so they can learn how to cut in a straight line. Heck, have you ever noticed that there is even the metal guide thingy on the cutting table. Apparently that is just for decoration Sorry I went fftopic:

 

[imoldfashioned]

lol lol That is the best visual!! lol lol

You're not the only person who has this problem. I've occasionally been astounded by the mangling that goes on at the cutting table. Sometimes I want to ask to do it myself. (Of course, I don't ask because I know they wouldn't let me.)

The shark is a great image!

Once when I confronted a clerk about the ragged, crooked cut edge she looked at me and said, without irony, "but I gave you extra fabric". Well, I guess--a whole unusable, uneven 1/8 of yard!

Lousy cutting particularly cheeses me off because (if the fabric is woven) how hard is it to make a snip and rip the fabric along the bloody grainline? And if the fabric isn't woven they have that metal guide on the table (as PDM says) so why don't they use it?!?

Agh!

 

[imoldfashioned]

Does anyone wear a modern size 20-22-24 pattern? I just received a pattern that I assumed was a vintage size 20 and it turns out that it's one of those Butterick reprints and is a modern 20. I'll try to post pics later, if anyone is interested. The envelope says '42 and it's a very cute dress, but just too big and after looking over the instructions, is not petite-able, due to the placement of tucks and darts.

There's a couple of the Retro ones I'm still looking for so I'd love to see it Kamikat. Thanks for posting about it here.

 

[kamikat]

It's an older one, copyright 1999, so it's OOP.

sorry this one isn't too clear, but thought you might want to see the line drawing

 

[Josephine]

It's an older one, copyright 1999, so it's OOP.

That's nice! I wear a 20/22. ImOldFashioned wanna mud wrestle for it?

 

[imoldfashioned]

That's nice! I wear a 20/22. ImOldFashioned wanna mud wrestle for it?

I've already got that one so it's all yours Josephine; it would have been yours anyway--I'm a wussy only child so anybody could wrestle me and win!

 

[Lady Day]

Thats modern sizing kimikat.
Patterns that were for larger sized ladies went by bust size after about 40"

I have a robe size from the 30's for a 50" bust. Its one pattern piece. Man is it large

LD

 

[kamikat]

Thats modern sizing kimikat.
Patterns that were for larger sized ladies went by bust size after about 40"

I have a robe size from the 30's for a 50" bust. Its one pattern piece. Man is it large

LD

Yeah, I know. The eBay add just said "size 20" and the listing picture just showed the dresses, not the "20-22-24" up at the top of the pattern. I assumed it was a vintage 20, not a modern 20.