Vintage patterns

    I have been collecting patterns ever since I can remember. My favorites are the very old patterns because I just LOVE vintage styles. I love the shape of the outfits, the fabrics used for them, the embellishments... pretty much everything about vintage wear.

    I have made a lot of outfits in my lifetime-- in all shapes and sizes-- and today I am demonstrating a few of my favorite children’s vintage patterns turned into outfits, all from my collection, and modified by myself many times over the years. Modifying the pattern without losing the original beauty and fit is definitely a challenge, but choosing the fabrics and notions to use for the pattern is always so fun because it brings the outfit to life beyond the picture on the front of the pattern.

    These patterns come from anywhere between 1950and 1980. You may have fun trying to figure out which outfit sprang from which pattern!

    Over the years I've learned that there are many techniques that help to make a garment beautiful, but the two techniques that I try to always follow, especially when working with vintage patterns, are to 1) keep the lines simple, and 2) make sure the fabric complements the dress style through its texture and color.

    By seeing recent incarnations of these old patterns, perhaps now you can understand why these vintage patterns are among my valued treasures.

    Happy sewing!