Monday, December 29, 2008

Vintage Heaven

I frequently hear of seamstresses who are laden with vintage patterns and notions by generous benefactors, and I must admit that I have sighed longingly over those stories! When, I wondered, would such a windfall come to me? Well, on Christmas day it happened! We shared Christmas day with some friends, and at the end of our visit our hostess asked if we would be interested in a box of vintage patterns that had been given to her. Can you imagine how my sister and I responded?



Above are just a few of my favorites, selected from over fifty almost-pristine vintage patterns -- most from the forties and fifties. I'm pretty picky about the vintage patterns that I like. Sometimes I'll scroll through pages of pattern websites without finding a pattern that I really like. But amazingly, I liked almost every single pattern in that box. And, also amazingly, most of them are just a size too small -- easy to size up for my dimensions!

Oh, the contrasting yoke!



Oh, the ruffles!


Oh, the ric-rac!




Oh, the peasant blouses!


Oh, the ruched bodice!



Oh, the quirky jerkin!



Oh, the pockets!



I have a feeling that last one will be appearing in my shop -- notice the detachable bodice? That's pure 50's delightfulness!

10 comments:

  1. Oh how delightful! =) All those fun patterns would give anyone a big boost of inspiration to sew. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ooo! You hit the jackpot! :D Those patterns are wonderful. I can't wait to see what you create from them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those are some of the best patterns you've picked out, Shannon. I had fun going through them with you!

    Tiffany

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Those are simply delicious! I can't wait to see how they come out :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ahh! I'm so jealous! ;) I loved the ruched bodice one - I've been wanting to make an evening gown similar to that for ages! Have fun! :)

    BTW, I gave you an award - http://amandabethonline.blogspot.com/2008/12/looking-ahead.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, I love them all too! How wonderful to get almost all fourties and fifties! My favorite vintage patterns are usually from those eras. Now I wish something like that would happen to me! Lol. I think the ruched blouse is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to see more for inspiration! I too was recently given many vintage patterns from around the 50s...in a box labled "Newer patterns"!

    Jobeth from S&S

    ReplyDelete
  8. Delightful!

    I have a handful of vintage patterns from my great-aunt, but I'm disappointed to say that half of them are boring and the rest sized for little girls. (I really don't know why, for Norma had no children of her own.)

    And I love McCall's 5431. Is it in print?

    -Maria

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maria, McCalls 5431 is still in print! And those girls vintage patterns may come in handy if you have girls of your own one day! :-)

    Yours in Christ,
    Shannon

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thank you so much for stopping by!