Sewing with Vintage Patterns from the 30s, 40s, and 50s

Do you want to sew vintage look dresses from the 30s, 40s, and 50s using vintage patterns? You can because those patterns are very easy to find now on Ebay, Etsy, and many vintage sellers.

Sewing with vintage patterns will allow you to sew those fine frocks, skirts, tops and any other garment you may want but using them is not east for a beginning seamstress. Most of these patterns are not printed with instructions like modern day patterns are. These older patters tend to be cut from very fine tissue paper and details like darts, button holes, and zippers are not marked. Details are usually in the form of small punched holes as are the pattern numbers. Most come with limited instructions.

These patterns are a part of sewing history and one of the interesting things about them is women usually mail ordered them from advertisements in magazines, newspapers, and directly from the company. When you received one of those vintage patterns many times they will come in the envelope that was used as a mailer to the women who ordered it. You’ll see the women’s name and address usually handwritten on the envelope.

Butterick and Simplicity were around then but many of the vintage patterns were from companies no longer around. These companies were Advance, Anne Adams, DuBarry (DuBarry patterns were manufactured by Simplicity from 1931–1940 exclusively for F. W. Woolworth Company), Marian Martin, Hollywood Patterns(Hollywood Pattern Company was started by Condé Nast in 1932. They were known for printing photos of Hollywood stars on some of their patterns, quickly making them very popular. They continued production through the end of World War II.), and New York Patterns (The New York Pattern Company started in 1932 and continued until the early 1950s. They were unique in that the pattern sleeves had drawn characters rather than photos and the paper used was non-glossy). (from wikipedia).

Once you get some of these vintage patterns take your time with them. Read all the instructions and look at the pattern pieces carefully. When I first began using vintage patterns I sewed the first few dresses out of muslin sew I didn't ruin my good fabric. I'm not an experienced seamstress but I've sewn some super cute dresses with these patterns by reading everything and taking my time. 

Depending on what you are sewing you may want to sew these items using vintage fabric which is hard to find with enough yardage. If the dress requires cotton fabric or a feed sack pattern there are so many wonderful prints and solids that can be found from many sites that sell reproduction prints and fabric. Wool and other fabric is also easily found online.