Vintage sewing patterns open up a whole new world of collecting for someone interested in vintage fashion. Some collect vintage patterns because they want to reproduce the styles of days gone by for their wardrobes. Others collect them because these slim envelopes filled with tissue give a glimpse into a lifestyle that many of us no longer have the luxury to live. They are, in, and of themselves, a documentation of fashion sewing of the past. The artwork on the envelopes can also be a thing of beauty to behold all by itself.

McCall's - We can’t all be Audrey Hepburn, but we can own a Givenchy designed dress similar to the one she wore in Sabrina.

For those who cannot find the vintage styling they want in their size, fabric, or price range, vintage patterns afford the ability to have exactly what one wants, the way one wants it, whether one sews it up at home or retains the services of a custom clothier. Even if the pattern doesn’t have the proper size specifications, a skilled seamstress or tailor can make adjustments to fit any body type or size. Patterns can also be used as a starting point or "inspiration" for a modern garment.

Other related items that can be collected along with vintage patterns are old pattern books from fabric stores and departments and monthly or quarterly pattern magazines that were issued by the pattern companies. These publications are invaluable tools for designers, students of apparel design, the custom clothier who specializes in vintage fashion, and the vintage fashion enthusiast.

History

Paper patterns were first manufactured in the middle of the 19th century. The first paper patterns were designed by Ellen Curtis Demorest. Starting in 1860, these patterns were sold through a magazine, Mme. Demorest’s Mirror of Fashion. The American tailor Ebeneezer Butterick was the first to create a graded sewing pattern in 1863. It was his idea to use tissue paper for the mass production and sale of sewing patterns. The Butterick Publishing Co. was also the first company to introduce an enlarged and detailed instruction sheet, which they called a "Deltor".

From the time of the instroduction of the tissue pattern, through World War II, most commercial tissue patterns were pre-cut, with notches and drill holes for tailor's markings. The printed pattern made its debut just after the 2nd World War. Multi-sized patterns (with more than one size graded and appearing on a single tissue pattern) debuted in the 1970s.

A Deltor was included in this 1920s dress and jacket ensemble from Butterick. Photo courtesy of 1950spinup.

Current and Former Pattern Companies

The four large pattern companies still manufacturing patterns for US consumers today, Butterick, McCall's, Simplicity and Vogue, have been around for all or most of the 20th century. Butterick and Vogue have both begun re-issuing vintage patterns, confirming the popularity of the vintage sewing trend. The list of pattern companies below is by no means complete, but is presented as a starting point for the beginner collector.

A rarely seen Chantal designer pattern from the 1930s

Advance

This company was quite successful from the 1940s through the 1960s. It appears to have gone out of business by the late 1960s. Advance was one of the pattern companies that Mattel authorized to make patterns for their Barbie fashion doll. They also did a limited line of designer patterns during the 1950s. Three of the designers for this line were Adrian, Edith Head and Anne Fogarty.

A versatile Advance pattern from the 1950s. Photo courtesy of dancingdresses

Ann Adams

An American mail-order pattern company. This company seems to have been one of the last to convert to a printed tissue pattern. Several early 1960s designs have been found with the cut-to-size tissues.

Burda

This German pattern company earned a "hard to sew" reputation among American seamstresses because their early patterns were multi-sized and came printed without seam allowances. Not known for fashion forward design, their patterns were first available in the US in the 1970s and often only in small sewing/fabric boutiques.

Butterick

This is possibly the oldest of the pattern companies still in business today. Many of the oldest patterns currently available to collectors are from Butterick. They did a line of patterns in the 1960s and 1970s called the "Young Designer" series. Mary Quant, Betsey Johnson, Jean Muir, Kenzo and John Kloss were featured designers. These patterns have become highly collectable as representative of these designers' early work.

This design by Betsey Johnson was typical of Butterick’s Young Designer series.

Hawaiian Patterns

There were several companies that made patterns for Hawaiian fashions. The two that are most well known are Patterns Pacifica and Polynesian Patterns. Other companies include Pauloa Patterns and Kekabi Patterns. Most of these patterns are for typical 1960s and 1970s Hawaiian styles - mostly muumuus, and some shifts, play sets, and cover-ups.

Hollywood Patterns

Many of the patterns from this now defunct company, featuring stars and starlets on their envelopes, are highly collectable. Those featuring Lucille Ball are particularly desirable. This company did beautiful dresses and suits throughout the 1940s into the 1950s.

Among the many starlets featured on Hollywood patterns was Betty Grable. Photo courtesy of 1950spinup

Kwik Sew

Founded in 1967 by Kerstin Martensson, who also produced many of the early designs and patterns, this company was an early leader in patterns perfected for use with knits. The patterns are always expertly graded, and are printed on glossy white paper. Many of the early designs are more wardrobe staples than fashion forward styles. (see 2)

McCall's

This company had important designers contributing fashions as early as the 1920s. It is possible to find McCall patterns from the 1920s and 1930s with styles by Lanvin, Schiaparelli, Mainbocher, and Patou. In the 1950s  McCall's patterns produced another designer line that included  French couturier Hubert de Givenchy and Emilio of Capri (Pucci).  In the 1960s a new line  called the "New York Designers' Collection Plus" featured designs from some of the best American designers of the time including Claire McCardell, Pauline Trigere, and Geoffrey Beene. 

This pattern was designed for McCall’s by Claire McCardell in 1958, the year of her death.

Mme. Demorest

These patterns from the 19th Century are quite desirable, as Mme. Demorest is considered to be the inventor of the paper pattern. The company was established in 1860, but by 1887, the business was sold.

Modes Royale

This was one of the many mail order companies that flourished in the 1950s and 60s. They were known for their stylish dresses and suits.

Prominent Designer Patterns; American Designer's Pattern 

In the 1950s and 1960s these mail-order pattern companies featured fashions from designers such as Oleg Cassini, Ceil Chapman, Don Loper, Estevez, David Crystal, and Mr. Blackwell, (the originator of the 10 Best-and-Worst-Dressed list.)

Ceil Chapman designed for two of the mail order companies: American Designers and Spadea Designer Patterns. Photo courtesy of 1950spinup.

Simplicity

Simplicity patterns were known for their ease of sewing. These vintage patterns are glimpses into the clothes and home furnishings that decorated the lives of Middle America. They weren’t designer fashions - they were clothes worn by everyday American women. As such, they are vital statements of vintage fashion as worn by most Americans.

Simplicity Patterns were stylish but easy to make. This one dates to the late 1940s

Spadea

Spadea was another of the mail order companies. These patterns are among the most prized by collectors. Many of the important and popular designers of the 1950s and 1960s designed patterns for Spadea, including Ceil Chapman, Jo Copeland, Suzy Perette and Lachasse of London.

Vogue

Vogue Patterns began in 1905 as a mail-order feature in Vogue Magazine. The designs have always been fashion-forward and have featured fashion styling from many of the important designers of the 20th Century. Couturier patterns first appeared in 1937, but at first they were not exact reproductions of the fashions shown on Paris runways. Beginning in 1949, Vogue Patterns began the "Paris Originals" featuring designs from the houses of Balmain, Schiaparelli, Lanvin, and Jacques Fath.

In the 1960s, as the torch was passed to a new generation of designers, Italian and French designers Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Emilio Pucci and others joined the ranks of contributing designers. In 1967, Vogue launched the Americana series, featuring original fashions styled by American designers. Some of the contributing designers were Oscar de la Renta, Teal Traina, Geoffrey Beene, and Bill Blass. In 1984, in response to the explosion of avant-garde designers around the world Vogue Patterns launched the "Individualist" line of designer patterns. While these patterns are less than 20 years old, their limited production runs have made them highly sought-after, especially designs by Issey Miyake and Claude Montana.

This 1950 design from Paquin is an early Paris Original Model pattern

Collecting Notes

A pattern does not have to be styled by a famous designer to have merit. The sole fact that a pattern is old may not make it desirable. A collector judges a vintage pattern much like one would judge a garment. We all don't have the same tastes in clothing - whether it is contemporary or vintage.

Collect what you like, and also what interests you. If you are buying to resell, remember that unused is always more valuable than used. Plain, simple styles including very plain dresses, skirts or sleepwear are not particularly sought after, regardless of the era. Beautiful details and a well-composed design can make patterns from any company and in any condition a collectable item.

It doesn’t have to be a Givenchy in order to be a great pattern, but it certainly doesn’t hurt!

Condition

As one begins collecting vintage patterns, it helps to know a little about the various conditions in which patterns are found. Condition can greatly affect the value of a pattern. The most desirable state that any pattern can be in is for the envelope to be pristinely clean and intact, the instructions present, and the pattern itself to be uncut, unused and still in factory folds. Some designs have enough merit that they remain valuable even if the pattern has been cut and used.

One often finds vintage patterns that have edges cut with pinking shears; this can make a pattern difficult to re-use. When hunting patterns, learning how to easily and quickly judge a pattern's condition becomes a critical time saver.

Occasionally, although the envelope is badly damaged or the pattern is used and has a piece or two missing, a pattern may still be valuable (Issey Miyake's first patterns for Vogue are an example).

Sizing

Vintage pattern sizing runs much smaller than current clothing sizes. Pattern sizing has been fairly standardized between the major companies for most of the 20th century. In 1968, the sizing was enlarged a little across the pattern industry. The "new sizing" logo appeared on pattern envelopes from 1968 through 1970, as customers adjusted to the changes. (see 3) Some pattern companies (i.e. Butterick and Vogue) did not print copyright dates on their patterns. Checking for old or new sizing can often help determine an approximate date of printing.

Sources Cited

Selections from the April, 1872 Mme. Demorest's Mirrow of Fashion, which was published to promote the patterns of Mrs. W. Jennings Demorest, the inventor of the paper pattern.

1. "Butterick: Our History." Retrieved March 5, 2003 from http://www.butterick.com/bhc/pages/articles/histpgs/about.html.

2. "Kwik-Sew Patterns History." Retrieved March 5, 2003 from http://www.kwiksew.com/history.htm.

3. McCall's Step-By-Step Sewing Book. New York: McCall Corporation, no publication date available