I, personally, just me, own over 1000 patterns. It’s a sickness. A whole, huge bunch of them are the result of the Good Old Days when Jo-Ann would put their patterns on 99 cent sale every month; it seemed RUDE to leave something behind at that price, even if I only kinda liked it. Then, I started finding them at flea markets and thrift stores and street fairs. What really pushed me over the hump into the four figures was when my mother passed along her stash and added a solid 300+ to the total. Ouch.
This summer, my teen is home and looking for ways to earn some pocket cash (if she gets over $1000 this summer, she gets to buy another pet, in addition to the lizard she already owns; don’t laugh: last summer she banked a cool $1500 from babysitting alone). I offered to give her some tedious, busy-work jobs around the studio to help me tame my mess, and one of those is conquering the pattern clutter, like Kristy over at Lower Your Presser Foot did.
It occurs to me, at the beginning of this project of having her scan all my pattern envelopes into the computer so I can browse my own collection without having to leave my chair (oh, heaven!) that I could very well find a number of patterns that I don’t care for any longer and could just get RID of, already. The likelihood is low, I’ll grant, but it’s POSSIBLE. And allowing for that potential allows me to dream of replacing those patterns–what’s the good of breaking into the four figure range of pattern ownership if one cannot STAY there, you dig?
That’s where Jen over at MOMSPatterns comes in.
You heard me.
- Twitter a link to this contest, then come back and leave a comment saying you did
- Follow this blog, then leave a comment saying you did
- Blog this contest on your own blog, then come back and leave a link (I really love discovering new blogs this way!)
- Write on your Facebook wall with a link, then come back and let us know in the comments
- Stumble/Digg/Kirtsy this and come back to let us know in the comments
john & catherine
June 18, 2009 at 6:09 pmWhat a fun way to spend a few minutes (or more) daydreaming! Thanks for such a fun giveaway. I would choose Simplicity 7518, the wrap around summer dress for girls, and sew it up using Mosaic in lime from Sentimental Studios Nouveau line, with Garden in lime as the lining. Such clean lines–I would probably resist adding any trim. Or if I couldn't–I'd choose a solid (linen or kona or a shot cotton) for the fabric, and try some floral/viney hand embroidery along the hem and front/back edge.
supa
June 18, 2009 at 6:41 pmOh. What a good idea. I went straight to the 1970s boho tent smock/jumper — I'd make the smock, and I'd do it in Heather Ross's Far Far Away (the snails print in blue) with contrasting fabric for the neckband. Adorbs.
Renee G
June 18, 2009 at 6:49 pmIt took a little searching, but I love the Vogue # 2257. This dress with an open back looks like so much fun. I'd make it up in the Apple by Alice Bradley in brown.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
Leigh
June 18, 2009 at 8:05 pmthat site is FABULOUS! All those amazing 50's dresses – all sold, too! but I think the big-skirted
"Simplicity 1235 Vintage 50's Sewing Pattern CHARMING Rockabilly V Neck HUGE Pockets Party Dress, Jumper, 2 Skirts" would look so fun in one of your pin-striped all cotton seersucker!!! oh so fun! Or the "McCall's 2904 Vintage 70's Sewing Pattern SWEET Fit & Flared Princess T-Shirt Dress, Tunic Top & Pants" in Wonderland's Tweedle Dee in tomato. So much fun!!! Did I already say that? 😉
mommymae
June 18, 2009 at 8:41 pmalthough it is sold, i love the simplicity (yea, i said it) of
Simplicity 2499 Vintage 50's Sewing Pattern SMOKING Bow Trim Rockabilly Strappy Party Dress, Kimono Sleeve Jacket.
i'm not much of a pattern wearer, but would make an exception & pick Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Festival in tangerine with Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Fortune in chocolate
i could look at those patterns for days
mommymae
June 18, 2009 at 8:41 pmi already follow the blog.
Stacee
June 18, 2009 at 9:02 pmI love Lush by Erin Michael- Wood Grain in sky and I'm sucker for vintage patterns so it was hard to pick just one…the Butterick 5772 is my fav! I would use Amy Butler's midwest mod collection to give it some spunk!
Rebecca
June 18, 2009 at 11:43 pmDrool, drool, drool, drool, drool… Why don't you just make me drool over your fabrics some more?!?! My pattern pick would be Simplicity 9807 – aprons. And I would love to do them in Sprites of Tillbrook in pink, from Alexander Henry – I'm really liking the mushrooms, and the fairies walking amongst the trees. Of course there are SO MANY of your other fabrics I would love to use… : )
Rebecca
June 18, 2009 at 11:44 pmI follow your blog – LOVE IT!!
Nova
June 19, 2009 at 12:02 pmI'd pick McCall's 2616 P468 Retro 2000 Sewing Pattern Bedroom Essentials with Apple by Alice Bradley, Stitched Swirls in red.
Catherine
June 21, 2009 at 3:50 pmI'm a regular follower too. It's fun to read everyone's ideas!
Morning Glory
June 22, 2009 at 10:50 amHere is my pattern
Vogue 2298 Vintage 60's Sewing Pattern WICKED HOT Contrast Shaped Yoke Mod Mini Dress, Maxi Gown, Hidden Pockets
Loving anything with Pockets these days!
ANd the fabric would be…
Mingle by Monaluna for Robert Kaufman, Circles in summer with contrasting fabric for the belt
MaddyMazeStudio
June 23, 2009 at 9:32 amI would choose this great coat pattern…
Simplicity 3788 Vintage 60's Sewing Pattern DIVINE Retro Housewife Day Dress NECK INTEREST, Full Raglan Sleeve Tent Coat…
Then for the fabric, I would choose this for the outer coat…
21-wale Cotton Corduroy in Turquoise
And this for the lining…
Lush by Erin Michael Wood Grain in sky
Thanks for letting me enter.
Angie H.
Jill
June 23, 2009 at 9:57 amThe 1960's call my name/shape. I choose Simplicity 5541, split yoke sheath dress and would choose Arcadia by Sanae by Moda. Curves in the fabric as there are no curves in this pattern.
Thanks for the cause to dream and be creative!
Meghan
June 23, 2009 at 12:37 pmI've always wanted to try out vintage patterns!
FabricLust.com
June 23, 2009 at 1:50 pmGreat fun, it was hard for me to pick. I really like all the 1950's dress patterns, it's too bad most of them are sold. I picked the Advance 8551 Vintage 50's Cocktail Party Dress Pattern and would use Gaughin's Garden in Bright fabric contrasted with Kona cotton solid sunflower. I also twittered about the contest, blogged about the contest and I already follow your blog.
http://fabriclust.blogspot.com/
crazyestonian
June 23, 2009 at 10:39 pmI would pick a yard or two of Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Small Gathering in azalea and sew up Simplicity 5080, kids nightgown (and pajamas, but I think I would stick with the nightgown). I like a vintage Butterick 4071 more, it really has the vintage goodness but I think adjusting size by 10 sizes is a bit too much for me, my daughter is 3-4 in vintage sizing.
Of course, if I really splurged I'd get Vogue 7238, old dress up costume pattern but I could not find suitable fabrics in the etsy shop (I could use Kona solids but I think it really calls for silk or at least silky fabrics to get the right feel).
citrus daisy
June 24, 2009 at 12:08 amWow what great giveaways.
For me it would be pattern number #1105 which is a vogue paris original. And I would make a cocoon coat in Neptune by Tula Pink. yay… thanks heaps for the chances..
carmel
June 24, 2009 at 3:45 amits not a secret that i am very much pregnant… so thats the way i look at clothes right now- if it fits me in this time of my life or not. so i found this very beautiful maternaty pattern:"Butterick 5572 Vintage 70's Sewing Pattern Fast & Easy Maternity Cowl Neck Smock Top, Drawstring Waist Dress, Pants". so i would make my self the Drawstring Waist Dress but with short sleeves and use this fabric:"Ikoi from Moda, Koi in blue" {and not becue its the first fabric from the first page. its the right fabric for that dress..}
and i would give my dress a small "twist" by making the short sleevs from this fabric:"Alexander Henry Loire in green, from the Granville collection"
thanks!!
carmel
June 24, 2009 at 3:52 amand i blogged about your great giveaway!
carmel
June 24, 2009 at 3:52 amand became a follower thrugh googel reader
candice
June 24, 2009 at 3:55 ami would choose the Butterick 5102 Vintage 70's Sewing Pattern SWEET Baby Layette, Christening Gown, Dress & Hat, Sleep Sacque, Snuggly Romper and would start by making the gorgeous little "Sleep Sacque" in the gorgeous Red Letter Day Ugly Duckling in feather by Lizzy House…
so much to choose from, i also lurve the 70's mens patterns but i don't think my hubby would appreciate them as much as i do! 😀
Jessica
June 24, 2009 at 7:19 amI LOVE this Simplicity 8262 Tunic top!
http://momspatterns.com/inc/sdetail/35220
For the fabric, I'd make it out of Trees in Cream by Alice Bradley.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26912289
This is fun, thanks for the giveaway!
Jessica
June 24, 2009 at 7:23 amI already follow you on bloglines!
Jessica
June 24, 2009 at 7:23 amJust facebooked your link too. Hope I win!
Jessica
June 24, 2009 at 7:53 amI blogged about it too!
http://sewchic.blogspot.com/2009/06/fun-vintage-pattern-and-fabric-giveaway.html
Nathan and Betsy
June 24, 2009 at 9:05 amI would choose the McCall's 3951 Scooped Back Yoke Shirtwaist Party Dress and make it up in Apple by Alice Bradley, Stitched Swirls in red fabric. I would choose this one because between my previous two children, ages 2 1/2 and 1 and the new baby to be born in October, I have not been able to find a dress in almost two years! I'm dying for a dress I can nurse in that still looks classy and makes me feel good! So this is great! Longer sleeves for winter, a beautiful red fabric (my husband's favorite on me and great for around Christmas!), a full skirt for chasing two toddlers, a belt to help create a waist again, and buttons for nursing! I might have to make up several of these dresses, a black silk for dressy, perhaps? I think that the curved yoke in the back would drape very elegantly and would look awesome paired with some fancy jewelry. . . .
Jennifer W.
June 24, 2009 at 9:33 amWhat a fun way to daydream the morning away. I picked the fabric first – it was so nice to see some unusual finds in the Whipstitch Etsy store. The hand-printed African batik, dots on blue is GORGEOUS! I let the fabric speak to me, and it was crying out to be made into a fun little summer dress. The Vogue 7042 mod shoulder button straight fit dress is a winner!
Thanks for this, it was fun!
Jennifer
roseylittlethings
June 24, 2009 at 9:47 amtoss up between the vintage 50's dress pattern or the baby pattern! I just became a follower~
Jessica
June 24, 2009 at 10:46 amI am a huge fan of pairing A-line 60's mod dresses with new designer prints to create a retro-modern look that's fun but not costume-y. My daughter's closet is currently full of such pairings! For these projects I really love the whimsy of MoMo's Wonderland line. The Tweedle Dum print in tomato would look fabulous in the 1967 Simplicity 7518 girl's wrap dress. For a visual break I would use the Rabbit Hole in pistachio to line it.
lauren
June 24, 2009 at 12:47 pmI'd choose Mail Order 2013 Vintage 60's Sewing Pattern (Spadea Designer Irene Gilbert of Dublin Mod Air Hostess, Bibbed Waitress Dress). I think it would look so cute paired with a bold modern fabric. For the main fabric I would go with "Metro Market Chickens in licorice, from Monaluna for Robert Kaufman." The bib portion I would accent with white fabric and black buttons.
What a fun/creative giveaway! Can't wait to see the winner!
lauren
June 24, 2009 at 12:48 pmI am officially following your blog now (via Google reader). Can't wait to see who the winners are!
Sara
June 24, 2009 at 1:33 pmI love vintage children's patterns, especially from the '60s and '70s. I would choose the Simplicity 5080 Vintage Smock Top Pajamas. I'd use the Red Letter Day by Lizzy House, Ugly Duckling in galosh fabric.
Sara
June 24, 2009 at 1:35 pmI'm following your blog on Bloglines!
knitaddict
June 24, 2009 at 3:23 pmwas after a 1950's sun/evening dress but all the ones i like are sold!! Setled on this one, http://momspatterns.com/inc/sdetail/35032
Which is kinda nursey in a retro preppy way!! would team it with this fabric, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26622756 coz an apple a day keeps the doctor away!! would probably use stash fabrics as contrast here or there!!
The more I think about it the more I love it!!
Tia xxx
sksurfgirl
June 24, 2009 at 4:52 pmI'm such a fan of the vintage patterns – I think I've even purchased from whipstitch before!
So, this time I'd choose the Butterick 4474 jumpsuit and go a bit retro with either Red Letter Day in Pond by Lizzy House or Anna Maria Horner Good Folks in either Cathedral in royal or Peony.
thanks for the chance!
Shiny Green Penny
June 24, 2009 at 5:25 pmWhee – this was fun! McCall's 2591 Vintage 70's Sewing Pattern Groovy Summer Tunic Top definitely ( I think I'm gonna have to get this pattern regardless – I will just tell my hubby that you MADE me! haha) and sew it in Sandi Henderson Petal Party…ooh, now I'm just itching to get sewing (guess I had better get the kiddies in bed and get out of my virtual sewing daydream and hop to it!)
Carol
June 24, 2009 at 5:43 pmI no sooner got rid of my favorite baby layette pattern than I found out there'd be another baby in the family. So, I'd choose Simplicity 8761, and the Red Letter Day 1/2 yard bundle. I could make up some cute outfits in gorgeous fabrics.
Catharine
June 24, 2009 at 5:53 pmso fun!
i would try Simplicity 8436 Vintage 70's Sewing Pattern DARLING Boho Empire Waist Sun Dress
with fabric Minny Muu Japanese import, double gauze in orange dot
and contrast fabric Apple by Alice Bradley, Leaf Stripe in green
Belle
June 24, 2009 at 9:35 pm1000 patterns?! Wow, & I thought 20 was too many!
I think "Simplicity 1126 Vintage 40's Sewing Pattern Boys & Girls Shawl Collar Bath Robe, Applique, Slippers" would make a pretty girl's robe & slippers in "Eco-friendly bamboo fabric in sand, from Robert Kaufman".
Instead of the applique, I might add embroidery to the pocket.
Belle
June 24, 2009 at 9:38 pmI am now subscribed to your posts.
epban
June 25, 2009 at 6:43 amI would pick Simplicity 9204 the 70's Classic Mod Peekaboo Dress in the 70's inspired Mingle by Monaluna Bead curtain in summer (hate to admit I went to college in the 70's!!!)
epban
June 25, 2009 at 6:44 amI am also a follower and am looking forward to the grand opening weekend here in Atlanta!
Jenna Z
June 25, 2009 at 8:30 amI can just see the 50's Scalloped Side Buttoned Rockabilly Summer Dress in Red Letter Day by Lizzy House, Pearl Bracelet in pond! Delish and so cool for summer!
Jenna Z
June 25, 2009 at 8:30 amI follow you blog vie blogger!
JC
June 25, 2009 at 11:08 amI am a beginner sewer and although I love vintage patterns, some are far advanced for me. I chose the following pattern:
Simplicity 1446 Vintage 40's Sewing Pattern SNAZZY WW2 Era Suit Dress, Jaunty Jacket, Pleated Skirt
Since there are several bags and the description doesn't give the recommended fabrics, I chose two:
Hot Couturier damask in palm, from Robert Kaufman
AND
Apple by Alice Bradley, Stitched Swirls in red.
I found out about your site and giveaway from Sew Chic's blog. Now since I know about you, I'll subscribe. BTW: If you are in Atl, I lived there for 16 years. Blessings.JC
leosmomma
June 25, 2009 at 1:08 pmWhat a great way to find new fabrics and I love the patterns! I would use McCall's 8509 Vintage 50's Sewing Pattern Peeling Petal Bust Rockabilly Wiggle Dress, Circle Overskirt. The dress I would do in Mingle by Monaluna for Robert Kaufman, Circles in summer (aqua circles with a scattering of apple circles). The overskirt, I would use Metro Market apples in aqua, from Monaluna. I like the play of the 50's housewife/apples with the dressy overskirt.
Ariel
June 28, 2009 at 1:08 pmI'd have to have the Vogue pattern #7354 vintage "knot bag", using Anna Maria Horner's line of Good Folks, byzantine colorway…maybe festival in tangerine…those colors are TOOOOO yummy! (probably why I just went ahead and ordered fat quarters of the whole line from you…LOVE!)
Veggie Blogger
July 14, 2009 at 9:44 pmMom wants like $45 for a vintage pattern. ridiculous.
Peekaboo dresses
February 2, 2011 at 2:22 pmI am impressed (and a little jealous) of your pattern collection. I have been sewing since I was a child and loved getting new patterns. I would agree with “epban” and go with a classic Peekaboo dress in some bright colors for summer.
Christa Pouge
February 17, 2012 at 3:52 pmWas pressing through the stumbleupon toolbar today and uncovered your website, it will get a thumbs upwards from me to!! (=