pattern junkie

The Yo-Yo Killer

Here's another great pattern sent in by reader Margie, who provided us with the awesome TEACHES GIRLS TO SEW.  I agree with her on this one -- Simplicity 7239 is not all childhood innocence and fun:

Green up there clearly has designs on Baby Blue, and is attempting to clock her with a yo-yo.  And while Baby Blue may not have verbal skills yet, she's doing a good job of giving her murderous sister the finger.

As for Flowers and Gingham?  They're plotting where to bury the body.  And methinks Gingham might want to hop on over to Daddy Likey for some basic fashion advice: DON'T SHOWCA YOUR CHOCA, little one!

Which Dress for the New Year?

So, Mr. Pattern Junkie and I are throwing a brunch on New Year's Day, and I've got this crazy notion that I've going to sew up a vintage pattern to wear by then.  (Insert maniacal laughter here.)  Being the kind of person who can't make any decision easily, though, I'm still debating between two patterns.  Do I want to make Simplicity 9030 and greet 2010 with late 60s mod coolness, showing off my strange obsession with gigantic collars?  (And yes, I blogged about this very project over a year ago and have yet to make it...)

I'd make version 2 there and be like Ms. Pixie Cut Hopeful, even though my hair is long.  (No snide hair in face shenanigans like little Miss Double-Belt there, though I do like her shoes, and snooty Miss Pink can keep her fringe purse.)  The fabric I've earmarked is green and brown, too, and could be very retro cute:

Or it could make me look like a pair of curtains.  Those heart-shaped bits are roughly an inch wide.

Option two?  McCall's 4576 from 1973.  I just bought this on Ebay and would make version A in a gauzy powder blue crepe.  I love it because it's so very 1970s junior high social studies teacher -- you know, Ms. Wilson, who wore dangly earrings, perfume and heels, and was rumored to be dating Mr. Johnson, the math teacher.  All the other female teachers went by "Miss" or "Mrs." but that "Ms." gave Ms. Wilson a little bit of glamor, and everyone was fascinated/horrified at the thought of her on a date.

 

The main risk with this pattern?  Even though it's a size smaller than my measurements, apparently McCall's had already started implementing the "add ten inches of ease to everything and call it a day" approach to patternmaking that they employ today.  So I might look less like "I'm hitting the disco with Coach Zimmer after choir practice" and more like "I'm wearing a belted blue potato sack with a Cleopatra-style collar."

Any thoughts besides "get sewing, you indecisive fool"?

Happy Holidays from Pattern Junkie!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from Pattern Junkie -- and McCall's 8199!

Sock Full of Gifts

Ah, the wonders of the Vintage Pattern Wiki -- that's where I found these "Sock-Full-of-Gifts" patterns that Simplicity put out in the mid-50s.  The Sock-Full-o Gifts is the ultimate in convenience (or in overwhelming yourself with too many sewing projects for the holiday season): stocking patterns complete with stuffers!  Sure, it's too late to get them done for this year...but there's always next year....

First, for the manly man in your life, there's Simplicity 1801:

Not just a stocking pattern, but also a pattern for slippers, scarf, vest, handkerchief, ties and more.  What really sets the Sock-Full-of-Gifts apart in my book, however, is the completely amazing stocking itself.  Check out the actual COLLAR on the stocking -- because even on Christmas, Dad doesn't get to lounge around.  And the cigarette applique?  Let's just say I never thought I'd have reason to type the words "cigarette" and "applique" right next to each other, and it gives me a strange pleasure to do so.

But the little girl in your life should have a Sock Full of Gifts too -- and she does, courtesy of Simplicity 1803:

 

Aww!  Cute stocking, adorable "pussy cat" apron, sweet little collar, cap and bag --

-- dear Lord, WHAT IS THAT GHOULISH MESS THEY CALL THE CUDDLY DOLL?!

In Which the Pattern Junkie, Having Posted a Vitriolic Screed, Confesses Her Hypocrisy

After yesterday's post, I have to come clean.  I bought this bracelet from an etsy seller about a year and a half ago:

Ahem.

Well.  SOMEONE was going to wear it, right?  The pattern had already been destroyed, after all.  Better that someone who loves sewing buy it than -- I mean, I've always meant to do an interview with the seller for the blog, but I've been terrified to ask the "where do you get your patterns?" question, and -- my intentions were noble, really -- I was honoring my love of sewing --

I feel shame.

In Which The Pattern Junkie Seeks a Fainting Couch, Having Suffered a Nervous Collapse

One day you're happily traversing the web, looking at eco-friendly craft projects, when you stumble upon THIS:

Sewing patterns as WRAPPING PAPER?  Vintage envelopes torn asunder and fashioned into GIFT TAGS?!  All to end up mixed in with bows, Scotch tape and half-eaten candies in a big black plastic trash bag come Christmas Day? 

Granted, the author of the article specifies that she uses incomplete patterns that would otherwise never make it to the thrift store shelf.  But my obsessive side needs to know: did they get cataloged in the Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki first?  Did no one think of sending them to Pattern Rescue?  Look at the great sleeve ruffles on the blouse on the left!  I need to see those!

Heart in my throat, I clicked on a link to another article, which provided EIGHT more crafty ways to use sewing patterns.  Horror of horrors!  It didn't advise crafters to use incomplete patterns!  My mind reeled, imagining the treasures that had fallen victim to hot glue guns and pipe cleaners. 

 

It's not that I'm against being green.  Here at Pattern Junkie Headquarters I have an extremely eco-friendly approach to vintage sewing patterns, based on the classic guidelines of "Reduce, Recycle & Reuse:" 

1) REDUCE the number of sewing patterns on the market by buying them by the boxload on eBay

2) RECYCLE a small percentage via actual sewing or via selling in my etsy shop (proceeds which are used to fund activity #1)

3) REUSE them by storing them and dreaming over them, occasionally mounting a snarling defense when Mr. Pattern Junkie suggests that "maybe we could get rid of this junk."

I'm a big fan of creativity and re-use, and have to admit that these projects are clever.  It's better than sending them to the landfill (though you could stop by my house on the way to the landfill.  I'm just saying.)  There's also a good argument to be made that it's better to use these old patterns in creative ways instead of just letting them sit in a garage or attic somewhere.  Isn't it better for them to see the light of day as a bookmark than sit in a box for years?

I say no.  For me, vintage sewing patterns don't need to be anything than what they are.  I know I'll never make all of the hundreds I own.  I'm fine with that.  A reader once wrote to me that she loved patterns because they allowed her to imagine different "selves" for herself, and that's true for me, too.  I suppose all fashion does this, but I find it to be more visceral with patterns.  I go through my collection, matching pattern and fabric.  Will I evoke mod London in a dandy-style coat and dress, or 50s Paris in a "Vogue Paris Original" pattern?  Even the instructions fascinate me: the changes in technique, the new things I can learn by scanning those pages.

So I'll say it loud and proud: KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY SEWING PATTERNS! 

McCall's: Destroying Your Child's Precious Self-Esteem, Pattern by Pattern

McCall's 7453, copyright 1964.  An adorable pattern, right?  What girl wouldn't want to wear it?

Let's take a closer peek at the symbol and writing in the upper right-hand corner, shall we?

And I thought the Husky boys had it bad.

Pattern Junkie on the case...The Bishop Method

Today I was in the process of listing this Advance pattern in my shop when I noticed the writing on the bottom right-hand corner:

"This pattern features The Bishop Method of clothing construction."  Curious to know more about the Bishop Method, I pulled out the instructions.  No help there -- it's one of those amazingly efficient one-sheet instruction pages that you so often find in older patterns. 

A little more poking around revealed this pattern on etsy, which offered a teensy bit of info on the mysterious Method of Bishop:

The Bishop Method, apparently, features fitting with "Key Grain Lines."  Hmm.  Well, I DO agree that grain lines are important.  In fact, the first rule of sewing that my mother drilled into my head was the importance of aligning the grain before cutting out the pattern.  (The second was "Never trust Simplicity patterns," which may not be quite as universal a rule.)

Further googling revealed copies of "The Bishop Method of Clothing Construction" by Edna Bryte Bishop available on etsy and Amazon.  Never one to turn down an excuse to buy a vintage sewing book, I ordered one -- hopefully I'll be able to report back soon.  Anyone out there know more about Advance's Bishop Method?

TEACHES GIRLS TO SEW

Reader Margie sent in this fantastic sign that she found in a box of patterns (dated from the 40s to the 70s) that she was given at an auction.  (Note to self: attend more auctions!)

I have to say I nearly spit coffee through my nose when I first saw it.  I love how the VALUABLE PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION offered by Presson Patterns is much more important than any frivolous entertainment they might provide.  There will be NO GUESSWORK and NO MISTAKES!  The poor little zombie girl with the doomed expression seems to be marching off to another miserable lesson now.  She'd probably much rather be playing with the mechanical construction toys, but gender roles aren't to be defied...

Fear The Plant

 

Yellow: Tulips!  How pretty!  What a sweet way to welcome us to the neighbor--

Blue: Here.  Take them.

Red: Everyone in the neighborhood has them. 

Yellow: It's uncanny how they match my dress.  They're the exact same shade -- wait.  Did you embroider them on your pocket?

Red: What?  No.  We haven't been watching you.

Yellow: Excuse me?

Blue: Please please take them.  They're hurting me.

Yellow: Why won't either of you make eye contact with me?

Blue: They make me...do things.

Red: We all love tulips!

Blue: And so...will you.