Vintage Patterns

Thought I would share my latest "haul" in the retro/vintage patterns departments :)
First up is a circa 1970's (I think!) top, dress and pants combo by Butterick. Check out the illustrations, back when graphic designers used markers instead of Adobe Photoshop: I think the top and pants on this one might work OK today, made up in the right fabrics. Personally I think I could only get away with the top as a sheer over shirt for bathers or a singlet maybe. I'm not too sure about the dress- unless you are waifishly thin like the rather whimsical illustration or pregnant (then all that extra fabric around the waist would come in really handy!) I don't think its going to work. Unless of course you actually want to look two sizes larger than your real size....

Next up I have a rather charmingly illustrated Simplicity apron pattern from 1964. The original price for this item was 45 cents - I paid less than this, hows that for negative inflation? :)
The middle apron variation is noted as being "suitable for border print", a fashion print which has had a bit of a resurgence in the last few years :


I might have to make one of these aprons up just to see how it turn out! Before I do so though I will have to get my head around the difference in patterns from this era. Not having worked with many vintage patterns or *cough* having been around when this one was printed the actual markings are a little foreign to me. Unlike modern pattern which have the marks and patterns printed on them, these have the marks cut out as holes or notches and the numbers/letters punched into them:

A close up of the punched letters that denote the different pieces and the notching, I think this is a facing piece (the pattern sheets are rather fragile so I haven't unfolded them yet):

There is also a letter "P" (or lowercase "b") punched into the envelope flap, I am not sure quite what this is for:

A hint for storing retro/vintage patterns safely: while working in the archives department of a State Library I found out that they often use those clear A4 sheet protectors to store old archival documents /items in, but they make sure when buying them to get the protectors marked "copy safe". The "copy safe" type should (usually) be acid free and so not contribute to further deterioration of your items :)