So close yet so far...

Ever gone into a op shop/charity/thrift store and picked up something that you have thought is AMAZING, only to discover it doesn't quite stack up?

This happened to me last Tuesday- pawing through a box of patterns I came across what I initially thought was THE sewing pattern find of all time...

...that was until I realised that the pattern was in fact missing ALL the pattern pieces and was really just some instructions in [half] an envelope :(
At least there is a rather nice line drawing of the dress on the instruction sheet:

The staff member at the store said I could have this "pattern" for free as it was missing parts AND I was buying several other patterns. So now I have a lovely bit of a vintage simplicity pattern envelope and instruction sheet.
I can only imagine what might have been if someone had been able to include the pattern pieces as well!
*Sigh*

THIS is why I LOVE Op-shopping...

I totally did not plan on posting today but after finding these goodies at a local Salvo's store just had to share!  All up I paid about a $1.00 (AU) a piece for these beauties:

Loving these little girl dresses- thinking I may have to try and make the one on the left up for Little Miss.

Have never seen this brand of patterns before but after a quick web search they appear to be Australian and 1950's era. Very cute but not sure if I could get a 6 yr old to wear - that is IF they would fit a modern 6 yr old today!

Love this insert artwork from the Fashion Cut Patterns above. Advertising direct to your target market complete with groovy font and 1 colour printing !

How "Mad Men" are these dresses? Just wondering how feasible grading up 10 or so inches would be, hmmmm...

Look at these bloomers - how sweet!!!

And finally if the "Little house on the prairie" look comes back in I have my daughter wardrobe TOTALLY sorted lol ;D

Vintage pattern love

As you may know (or may not) know I'm a pretty big collector of old, retro and vintage sewing books/patterns and notions. Op shops and bootsales always are a good way to find items and even though my free time is considerably less with the twinlets being here, I still manage to find a bargain every now and then ;)
I hadn't really considered looking on the net with the sole purpose of finding vintage patterns, but seeing this skirt (Simplicity3983) made up on We Sew Retro's blog has changed my mind - I WANT this pattern !!!
Besides being from the 1950s (my favourite era) and  freakingly cute, the skirt only has one seam - yep you read right ONE!
Now I know there are one seam skirt patterns out there (I made this one a few years back) but I haven't seen any that look this sweet AND stylish :D
All I need to do now is find and scour online retro/vintage pattern resellers....Anybody got any favourite sites they use?
Happy Sewing :)

Update 12/10/12 - I found a copy on Etsy :D :D!!! Now to wait impatiently for it to wing its way here from America.

Bargain! Op-shopping in Northcote

Seeming as my camera computer cable is still M.I.A (no doubt shoved in a box somewhere in the spare room) I thought I would share with you my latest find on the vintage pattern front. Luckily my printer/scanner is intact and in working order so I can show you the covers in all their retro goodness :)

First up some very groovy blouses in a variety of styles- dig the hairdo's! On the right a lovely 4 colour print displays the stylings of Weigel's quilted nightgown and nightdress ensemble. Obviously kitten heels are a must for any self respecting housewife in the 1960's :)

Next another nightie set in a choice of 2 sleeve and hem lengths. Note the "racy" pose of the figure at the bottom showing the matching bloomers- Miaow!

A sporty style button front dress and another dress with an slightly 1940's (50's?) look to it. Except for the hairstyling which looks pure 80's.

An office ensemble which wouldn't look out of place in a James Bond film- on Miss Moneypenny of course :)  On the right is a dress with an interesting tie-front / seam line combination.

Finally my favourite two of the lot : a very interesting selection of blouses (amazing the amount of variety when compared with today's patterns) and a lovely dress with unusual front darts and  a wrap around skirt.

If I ever get better at grading patterns up a size I'll definately be giving the 4920 dress a go.

 I am guessing that these are mail order patterns published in the 1960's and 1970's. Most appeared to have been printed in U.S.A - except for the Weigels - which gives a Moorabbin Victoria  factory address. How interesting to think that once we might have had a local pattern publisher.

All up this bundle of patterns cost about $2 total.

Not a bad haul for what was an unexpected - and unplanned- shopping trip :)

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 :)