Show us your vintage patterns!

kamikat · Apr 4, 2010

How do you organize your patterns? By brand, by garment type (blouse, dress, ect), by number, decade, ect, ect. I'm doing a major overhaul and trying to find a way that is easier to find what I'm looking for.

Inky · Apr 4, 2010

I received this mail order Anne Adams as a gift from a fellow Lounger. I love it and it's a size 44 - perfect!!

I picked up some black cotton yesterday for it to make it up with with the pockets and collar in red skull bandana fabric that was also a gift from a Lounger - i love you gals!!

Thanks to Amy Jeane and Psycho Sue for inspiring me to use crazy novelty fabrics with my vintage patterns!

Smuterella · Apr 4, 2010

^ thats a beautiful pattern!

Lady Day · Apr 4, 2010

kamikat said:
How do you organize your patterns? By brand, by garment type (blouse, dress, ect), by number, decade, ect, ect. I'm doing a major overhaul and trying to find a way that is easier to find what I'm looking for.

Mine are kept in those foldable boxes with the built in lids. I have 3 currently. No rhyme or reason, but each is in its own plastic baggie

. I keep my altered patterns with the originals for convenience.

LD

December · Apr 4, 2010

Here's my little collection. I have another 10 on the way (got a bit carried away on Ebay!!).

I think some of them were bought from fellow loungers.

I also keep them inside their own plastic bags inside a pretty floral storage box. I don't have enough to sort them into categories but if I was to, I would probably categorise them by item. Probably in chronological order within each category. I'm a sucker for order.

Shirin · Apr 5, 2010

Mine are separated by type of garment.

Gracie Lee · Apr 5, 2010

I think I have a couple hundred patterns, and they're on a bookshelf separated chronologically by era. General costumes, medieval, rennaisance, Elizabethan, Georgian, Regency, Victorian & Edwardian, Golden Era, and modern. I sew by mood, so the general order suits me. The way they sit, I can thumb through and see the front covers and choose depending on what I'm feeling like. It just occurred to me that a DVD shelf might be ideal for storing patterns, as the smaller (ie - non-Vogue) patterns are very similarly sized.

kamikat · Apr 5, 2010

I got a great idea from a forum member over at patternreview.com. She has hers in boxes by brand, then number, simple enough. The great idea is she photocopies all the envelope fronts, puts in plastic sleeves and the sleeves into a 3 ring binder by garment type. That would be so helpful but alot of initial work.

Lauren · Apr 5, 2010

I've got mine in those long comic book storage boxes with each pattern in a plastic sleeve with notes on a label on the back about condition (if I've counted through them). I do them in different boxes per era, and then within that box per maker and per date. Though sometimes I jumble them all out when I'm on a quest and then have to re-sort them.

SayCici · Apr 5, 2010

It's been really hot here lately, now I can't resist these culotte patterns when I see them.

BoPeep · Apr 6, 2010

Inky said:
I picked up some black cotton yesterday for it to make it up with with the pockets and collar in red skull bandana fabric . . . .

I know exactly which fabric you're talking about, inky! It'll be perfect!

As for pattern organization - I sort by garment type. I also write up a card every time I use a pattern - include a swatch of the fabric, note size adjustments, yardage used, length of zipper, seam allowances, etc. and keep the card with the pattern. I tend to use my favorite patterns over and over. This helps trigger the memory and I can make necessary adjustments without having to dissect the previous garment and try to remember what I did.

deadpandiva · Apr 6, 2010

SayCici said:
It's been really hot here lately, now I can't resist these culotte patterns when I see them.

That's adorable.

My patterns are in three large plasitc boxes with no rhyme or reason.

deadpandiva · Apr 6, 2010

Lady Day said:
DPD, I really like the patterns you pick for yourself. They are very flattering to your body type

LD

Thanks! I try really hard to pick appropriate and flattering patterns so it's nice to hear that I am on the right track.

kamikat · Apr 9, 2010

I'm having a bit of buyer's remorse about this one. The only upside is that no one bid against me so I got it for dirt cheap. It's very cute, but probably fits in the category of "big girls shouldn't wear that". I might make it up to sell in smaller sizes.

SayCici · Apr 9, 2010

kamikat, nonsense! I think that'd be cute on you. The romper type thing could be a beach cover-up/hanging around the house outfit, and the skirt could be made in coordinating fabric and worn when you go out (not "out" like evening, but to the store or to lunch or something).

Wire9Vintage · Apr 9, 2010

I agree with saycici. That would be very cute! The skirt is intended to go over the romper, correct? I have a 1943 Life Magazine with a whole photo spread on rompers with skirts that would go over them (or not, as the case may be). The story included instructions, even, for taking the skirt off gracefully (as in, how to do it in public!).

So, yeah... with the skirt on, it looks like a dress/ensemble. But there's a kicky little surprise underneath for when you want to play! Go for it!

December · Apr 9, 2010

New patterns! I'm in desperate need of more storage now!

deadpandiva · Apr 10, 2010

cailinbeag · Apr 10, 2010

kamikat said:
I got a great idea from a forum member over at patternreview.com. She has hers in boxes by brand, then number, simple enough. The great idea is she photocopies all the envelope fronts, puts in plastic sleeves and the sleeves into a 3 ring binder by garment type. That would be so helpful but alot of initial work.

I just finished doing exactly that! Each page has the envelope front on the front and the envelope back on the back. They're organized first by style (accessories, bottoms, coordinates, etc), then company, then number. They're in the drawer in the same manner. 176 patterns, whew!!! It took me a couple of days, but it's so helpful. First, it saves some wear and tear on the patterns by transferring my thumbing through patterns to thumbing through pages, and second, it allows me to take my binder with me when shopping and have all of my info on hand. It's wonderful.

Wire9Vintage · Apr 11, 2010

I got these sweeties today. I'm going to take a stab at the pants on the Advance pattern and the Adams 4594. The other Adams is too small. In my excitement, I thought the two Adams patterns were the same size. Oh well...

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