Posted on 12/11/2019 2:36:46 PM PST by Morgana
ike sewing?
Well you’ll love this news: the Vintage Patterns Wiki has released more than 83,500 patterns of pre 1992, out of print patterns for all to use.
The browsable collection runs the gamut from Dynasty-inspired pussy bow power suits to Betty Draper-esque frocks featuring models in white gloves to an 1895 boys’ Reefer Suit with fly-free short trousers.
Visitors can narrow their search to focus on a particular garment, designer or decade.
If you click these links, you can see patterns from the following decades: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
The movie star collection is particularly fun. (Flattering or no, I’ve always wanted a pair of Katharine Hepburn pants…)
1920s
(Excerpt) Read more at moon-child.net ...
My long ago dead uncle’s wife used to make those glitzy costumes for country western stars. She even made one for Elvis once.
Very cool. A month or so ago I saw a Ken Burns documentary on Country and Western singers, and they did a little segment on the people who did those fancy Western style costumes in the 1950s and 1960s. Mentioned several companies that produced them, especially in California.
I wouldn't be surprised if they mentioned your Uncle's wife.
Amazing work they did.
My mother-in-law probably had every one of those in her craft room filing cabinets. (Yes...filing cabinetS.)
We passed them on to some ladies in the church.
Many of those images are perfect for creating MEMEs.
The gears are a turnin...
The best part of Home Ec was making cinnamon toast and hot chocolate!
Back in the early 60’s instead of kindergarten, my mom taught me to sew.
WWWAAAYY better than kindergarten.
Though out grade school and high school became an avid seamstress.
Got my own first machine at a garage sale when I was in grad school. Sewed like crazy for the next 30+ years making all sorts of things, like my clothes, my kids clothes, weird Halloween costumes, custom draperies and even a tent!
I’ve gotten to the age now where I really don’t care about clothes. My big thing now is grocery bags out of upholstery fabric for my friends to avoid my socialist county’s plastic bag tax and a carrier for my new pup.
The ability to sew has been a blessing.
That, and cooking, balancing a checkbook, writing checks, making and sticking to a budget, comparison shopping, filling out a job application, writing a resume...
I made a few clothes in high school and college. But where I really excelled was in making Halloween costumes for my son. I was one of four kids and never had a fun Halloween costume because my parents couldn’t afford 4 costumes every October. My son got whatever costume he wanted. Sometimes it’s fun to live through your kids.
I'll never do that again. But if you want to get a look.
http://www.quiltersinfo.com/Bernina/RomeoandJuliet.html
I made all of my kids' Halloween costumes too. Oh, and for may years, most of my own clothing and all of son #4's clothes until he he started school. My last big project was 10 roman tunics for Latin Day for son #4. I'd like to get back into sewing, but without good fabric available in my area, why bother.
Cool - can I bribe someone here to make me a genuine Sgt. Pepper jacket? Preferably glittery navy blue with gold epaulets???
:)
(Sadly, I’m too old and fat to pull off the look, but it would have been loads of fun when I was back in college)
Went into a Joanne’s about 2 months ago looking for denim.
First time in about 10 years I had been to that store and it was depressing. Fabrics weren’t organized by types i.e. corduroy, cottons, denims but by themes! It was gross.
Wandered back into the pattern section and found 3 women my age. We spent the next half hour lamenting the down fall of the home sewing movement and if you want to sew, cost wise, it’s now a luxury.
Tell me about it, lizma.
The influx of cheap ready-to-wear clothing, courtesy of the slave wages paid in Asia, pretty much killed the industry. Our 90-year-old family fabric business went under about 10 years ago because of this economic shift. Maybe it's some kind of weird karma that Joanne's and the other chains that screwed the mom-and-pop shops are now feeling the pain.
And yes, I am still bitter about it. Forced my uncles who were in business with my dad to have to seriously pinch pennies in their declining years. My parents had both passed away when the business died, so they didn't have it quite as bad.
today, not only have I never used that stupid Geometry but I still don't know how to cook.....
“My son got whatever costume he wanted”
Halloween costumes were a hoot!! Started with my goofy costumes and then my kids, even when they were infants.
When they could both walk, Mickey and Minnie. Next year my son was a baseball! Hand made every costume. Great times.
“And yes, I am still bitter about it.”
Agree. For about the last 20+ years we have financed our next cold war enemies economy. The Chinese.
The major theme of our Politico’s is “Screw the people, What’s in it for me.”
There will be a price to pay cuz a big chunk of Americans choose to be clueless.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/amp556302/chart-shows-shocking-change-in-clothing-sizes/
I agree.
Beetlejuice costume?....Hey! Cool!
“It is such a shame they don’t do sewing classes these days.”
And home ec. and shop classes.
But, how many later than boomers sew, write checks or work on their cars today? Or build models, do arts & crafts or collect stamps? Or hunt, fish or trap?
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