Friday, May 20, 2011

Free Vintage Patterns

I have recently discovered that there are complete pattern magazines around. VERY EXCITED.

So I have started with the stash that was left on a friends doorstep and am attempting to collect more. I am scanning them as PDF's and posting them here as they are done. Please go have a look.
Most of the magazines I will upload have all of their pattern sheets available, some only half and others none (but they are too good not to see and share).

Unfortunately the pattern sheets are a crazy mess of lines, many are semi cut by previous owners and all are yellowed and printed on rough, old paper. Scanning the patterns at least gives an unbroken image, but it is almost impossible to draft patterns from them as they are very yellowed and a colour printout is required as the patterns lines are in assorted colours. As my other life involves CAD engineering work I am able to draft basic patterns from the PDF's fairly quickly so at some point soon I will start selling the patterns. The drafting might be quick but scanning, collating and organising the magazines and pattern pages takes a great deal of time.

For a short while (say 6 months from todays date) I will draft patterns of your choosing; one pattern at a time, with the pattern posted to you almost free. All I ask in return is a photograph of the finished product. Today is the 23rd of May. I have had no requests yet, but I work full time, so if I get too many requests (hahaha) it may take a while, and I may decide to ask for postage...

Please tell any people you know who might be interested in 50's/vintage clothing to go and have a look. Most of the patterns seem relatively simple for a medium level sewer. The instructions are in German but that is what Google translate is for (the instructions are very short which is why it is best to have some knowledge of making clothes before you make these seemingly simple clothes).

Here is the address again: http://issuu.com/retropatternmags

I hope you take me up on my offer.
Cheers,
Softly Slowly

3 comments:

  1. Such generosity! Perhaps you could post a link to a flickr group ( maybe sewmamasew or find one for vintage patterns) to drum up some interest. The world definitely needs more ladies in 1950's dresses.

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  2. It's great! May I ask you for charts from Burda Moden 10/1968? I would like to sew two or even three dress from it.

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  3. I think this project sounds really interesting.

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