Home-ec classes never really prepared me for this kind of challenge. The teacher’s idea of an apron was a terry cloth dish towel with a fabric band stitched across the top, and maybe a pocket. The wave of fashion aprons faded, but has returned to make a statement once again.
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Allee Willis
Beautiful!
I had to take Home Ec in seventh and eighth grade. I was half-and-half completely terrified and completely fascinated. Patterns absolutely traumatized me. I never could understand how to lay them out or how to make them no matter how simple they were. But I was absolutely ape crazy in love with them because the texture and sound the paper made when you flattened it out made me swoon. Nuts about the weight and smoothness of the envelope too and the way the colors absorbed into the paper.
I remember sewing an incredibly lame apron and unbelievably horrible A line skirt in 8th grade. I really wanted them to come out great but I had no skill making anything straight with a sewing machine and my fingers were always in the line of fire. It also didn’t help that my mother would only let me look in the $.39 fabric bin, the cheapest. I do remember choosing a shiny cotton pattern fabric that I was wild about. It was then that that I had my first realization that I felt I could find a gem in the cheapest stuff and it would still have style.
When I was 21 and living in NY I Had this Friday night routine of going to Macy’s and looking in the cheap bin for fabric. I have absolutely no memory of anything I made or if I even did but I just remember making the shopping trips so I must have sewed something. Anyway, all this to say that I still love vintage patterns. I try not to collect them though because I’m the type that would want every single pattern they ever put out that had a hint of modernism to it. Including this one.
denny
These things were all over my grandmother’s house and I was always fascinated by the pictures on each of the envelopes. Great post!
MyFunCloset
I actually discovered vintage patterns about 4 years ago. Over time, I figured out what sold to pattern collectors. Pick a decade, up to the ’80s and I have it, or at least the photos. I love the illustrations and the gals drawn with unrealistic measurements in the ’50s. By the ’70s, photos of men, women, children, dolls and dogs replaced the great fashion envelope art.
I’m not wired to follow a dress pattern but salute anyone who can. I’m in awe of designers who create fashions from scratch.
More patterns to come.
Nessa
I collect vintage patterns too! I have over 700 of them, always getting more because people just give them to me for nothing. I will have to share some of my wilder selections here.