The Pattern Man!

Continuing on our pattern journey I'd like to introduce you to Pattern Patter's Man. He has a fascinating story and is a great example of all the different directions life can take you. Without more ado, please meet Tony.

Who are you?
Tony Potter is my name and my shop is Filecutter. Named comes from my fathers trade in England - yes he actually cut files by hand using a chisel and hammer. I'm originally from England but schooled and serviced in the Army in the U.S
I'm retired and Joyce (my wife) have a 7 1/2 acre pecan farm with other fruit trees. Spent my career in agriculture and retail sales.

What made you decide to collect vintage patterns and sewing supplies?
Joyce purchased a pattern of a man in overalls thinking themodel looked like me and I decided to sell it and that's how it started. Actually Filecutters was first a vintage and collectible shop on Etsy.

How long have you been collecting?
My collecting started early with cars and when I couldn't afford that because of a growing family I started collecting vintage movie poster. I have had a life long love of Laurel & Hardy and now own more than a 1,000 movie posters.

Do you sew? Vintage, Modern, or Both?
No I do not sew but Joyce is a tatter and I do get involved with that sometimes.

Do you have any sewing tips for those of us who do sew with vintage patterns?
Vintage patterns are becoming increasing hard to find and need TLC. Its important to choose wisely and pick what you feel comfortable with. Finding a source of vintage patterns is the most important element, honest, fair pricing and reputation should be foremost in your mind. Don't buy just because its there, rather buy it because you trust the person you purchased it from. Vintage patterns are not cheap and sourcing is very important.

What is your favorite pattern or sewing thing of all time? Why?
I guess the pattern Joyce purchased for me so long ago. I have not seen another one and cannot remember the maker or vintage...NUTS

Why did you start an Etsy store?
You have seen the TV show "HORDERS", well I'm not quite that bad but as Joyce said enough is enough. I guess my collections became beacons of junk in her eyes and told me to sell.

Pretty organized for a hoarder! Wish my office looked like that!

What is your favorite part of the selling process?
Satisfying the customer and knowing that they will enjoy what you have provided. 

Least Favorite?

The least enjoyable part of a pattern seller is making sure the patterns are complete and salable.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Unrelated to sewing, it has to be the "Potter's Nut Cracker" only because I invented it and its been such a popular tool.

Which item do you just want to go away?
I really have no item/s I want to go away only because its so easy to just delete the item/s you no longer want to display or sell. 

A great big thank you to Tony for taking the time to share his story. Isn't his Nut Cracker neat? I had to laugh when he mentioned "Hoarders" Pretty sure his is not the only family that is worried about the piles of patterns! Hop on over to his shop and see if you can help relieve his wife's fears. If you find something great post it in the comments. Until next time, Happy Sewing! 

Pattern Patter with Denise

It was a bracing walk to the mailbox this morning with the thermometer reading 43* F and a stiff breeze blowing. Perfect weather to snuggle up to the sewing machine and make something. If you haven't found your perfect vintage pattern yet I'd like to introduce you to another wonderful seller.

Meet Denise from Denisecraft

     How did you get bit by the pattern collecting bug? 

Oh, I started sewing several years ago and kept wanting to find better and better patterns. I found vintage patterns on Ebay and started buying them. Then I thought, wow, I wonder where they get all these fabulous patterns and then I started looking everywhere for them, estate sales, local thrift stores, and garage sales. I started finding a few at first, then my search got broader and broader, as I found them. I was hooked in finding the perfect pattern.

Do you sew? Vintage, Modern, or Both? 

I sew everything I can when I get time away from my pattern shop.


Do you have any sewing tips for those of us who do sew with vintage patterns? 

Trace, trace, trace. Don't cut those vintage patterns, and then refold them when you are done.


Any tips for telling how to find great vintage patterns to sew with? 

Check out the various Etsy teams on patterns. My favorite is PatternPatter


What is your favorite pattern of all time? Why? 

That is a tough one. I think it is a modern pattern made by New Look for a pair of toddler pants with a flared bottom along with a dress. It turned out very darling. I did it in purple for my niece. It is still my favorite picture.


Why did you start an Etsy store?

I love the home town atmosphere of Etsy and it fit my style. The fees are really reasonable and it is not to hard to set up the store. 

What is your favorite part of the selling process? 

My favorite part is the hunt and dreaming about the different styles from all those vintage patterns. 

Least Favorite? 

My least favorite has got to be counting pieces. I really do check everyone of my patterns just to be sure it is perfect for the buyer. 

What is your favorite item in your shop right now? 
I really love all the little girl vintage patterns. They are so adorable. 

These little girls will keep warm.

What a fun skirt!

Love the little girl in red!

How lovely is this dress?

Which item do you just want to go away? 

I don't really have any that I want to go away. 

Thank you Denise for sharing a glimpse behind the scenes of a vintage pattern seller. To see more of her great patterns be sure to browse through her store, Denisecraft
Anyone else planning your fall sewing? Are vintage patterns on the list?

Moments Of Vintage Pattern Woe

Sometimes our sewing can take a turn for the worst and we are left frustrated and panicking, wondering if the project will ever get finished and be wearable; wondering if we will want to wear it.

My first "I hate you pattern!" moment came when I realized I had just cut up all my beloved burgundy wax print that my good friend had brought back from Africa for me.
I can't even find the pattern to tell you which one it is other than it was a Butterick. This pattern and I struggled from the very beginning. Here's a list of what I learned and mistakes not to be repeated!

• When you are cutting a pieced bodice on a single layer of fabric make sure you cut your pieces, including facings, in the correct direction so you can sew them together. ( I had to recut the facings twice)
• Always do a fitting with tissue or muslin, measure the pieces, do something! Especially if your fabric is sentimental. ( I later found Gertie's post which has a great checklist for fitting vintage patterns)
• Sometimes you need to ignore the bust darts and do your own thing! (Those were totally, terribly wrong and that part wasn’t my fault. It was a wild time getting those buggers adjusted.) 
• When you get stuck, ask for advice! (Amongst the great tips I got in my desperate cry for help on WeSewRetro, I was reminded that clothing has changed over the years and our ideas of comfort and ease are different. This helped me with the final decisions I made with this dress.)
• Don’t give up! (Even when you sew the left front on backwards and upside down and try to attach the midriff band upside down. Maybe one of my points should be, pay more attention to the directions?) 

Since I was on a deadline I kept plugging away and got it finished! I even added pockets!

I love my little helper!

Exposed zipper to give me all the back ease possible.

 While it’s not a dress to wear for heavy lifting or cleaning it was perfect and cool to take on vacation which is where I wanted to wear it anyway! I feel kind of regal in it. It definitely makes me stand tall, feel tall, and beautiful.

How about you? Do you have any sewing horror stories? Have you ever almost ruined special fabric? How did you decide to use it?

I hope this encourages you to keep on with your vintage sewing adventures, with a little patience we can still turn out some wearable garments!

The Scariest Patterns You've Ever Seen!

As stated in my first Pattern Patter interview, Since I have joined Etsy I have found a wonderful community willing to share knowledge and the vintage pattern love. This month I'm telling the story behind several of their shops as a way to say thank you! If you are looking for sewing inspiration perhaps you will find it in the world of vintage patterns!"

BEWARE!! BEWARE!! Sensitive sewers may want to skip this post!! The horrors of the sewing world are now on display!!

Starting this week off I want to introduce you to Sue, of QuiltCitySue on Etsy and on eCrater. I'll let her share her story of terror in her owns words. 

"I used to make my own clothes when I was young; then when clothes became so cheap to buy, I made mostly curtains and drapes. Six years ago I started quilting. I opened my Etsy shop last year and put 4 quilts in it but no one looked at them since there were 27,000 other quilts on Etsy. Then I found a box of doll patterns at an estate sale and listed them and it grew from there. Now I mostly have clothing patterns but I like to have a lot of different kinds; quilting, needlework, sewing, woodworking.

I always get a kick out of patterns that make me laugh or cringe. When I buy patterns in lots, I will sometimes get a weird pattern that I list, just so I can say something about it that I hope will make people laugh. Many times they actually sell, which always surprises me. 

In the Pattern Pattern team last summer someone mentioned an ugly dress pattern and so I started a thread called Ugly Dresses and Scary Dolls and listed some of mine in the thread along with some pointed comments. Other people did the same and it was hilarious. So I took a lot of those patterns and made a team treasury which I called Pattern Hall of Shame. Recently Etsy changed some rules about treasuries which led to my redoing it. I made two treasuries, one is  Pattern Hall of Shame 60's 70's

and the other is Pattern Hall of Shame 80's 90's

Periodically sellers whose patterns are in the treasury get tired of relisting them and I lose them. So I have put in several of mine just to keep it going. I don't want to insult anyone by putting a pattern in there if the seller might not appreciate it. Sometimes I'll see one that's perfect and ask permission to include it. But what I look for are dolls that look like they belong in a horror film and dress patterns that are offbeat in some way. 

Sometimes the pattern design is terrible, other times the dress might look good on some people but the model has entirely the wrong figure for it. Sometimes you get lucky and both occur in the same pattern. A lot of patterns aren't suitable for a treasury because the seller scans them and only the middle part shows, the head is cut off and so are the feet. Or it's blurry or you can't see whatever detail that makes it funny. Sometimes the pattern is so weird that I do put one like that in the treasury but it is so much funnier when the whole pattern is seen. That's why I encourage people to click on the photos and see the whole thing.

It's hard to pick one pattern that is the worst. The menswear patterns of the 70's are so outrageous. I admire the men in Aunt Lydia's Rug Yarn knitting pattern for keeping a straight macho face while in that ridiculous attire.

 Also the two men in the vest patterns are priceless. 

Of the women's patterns my favorite is the blue number. The outfit, the pearls, the corsage and the hair!! How could it get any better? 

I like the cranky women in the bottom row too.

There are no mens' patterns in the 80's treasury because men looked pretty snazzy then, unlike the poor women who were overwhelmed with design totally unsuited to the female body. The drive for power gone wild. Even the famous designers were swept away in the madness. There are two Nicole Miller patterns, a Christian Dior and an Evan Piccone in the 80's treasury. 

I think among the pattern sellers in the treasury the two Burdas are getting the most votes for the worst pattern. 

But I think it's a tie between the People Packages pattern Butterick 6964 

 and the Nicole Miller white number.

 I also appreciate the vest knitting pattern. It just looks boring until you click on it and then you see how bad a vest can get. That's how they always looked on me! 

Here is my favorite womens' pattern that was in the original treasury: 

It's called Outfit for Days When You Are Depressed. Someone actually bought it. It just shows there's a pattern for everyone.
Here's my favorite scary doll pattern which also sold:

They all have a special place in my funnybone. Except the doll patterns and they are frightening. Perfect for Halloween. 

If you run across any patterns where the model looks like she hates being in the dress or the illustrations looks like something odd is going on or the dress is ridiculous and you wonder how it ever got made into a pattern, or the doll looks like it's on a bad acid trip, send me a convo because I might like to buy it. If you have a shop and list it for sale, send me the link and when I have an opening I can put it in. If you make the pattern send a photo of the pattern and the result so Emily can show it in her blog. We'd all like to see it!"

Happy Halloween Sewing,

Sue

Thanks Sue, for giving us a good scare! Be sure to check out the treasuries to see all the sewing pattern horribleness. And don't forget to check out Sue's shop, QuiltCitySue to see all her scary offerings!

For those of you who fell in love with these patterns and feel the need to recreate them please send pictures to emsewcrazy (at) yahoo.com to be featured sometime.

Which is your favorite terror? Confess! Have you worn any of these styles your self?

Erika's Pattern Patter

As stated in my first Pattern Patter interview, Since I have joined Etsy I have found a wonderful community willing to share knowledge and the vintage pattern love. This month I want to tell the story behind several of their shops as a way to say thank you! If you are looking for sewing inspiration perhaps you will find it in the world of vintage patterns!"

Who are you?  My name is Erika Hajiantoni and I am from Baltimore, MD. I have two etsy shops. My ErikawithaK Vintage shop is where I sell vintage sewing patterns, fabric and buttons. The Vintage Sheet Variety Shop  is where I sell vintage sheets and linens and fat quarters, half yards and bundles of vintage sheet fabric. 

How did you get bit by the pattern collecting bug? 

"I have always loved old things and I am not really sure how that started. I always joke that I come from a family of scavengers and have been going to flea markets, auctions and thrift stores since I was very young. Since I was in high school I've been interested in vintage clothing and accesories and I think it was a natural progression into vintage patterns as I learned how to sew."

Do you sew? Vintage, Modern, or Both? 

"I do sew but not as much as I would like. I learned to sew in college as a costumer's assistant and that is where I learned most of what I know about garment construction. I haven't sewn with vintage patterns as much as with self drafted or modern patterns."
Do you have any sewing tips for those of us who do sew with vintage patterns? 

"I don't always follow this rule, but I would tell sewists to make a muslin. It takes some extra time but it makes your final garment fit much better and avoids the waste of your expensive fabric."

Any tips for finding great vintage patterns to sew with? 

"It depends on how much time and effort you want to put into the search. I find my best patterns at antique malls and auctions but it takes alot of time searching to find them this way, which is ok because it's my job to find them and get them to customers who are looking for them. But obviously, etsy and ebay allow for instant gratification where you can find exactly what you want at any time. Also, reputable sellers will have already checked the patterns for condition and to be sure that all pieces are there, which can help buyers to feel confident when being asked to spend more."

What is your favorite pattern of all time? Why? 

Listing

"That is a tough call for me. I really love a 1930s dress pattern that I have in my shop right now. The pattern art is so pretty and it's even in my size, which makes it very hard to sell."

Why did you start an Etsy store? 

"I sort of stumbled into having a pattern shop. I started it soon after my boyfriend and I ended our year as volunteers for the Christian Appalachian Project because I really just needed the money. I started by selling off part of my collection but loved that it allows me to own beautiful things that I love for a little while before passing them on to someone else."

What is your favorite part of the selling process? 

"My favorite part is seeing pictures of what customers make from the patterns and supplies. It doesn't happen as often as I would like but it makes my day when I get a picture of a creation. It is especially gratifying to encourage the creativity of someone else." 

Least Favorite? "My least favorite part of selling on ETSY is figuring out SEO and trying to write my listings so that people find them. It's not intuitive to me at all. "

What is your favorite item in your shop right now? 

"I really like the darts on this dress: 

Listing

Which item do you just want to go away? 

"Those don't get relisted! But I can't believe that no one has purchased this fabric:

Listing

Thank you Erika for giving us a peek into your life and running a store on Etsy! To see more of Erika's lovelies check out her store which she has graciously given us a coupon for! Use FALL15 until Oct 14th for 15% off purchases. 

Planning Vintage Foundation Garments

I thought it would be a good idea to write down my goals and requirements for this challenge and since it is vintage pattern month on my blog I figured why not start the planning there!

Firstly: Winter Wind has arrived today and threatened to bring our first snow of the year; making me feel the need for some new warm and layerable clothing.

What I need:

• new longer turtlenecks/long sleeve tee
• longer jackets
• pants the correct length and waist that won’t ride on my infusion sets (I'm a Type 1 Diabetic on an insulin pump)
• pretty sweaters to replace hoodies

Requirements:

• correct length in body and arms
• warm for the winter and wind
• layer-able
• works with something else in my wardrobe
• good colors or interesting design
• looks professional/ like I know how to sew (for when I start teaching classes)
• makes me feel beautiful

So after digging through my box of favorite vintage patterns, here's what I have come up with!

This jumper has no side seams and promises an interesting sewing time. Now, do I dare to make it in my hot pink corduroy?

 I am in love with these jackets! The center one is getting sized up and made in a deep brown velvet I found at the thrift store. It will allow me to wear some of my summer dresses into the fall and I am sure I will feel like Lizzy Bennet in it.
The other two would make good layering and professional looking pieces. I am not putting the big bow on the back of the peplum one though.

I have wanted a suspender skirt since last winter and I think it is time to get one made! All that fabric will have to keep me warm, right? Love the collar on the vest and how it is a tunic and vest in one. Great layerablity. 

I like the neckline and flow of this top. Simple, elegant and with long sleeves.

I like the tuck details on the two blouses on the right and the brown top just fascinates for some reason. I am not sure when or if these will get made up since I am going to whip up some long sleeve knit tops first.

And now we come to the hard part! I love dresses! How do I work them into my winter wardrobe? These were my four winterest patterns. The Advance and Mail Order patterns have skirts that wouldn't be a problem in the wind, but will they work for jumping snow drifts? I love the little details on all of them. They would definitely be statement pieces and I would get to use some of my AMazing vintage buttons too!

What do you think? Which dress is your favorite to adapt for winter? How do you wear dresses when it's cold outside?

After looking at all my ideas I think this is more of a dream list than a sewing reality. I guess I'll have to give it some more thought and see how time goes! 

Happy Fall Sewing Everyone!

Falling For (Vintage) Fashion

School's back in session, the season is changing, and fingers are itching to make up some new and beautiful things. I don't know about you but walking through the Mall, (which I do about twice a year) is so BORING! They have some beautiful colors and some basics but any detail or originality? Nada.When I received my first box of vintage patterns I fell in love with the different designs, the story each envelope had to tell, the history behind that style, all the little details. Since I have joined Etsy I have found a wonderful community willing to share knowledge and the vintage pattern love. This month I want to tell the story behind several of their shops as a way to say thank you! If you are looking for sewing inspiration perhaps you will find it in the world of vintage patterns!

The First Seller I would like to introduce you to is Mary Beth of RetroMonkeys.

"Hi my name is Mary Beth and RetroMonkeys is my Vintage Sewing Pattern Shop. I live in Southern California with my husband and 3 boys; the oldest in college, and twins in high school. 

   I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2002. By 2004 I found it impossible to work a full time job but still had the need to be productive. I did various volunteer jobs until 2009 when I rediscovered sewing. I opened my first ETSY shop sewing custom clothing for children. That’s when I caught the vintage pattern bug. I really liked the styles from the 1960’s for little kids. Simple, no ruffles, and comfortable. I started buying lots of patterns and before I knew it, I had a fairly large collection. I decided to reduce my collection and started listing some for sale. Soon I found it necessary to move the patterns to their very own shop."

Ooohh 60s children's patterns! Do you have any tips for working with vintage patterns?

"My first tip is to learn how to resize a pattern. Vintage patterns are sized differently. There are lots of tutorials online. Start with making a muslin fitting garment before cutting into your fabric. 

My second tip is to read all of the instructions before beginning. The instructions that are included sometimes are very vague. They assume that you know more than you may. I’ve been almost finished and realized that the instructions never mentioned putting the zipper in!

Finally, save the unprinted patterns until you are comfortable with all of the other variables. "

Any tips for finding great vintage patterns to sew with? 

"Buy your vintage patterns from a reputable seller. Most sellers make sure all of the pieces are accounted for and clearly describe the condition. Also, choose a style that works with your body type. Also choose one that won’t be too challenging to start."

What is your favorite pattern of all time?

"My favorite pattern of all time is a tough question. There are so many lovely styles. The 50’s had some beautiful dresses. One of my favorites is McCall’s 4666."

"Another Favorite of mine is one that got me hookedMy mother made this coat and hat for me in the 1960’s. When I got this pattern it brought back all of the memories of her sewing it for me."

 

What pattern do I wish would go away? 70’s pantsuits, and boy’s pajamas! Some of the women’s pantsuit patterns probably aren’t as unattractive as they seem. The fabrics they chose to use in the Illustrations are horrible! I have many – none listed.. I just can’t bring myself to do it.

Another one that seems to be in EVERY lot that I buy, is this:

My favorite pattern that I have right now is 

Etsy Listing

"Ultimately, I want all of my patterns to ”go away”! I want them all to find a new home where they are loved and appreciated.  Bottom line is that everyone has different taste in clothing and I do believe that for every pattern, there is a person who would love to have it. 

I really enjoy what I do. I’ve always worked in customer service. I love getting to know people from all over the world. I’ve met so many great people and made some true friends. Making people smile makes me smile. I plan on being around for years to come."

Thanks Mary Beth for giving us a peek in the life of a pattern seller and sharing some of your pattern memories! Love the outfit from when you were little!

To learn more about Mary Beth check out her shop's About page and to see all her great inventory browse her store.

Until next time, do you have any special items that were sewn for you as a child?