After finding a stack of old sewing patterns, I've attempted to match them up with photos from my albums. Then looking at the photos, I'm planning to tell some stories. In some cases I have the photos but no patterns; others I have the patterns and no photos.
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This blog is about resurrecting memories with visual aids--my old sewing patterns. Right now, it is under construction, but check back. Meanwhile, visit one of my other blogs.
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Anonymous said…
I saw that there were 0 comments and that made me feel bad. I have sewn since I was eight....some things I took pictures of, most I didn't.....I think the history you have here is so wonderful and something I'm sure your family will treasure...Thank you for sharing it.....Bev A.
Anonymous said…
Very cute blog. Reminds me of a memory lane scrap-book blog :) I have been sewing also for about 30 years, started when I was 10 with doll clothes and on to the requisite Halloween costumes, etc. Thanks for sharing!
Obviously, I don't have patterns for the dresses my mother made. Actually, I'm not sure she did either. The blue dress with the purple dogs did have a pattern, because I couldn't have made a dress without one. But, I have another dress in that pattern that my mother made for me for the Christmas dance of 1955 when I was a junior in high school. It looks completely different--but it has mother's signature style. Coverage. I never had a strapless prom or dance dress, although they were all the rage when I was in high school. Mine might be scooped, or plunging or sleeveless, or halter, but never, never strapless. Same for my sisters. This dress is a lovely heavy white satin faille, and it was so luxurious, you can hardly see the hoop skirt underneath. The big red bow was mother's own seasonal touch. I removed the bow in 2000 to have the dress dry cleaned and it too was a beautiful, heavy fabric cut on the bias. My boyfriend of the moment wasn't much for d...
This was a very easy jumper to make and I loved it. I think I made it in 1975 or 1976, but I can't find a copyright date on the Butterick envelope. It was semi-fitted and flared, with a buttoned bib front, and attached straps that crossed in the back. I think I lengthened it a bit so it was just below the knee. I made it in a blue denim and I think I top stitched it in red. The photo of this jumper shows me in California in 1976 sitting with my husband's brother who was being a gracious host and had taken our whole family to Disney Land. My husband's parents were divorced when he was about 2 years old so he had two families, one of which we rarely saw. This brother had visited us in 1961 in Champaign when he was about 12 years old, but we hadn't seen him again until this trip. The two brothers have spent more time together in recent years, and their father died this past Spring. Not only are they now close friends, but they share many traits. Whereas the brother...
You're welcome to browse. During the month of November, 2005, instead of jumping into NaNoWrMo, I just wrote 75 blog entries until I was finished with the topic--sewing memories, linking my patterns to photographs and sometimes fabric or the actual item. Along the way I discovered lots of vintage pattern and sewing sites, which I've linked to and will add as I find more. Several times I've suppressed the impulse to uncover my sewing machine and bring it up from the basement. It's been lots of fun going over the photographs and spotting things I thought I'd forgotten. Update: September 2006. The statistics at this blog are running about 8-10 visits a day. I'm glad people are finding and enjoying it. Update: January 2008: The stats are still about the same. Lots of people wanting old apron patterns it seems. Enjoy!
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