All our clothing, and craft patterns are originals... As a result, designs from the late 1800s are rare, and patterns from the 1940s through 1960s are more abundant.

Some of the oldest patterns have limited instructions. Just a few simple sentences usually written on the inside of the envelope. Back then, it was assumed that only women were going to use the patterns, and all women were taught to sew from an early age. Therefore they didn't bother with detailed drawings or instructions on the construction of the clothing, because of course, everyone KNOWS how to do it. It would be common to find instructions like, "sew waist together" with no more description of how this should be accomplished.

As the decades passed, instructions came on a separate sheet of paper, and included limited drawings, and details, and eventually the pattern tissue pieces were marked to help you along. A few more decades passed, and the instruction sheets now included close-up 'inset' drawings, so you could see the tiny details, as well as instructions on how to prepare your pattern for cutting, and sometimes even how to make the stitches used in sewing the item.

So, whatever your favorite decade, we hope you will find a pattern you like in our stock. We wish you happy stitching!
 

Have a look at our sewing pattern departments:
Women's Sewing Patterns
Men's Sewing Patterns
Children's Sewing Patterns