Closing 5/21/09

Rug Tufting Pattern/Base…Bestmaid Needle Books…3 Vintage Needle Books…2 Lots of Advertising Needle Books

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.
Link to eBay Store

Link to eBay Store

Link to eBay Store

Link to eBay Store
Link to eBay Store
Take a peek at my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 5/3/09

4 More Pineapple Crochet Patterns Today…Doilies…Tablecloth…Scarf…Scarf and Mat

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.
 Now listed in eBay Store
 Now listed in eBay Store

 Now listed in  eBay Store

SOLD

Take a peek at my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 4/30/09

4 Pineapple Crochet Patterns Today…Doilies…Tablecloth…Scarf…Scarf and Mat

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.
Now listed in eBay Store
Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store
Take a peek at my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 4/7/09

5 Glass Button Lots…Celluloid Buttons…Black & White Mod…Work Button Mix

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.

 Now listed in eBay Store

SOLD

Now listed in etsy Store

Now listed in etsy Store

 Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in etsy Store

 Now listed in eBay Store

 

SOLD

Take a peek at my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 3/12/09

1990s Waistcoat…40s Shorts/Blouse…70s Granny Dress…Tank Top Flyer…Peace in Your House Stamped Cross Stitch Kit…Footprints in the Sand Cross Stitch Pattern

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.

SOLD

Now listed in My eBay Store
Now listed in My eBay Store

Now listed in My eBay Store

Now listed in My eBay Store

Now listed in My eBay Store

Check out my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 3/8/09

70s Sweater Ensemble…Betty Boop Doll…Girls 80s Ensemble…Girls European Coat

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.

Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store

Check out my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 3/5/09

Couture Fashion Dress…70s Skirt/Slacks…Dress/Tunic…Palmer/Pletsch Shoulder Pads…Crewel Embroidery Kit…Bucilla Needlepoint Canvas…Knit Stocking Kit

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.
Link to My eBay Store
Link to My eBay Store

SOLD

Link to My eBay Store
Link to My eBay Store
Link to My eBay Store

SOLD

Check out my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Closed 2/2/09

Red Sewing Buttons…Red Shank Buttons…2 Home Dec Window Dressing Patterns

Link to My eBay Store to view and bid.

Now listed in eBay Store

Now listed in eBay Store

This one is still listed at auction.

Now listed in eBay Store

Check out my newest listings on etsy and on eCrater

Who can’t use another t shirt? There are lots of choices. I can just show a couple. Show that button pride!

Check out my special button buddies 4ever design on http://www.cafepress.com

Check out my new bookstore on Amazon.com.

Butterick-Oldest Pattern Company

Did you know that Butterick is the oldest pattern company?  Here’s the story straight from the company website.

“The year was 1863. Snowflakes drifted silently past the windowpane covering the hamlet of Sterling, Massachusetts in a blanket of white. Ellen Butterick brought out her sewing basket and spread out the contents on the big, round dining room table. From a piece of sky blue gingham, she was fashioning a dress for her baby son Howard. Carefully, she laid out her fabric, and using wax chalk, began drawing her design.

Later that evening, Ellen remarked to her husband, a tailor, how much easier it would be if she had a pattern to go by that was the same size as her son. There were patterns that people could use as a guide, but they came in one size. The sewer had to grade (enlarge or reduce) the pattern to the size that was needed. Ebenezer considered her idea: graded patterns. The idea of patterns coming in sizes was revolutionary. He experimented, creating heavy cardboard templates; it quickly became evident that the heavy cardboard patterns were not suitable for folding or shipping throughout the country. Ebenezer tried lighter papers and discovered that tissue paper was ideal to work with and much easier to package.

The first graded sewing patterns were cut and folded by members of the Butterick family and sold from their home in Sterling, Massachusetts. In no time at all, they needed extra space and expanded into an adjoining house. As business continued to grow, they moved into a larger house in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and in one year, set up a business at 192 Broadway in New York City.

In the beginning, Butterick specialized in men’s and boys’ clothing. Not until 1866, after three years of operation, did they begin to manufacture women’s dress patterns. They were, of course, enthusiastically received, and Butterick expanded his women’s line to include dresses, jackets and capes in 13 sizes, and skirts in five sizes. Over 130 years later, the company he  founded continues to lead the way in make-it-yourself fashions.”

Collecting Vintage Sewing Patterns

Paper sewing patterns were first manufactured in the middle of the 1800s. The first ones were designed by Ellen Curtis Demorest and sold through her magazine, Mme. Demorest’s Mirror of Fashion. In 1863, American tailor Ebenezer Butterick was the first to create a sewing pattern in various sizes.  It was his idea to use tissue paper for the mass production of sewing patterns. The earliest paper sewing patterns were pre-cut on plain tissue, with notches and holes for markings which aided in construction of the garment. The printed pattern was introduced in the 1920s, but did not become commonplace until just after World War II.

There are four large pattern companies still making sewing patterns today, Butterick, McCall’s, Simplicity and Vogue.  These are also the most commonly found vintage patterns, though there were dozens of smaller companies who produced some exciting and specialty designs. Pattern magazines and counter books (the big books in stores that pictured all the styles) are also interesting to collect, and they are authoritative aids in helping to place a date on a pattern.