I was enthralled by my first choice of pattern, the smocking or gathering is a real delight.
It was printed in 1958 by McCall Corporation in the USA and brings back memories of my childhood as these were the sort of dresses I wore as a child, along with a knitted cardigan.
It is complete and so could be used, a few minor adjustments would make it quite contemporary.
My second pattern is another top that caught my eye with smocking, three variations and quite modern trousers with poppers on the inside for easy nappy change.
This is a 1966 pattern and yet looks quite modern. Another McCall's pattern printed in the USA.
The first pattern cost 45c in America, 2/9d in UK in 1958. The second pattern was 50c in America 5/- in UK which in todays money is 25p in 1966, 5c difference or 2/3d difference in 8 years.
My third pattern is for a little romper suit, I can remember my brother wearing these many moons ago. A pretty little dress too that wouldn't look out of place today.
Printed by Practical Fashions Ltd in London costing 25p.
The pattern has hardly been used, so not a much loved pattern by the previous owners.
My fourth pattern is again one that could be adapted for modern times a practical overall, bib and brace type trouser/short.
This pattern is a Simplicity pattern printed in UK in 1972 on a trademark of Simplicity Pattern Co New York.
I do wonder how much adjustment would be needed to accommodate disposable nappies rather than the bulky terry towelling ones that were used back in the day.
My final pattern is a beautiful 1967 Simplicity pattern for a christening gown and layette.
The pattern makes my heart sing, I am going to have a closer look at it and at the very least make the bib.
This post has taken me so long to type as I keep getting the patterns out and browsing the instructions and measurements. I do wonder how many babies have worn these garments and think of the love poured into them as they were made, what a lovely thought.
Five beautiful vintage patterns that I hope you have enjoyed looking at as much as I have sharing them with you.
I think my next job is going to be checking what fabrics I have in my stash, I just love shopping from the craft room.
Take care.
I love using old patterns. That christening gown looks very tempting. Isn't it good that you can scroll the Internet and find old patterns so easily. Hope you have a good weekend. B X
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, nostalgic post - and I am a non-sewer! Those pictures are so redolent of my childhood, although I must say that my daughters wore smocked, puffed-sleeved dresses like those first ones in the 1990s. Timeless appeal, I think. Thank you. x
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, so beautiful and so nostalgic!
ReplyDeleteI must go to see if there are some old patterns (used by my mother) that I could save...
Have a lovely weekend!
Carly @ Lucky Sew & Sew adores vintage patterns, she would absolutely love these I'll send her a link to have a look :)
ReplyDeleteHave a Wonderful Weekend
Gorgeous patterns and as you say they are really quite similar to today's styles. I remember wearing those dresses and loving them!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Oh this takes me back so much, my mum was a prolific sewer in the 1970's and had lots of `old` patterns from the 60's in her collection that she was always adapting. I dressed my own girls in smocked dresses and cardigans regularly when they were little, such a beautiful classic look. I liked them to look like children ha! A lovely post, have a great weekend xx
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a sewer and had boxes and boxes of sewing patterns. I wonder whatever happened to them. She doesn't sew much anymore. I would have liked to have kept them and look through them. She made us many outfits growing up using those patterns. Oh the memories...
ReplyDeletexx Beca
Oh my goodness, your post has brought back some memories, my Mum had the very same smocked dress pattern and she made me several different smocked dresses when I was small. The pattern with the bib trousers/shorts also looks very familiar. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely selection of patterns and I remember wearing dresses such as those in the first one when I was a little girl. They were not made by my mother though as she was more of a knitter than a sewer. -x-
ReplyDeleteLovely vintage patterns, I reckon my mum had a few of these, especially the first one, I wore dresses like that as a child.
ReplyDeleteI adore that little yellow dress. My mum did loads of dressmaking when we were young and I remember her stash of patterns. Simplicity were among her favourites.
ReplyDeleteThey're wonderful patterns. I'm not a sewer so these type of patterns aren't things I'd usually look at but I do like looking at old knitting patterns. My mum had loads of lovely little layette patterns and patterns for matinee jackets but she sorted them all out and took them to the charity shop when she was moving house a few years ago, I could have cried when she told me.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous patterns. It would be difficult to know which one to make first. Some of the dresses are so cute.
ReplyDeleteI used to sew, but haven't done so for a long long time. I have enjoyed looking at the patterns.
ReplyDeleteLovely patterns. I remember wearing little smocked flowery dresses with knitted cardigans too:)
ReplyDeleteSo sweet, I can see that you're going to be busy. I loved sewing for my daughter when she was young.
ReplyDeleteLovely patterns from old times !!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun !
Anna
The patterns are great reminders of what we used to wear as infants. My aunt was a good sewer having worked at Burberry's and made most of our clothes whilst my mother was more of a knitter. My DiL was pleased with some of my mother's old sewing patterns as she was able to adapt them to make clothes for herself or friends. It's a useful skill to be able to do that.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to have all of those vintage patterns.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Happy Friday,
Meredith
What fun these old patterns are. Enjoy. What fun x
ReplyDeleteI love the envelope of those old patterns. I still have the ones I used to make my girls clothes in the 1980's. A great collectible!
ReplyDeleteHow delightful this post was!! I tellya, I haven't had my hands on a pattern for years!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic collection you shared.
So lovely! I really like the smocking especially. If it weren't for the price tags they could be modern patterns couldn't they as fashions don't change for children, they are timeless aren't they. Hope you enjoy some sewing! Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, hope you have a good weekend and a good Easter! xx
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the old vintage patterns. I could frame some, especially ones that reignite the memory banks! Take care x
ReplyDeleteOOh you know how much I like a vintage pattern! I don't collect child ones - I use Ottobre for modern clothes for the girls but I have done a few dresses for them from the one vintage dress pattern I have for little girls. It was my grandmothers and my mum said she had one of those dresses in the 1950's. Happy making Jo x
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely looking at these old patterns isn't it? I just love the pictures on the front. My mum used to make all my dresses and I remember once when we were going to a wedding she said we could go to the shop to buy a dress - I couldn't believe we were going to buy one!! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
What a gorgeous selection of patterns. I can't imagine many people making lovely baby clothes like these today. Sadly everything is so cheap and disposable today. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are going to be very busy! I have a drawer of old patterns, which didn't seem old when I got them! How time flies x
ReplyDeleteThe smocking is indeed delightful and thoe overalls....SO CUTE! Such a fun post, my friend. Have a lovely weekend. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun vintage patterns! I look forward to seeing what you make from them. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteThose patterns are wonderful. I love the overall shorts. My children wore them when the were little a mere 20 years ago. Some items go in and out of style many times.
ReplyDeleteI yearn for those days, when clothes were exciting. I'm so happy you're going to share your creations. Can't wait to see them.
ReplyDeleteThose patterns are so neat. I am very fond of smocking but one doesn't see little girls in anything smocked these days. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteAny of those patterns could be made up today and look very modern. I do love little smocked dresses. I remember making my girls smocked dresses once, and I think it was just the once.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed seeing these patterns. Like you, I like to sew for my grandchildren from time to time.
The patterns are great , I wish i could do things like smoking , I have not patience for anything like that xxx
ReplyDeleteI have always been interested in smocking but until now I have not learnt to smock. Those are pretty patterns.
ReplyDeletemy mom was an avid seamstress and seeing your vintage patterns reminds me of her collection of patterns that I think are in my sister's possession. I received the knitting stuff :)
ReplyDeleteThese patterns bring back some childhood memories. My mom sewed my dresses growing up. We would spend time in fabric shops looking for the right patterns and fabric. These patterns are so cute. Hope you find the right fabric in your stash for them! Thanks for your visit to my 5.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely patterns - and many could still hold up today. Something about those true classics that last. ;) What a fun blast from the past!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteBlessings & have fun with them.
Oh, that romper suit pattern is lovely! I often dressed my daughter in rompers similar to one's on that pattern - she looked very cute, and comfortable. Xxx
ReplyDelete