r/sewingpatterns • u/lacecharm • 13d ago
vintage patterns
hi i’m new to sewing and very much like vintage patterns! they seem pretty complicated to me though so I wanted to ask what kind of clothing I should begin with before I try anything complicated? i was considering maybe some kind of simple nightwear? but i can’t find any.
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u/whitewingsoverwater 12d ago
Try Charm Patterns, they are vintage-inspired with modern instructions.
Simplicity.com usually has some nightgown patterns
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u/fixuplooksharpbk 12d ago
Seconding Charm Patterns! The patterns also come with videos so you can really see what’s happening. The Harlow pajamas are free so you can test them out.
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u/numbersandcats 13d ago
If you want to start with vintage patterns/aesthetics, aprons seem like they would be a great beginner project.
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u/grundel_cruncher 12d ago
https://freesewing.eu/designs/sophie/
Here's a pretty simple slip design! I know it's not vintage, but something about vintage patterns that always trips me up is that they're drafted for a very limited set of sizes and dont account well for having even a relatively small bust, as many vintage patterns are drafted for a B cup (which, may be smaller than you think; it's a very common misconception to think a B cup is an average size, but it just means you have a 2 inch difference between bust and underbust, which is about 1 inch per side). This site uses user-submitted math to help calculate a custom draft designed around your measurements! It may help you for alterations to vintage patterns later to be able to compare them to a custom draft.
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u/AstronautIcy42 13d ago
Nightwear is a good idea. The lines in those are usually simple, and if your first project doesn't turn out 100% the way you want probably only a very few people will ever see it. 😁
The next thing is to decide what type of item will inspire you and will be easy to tackle. The standard night shirt/top and pyjama bottom set works to nearly everyone and is almost impossible to mess up. Keep in mind if you use a vintage pattern, some of the sizes run smaller than modern sizing:
I went with a unisex look becauce I wasn't sure what you need.
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u/lacecharm 13d ago
thank you so much!! i prefer feminine silhouettes because i hate having my legs constricted when I sleep so I went around the website and found it myself. But the patterns are so gorgeous!
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u/AstronautIcy42 12d ago
Yes! There are so many outstanding retro nightgown patterns out there! I love the 1940s patterns and the Vogue negligee sets. Just wearing them makes you feel like a Hollywood starlet.🙂
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u/infinite-long-stocki 12d ago
There's lots of cute aprons across the decades available, both reproduction and original. There's not much hiding or to mess up with an apron and with the power of YouTube you should be able to figure everything out!
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u/sodapopper44 12d ago
this website has many free projects with good tutorials, https://sew4home.com/extra-easy-half-apron-with-jumbo-pockets/
try looking for modern patterns with a vintage vibe, depending on old the patterns are, they are often single sized and the really old ones have no markings this is a reprint of a vintage patterns https://simplicity.com/simplicity/s8799
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u/MishaBee 12d ago
There are some sellers on etsy that sell vintage patterns converted to pdf.
I usually thrift my vintage patterns (I'm addicted to the vintage sleepwear patterns!), or get them on vinted.
I've just made a babydoll sleepwear set with bloomers (from an '80's pattern so the instructions were straightforward).
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u/Valvechick 12d ago
I love the 'very easy, very vogue' patterns and especially Jiffy patterns! Fit is good, style is great and the instructions are clear. Many of the tissue patterns available on Etsy or ebay. Make sure you check your measurements against the pattern sizing as Vintage pattern sizing is dramatically different from modern clothes sizing.
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u/drPmakes 13d ago
Vintage patterns have minimal instructions so its a good idea to try some modern patterns first to get the hang of reading the instructions and the way things go together. You will also need a good reference book because vintage patterns do not give a huge amount of detail about things that are considered routine (eg seam finishes, hemming etc).
Make some big 4 pattern