Thursday, November 21, 2013

Black Friday Blitz and SALE Alert!!

Hello All My Fellow Pattern Addicts!
  Instead of all the hustle and bustle, cold air and crazy crowds; we, the Pattern Patter Team would like to invite you to a much swankier and cozy event!


We are also getting in on all the sale frenzy, some even offering discounts through Cyber Monday. Check out all the stores participating below. If you just want to see all the amazing patterns as soon as they are listed you should bookmark this thread! If you've been stalking a specific pattern now's the time to see if it's on sale!
  1. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdeleBeeAnnPatterns  
  2. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloesCloset
  3. https://www.etsy.com/shop/beththebooklady
  4. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SerendipityUnlimited
  5. https://www.etsy.com/shop/sydcam123
  6. https://www.etsy.com/shop/patternshop
  7. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoVintageOnEtsy
  8. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PeoplePackages
  9. https://www.etsy.com/shop/midvalecottage
  10. https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewbettyanddot
  11. https://www.etsy.com/shop/WEAREVINTAGESEWING
  12. https://www.etsy.com/shop/VioletCrownEmporium
  13. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignRewindFashions
  14. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RosesPatternTreasury
  15. https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageNeedleFinds
  16. https://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpolkadotbutton
  17. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MantuaMakerPatterns
  18. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ViennasGrace
  19. https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreyDogVintage
  20. https://www.etsy.com/shop/kinseysue
  21. https://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchingbynumbers
  22. https://www.etsy.com/shop/nancesnostalgia
  23. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Denisecraft
  24. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RomasMaison
  25. https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeepsakesStudio
  26. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jantiki
  27. https://www.etsy.com/shop/mightymadgescloset
  28. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Redcurlzs
  29. https://www.etsy.com/shop/omasbricabrac
  30. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BluetreeSewingStudio
  31. https://www.etsy.com/shop/sandritocat
  32. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JeaniesShop
  33. https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmSewCrazy
  34. https://www.etsy.com/shop/uneedapattern
  35. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewingPatternStore
  36. https://www.etsy.com/shop/retromonkeys
  37. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrownPaperVintageCo
  38. https://www.etsy.com/shop/EJVintageAvenue
  39. https://www.etsy.com/shop/LagunaLane
  40. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Mrsdepew
  41. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatternsAndSuch
  42. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BearyAmazingEmporium  
  43. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Fabpatterns1015
  44. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AtomicRegeneration
  45. https://www.etsy.com/shop/rochepapierciseaux
  46. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheVintageHomeSewist
  47. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CurlicueCreations
  48. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherryCorners
  49. https://www.etsy.com/shop/NostalgiaVintage2
  50. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Redcurlzs
  51. https://www.etsy.com/shop/knightcloth
  52. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DejaVuPatterns
  53. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ErikawithaK
  54. https://www.etsy.com/shop/dizzyfloozy  
  55. https://www.etsy.com/shop/allthepreciousthings
  56. https://www.etsy.com/shop/byRickMarsh
  57. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JerseyGirlPatterns
  58. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatternsFromThePast
  59. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CuttingBack
  60. https://www.etsy.com/shop/retrochick66
  61. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Fancywork
  62. https://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneymoonBus  
  63.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/PattysPastTimes ***
  64. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatternAndStitch BLITZ
  65. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sutlerssundries SALE
  66. https://www.etsy.com/shop/neverwares  NEVER




Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Focus On: Formal Outerwear

By Sherri of Sew Betty and Dot

In keeping with the Pattern Patter team's festive treasury focus this month--Holiday Cocktail Party-let's take a look at all the ways you can cover up--and MAYBE stay warm--on the way to your party. I say "maybe" stay warm because some of these are really more decorative than practical. Doesn't that define fashion, in a certain sense?

The focus here is on capes, capelets, shawls, stoles, boleros, and long or opera coats. I'll look at more practical outerwear in a future post.

A (very) brief history of capes: everyone, men and women, used to wear cloaks, long (to the feet) and shapeless garments with slits for one's arms--in early days, these cloaks often doubled as people's blankets. Cloaks began to be more structured garments, and they developed collars and a piece that draped over the shoulders: the cape.

As women's fashions became more exuberant--especially the sleeves and the skirt shape--the cloak began to be shorter. Think of the bustle: cloaks would have hidden that feature (and made women look even more odd, with a bustle causing the cloak to protrude in the back).

Left: Man's cloak, French, 1580-1600, V&A Museum, from commons.wikimedia.com
Center: Spanish cloaks from 1848 English tailoring guide, from BlackTieGuide.com
Right: Woman's cape, English, 1830. Courtesy LACMA, from commons.wikimedia.org

What patterns are available for YOU to use to make your own formalwear cover-up? Check it out!

As always, please click on the images to enlarge them to see more detail.

Captivating capes and capelets:


Top row: Simplicity 3986: PinkPolkaDotButton

Stunning stoles and shawls:


Beautiful boleros:

And finally, some fascinating formal coats (and let's not forget the dolls!):

How do YOU stay warm when you're dressed in your party frock? Tell us in the comments! 

I have to admit that I did once go to the L.A. Opera in a Max Studio long dress, Doc Martens, and a black motorcycle jacket. Ahem. It WAS the early 1980s!

Please be sure to shop with the team on Black Friday...lots of shops will be having smokin' sales, so stay tuned!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Featured Shop: Vintage Needle Finds


Hello, my name is Debora and my shop is VintageNeedleFinds, which I opened June 6, 2012. I have been married for over 3 decades to a very wonderful soul mate. We have a son and I have three wonderful step children (adults actually) who have given me a growing extended family with 7 grandchildren and two wonderful great grandchildren. We live in North West Georgia at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I started sewing as a child in my grandmother’s interior design business, which helped me to develop the discipline and focus needed to sew. However, I did not share the love of interior design and I eventually moved toward fashion.

The area of Georgia where we live is rich in history and has many local historical events. I started creating costumes about 10 years ago for local clients who attend the many historical events in the area. I am semi-retired but still do work with a few clients throughout the year. My personal focus in sewing is the Art Deco era from around 1920 though the 1940's.
I created my shop to find loving homes for my rather large collection of vintage and
antique patterns.  I love having them but knew that I wouldn't be able to take them with me! I was drawn to Etsy because of the vast amounts of beautiful patterns available from sellers from all over the world and I knew this was where I wanted to be. There are times when I love being the teacher and then there are times I rather be the student.  If I had to offer any advice to someone interested in sewing vintage it would be to try it. You can find reference material at your local library, many vintage sewing blogs on the web and there are many wonderful shops here on Etsy that offer everything you could need from fabrics to buttons and patterns and of course have fun!

Visit my shop through November 30th and use Coupon Code -  VNEEDLENOV for 20% OFF any purchase.