The Archive
Guides, references, and collected knowledge for collectors and makers working with vintage sewing patterns.
How to Read a Vintage Pattern Envelope
The envelope in your hand is a document. It was printed for a woman who knew exactly what a “size 16” meant in 1954 — and that meaning has since been lost. A complete field guide to the six zones of a vintage envelope, from the size stamp to the notions list.
Read the guidePattern Anatomy
The Six Zones of a
Vintage Envelope
How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Vintage Pattern?
Most patterns from the 1940s and 1950s were drafted for 36-inch fabric — a width that no longer exists on modern bolts. Here is exactly how to convert any vintage yardage requirement to today’s 45″, 54″, or 60″ fabric.
Read the guideWhat Do Vintage Sewing Pattern Sizes Actually Mean?
A 1954 Size 14 has a 34″ bust. A modern Size 14 has a 38″ bust. The numbers have the same label and refer to completely different bodies. Here is how pattern sizing drifted — and how to always buy the right size.
Read the guide