We are often asked how can a sewing pattern be downloadable, as many sewers are used to tissue paper patterns and obviously the tissue paper pieces cannot be downloaded.....let us explain.
Vintage and antique publications often published 'patterns' which were actually very simple 'instructions' of how to make a sewn item. Very often in publications over a hundred years old the item would be made from simple shapes of fabric such as rectangles or squares, or circles which the publishers felt that sewers could easily measure and cut out themselves.
This is a good example of such an item- this is a smocked handbag dating from the 1890s which is made from rectangles of fabric which are then smocked (we also include the smocking instructions)
So these instructions are easily downloadable and understandable as they are in a written form.
As time went by,some patterns started to become a little more sophisticated in the publications and so they needed to convey more intricate shapes- this meant that they then used 'diagrams' or 'drafts' This meant that the pattern shape was drawn onto a grid of one inch squares. The squares were then made smaller so that they could fit onto the pages of the publication and then the sewer was asked to use one inch squared paper - it could be bought ready made or the sewer could draw the grid themselves- and translate the shape square by square onto their paper. This sounds tricky but was in fact ingenuously simple. By looking at where the lines crossed each square (eg in the middle of the line or at the corner) the sewer could easily draw the shape by following the lines. Some sewers worry that the lines must be drawn freehand but in fact it is much more like joining dots....
Some patterns are very simple still like this one
This is part of a pattern for a 1940s shoulder bag. 1940s patterns often used diagrams to save using precious paper and sewers were encouraged to reuse old newspapers or used brown wrapping paper to trace their patterns. Sometimes there is no grid- and as the shapes are simple, just a diagram is given with measurements, like this one for an apron
We do realise that some sewers are still a little nervous so we do offer a email back up service where you can ask us questions at any time. We are very friendly and have taught many students over the years and understand how to keep things simple and logical for you.
We do like people to 'have a go' as the best way to learn, in our experience, is actually just to try and do it!
Hopefully we have now explained how a sewing pattern can be downloaded from our site, but if you feel yu need any further information, do please ask.
