Vintage Pattern Preservation

I've been an avid doll collector for many years and as such have collected vintage doll clothes patterns as well. Many of these patterns are tattered, torn and sometimes in extremely rough condition due to their age and use. Below, I will share with you a method I use for saving a copy of these treasured patterns .

I've been a doll collector since I was in my teens. I have over a hundred vintage dolls. My favorites are the vintage Revlon, Cissy and other high heel footed little ladies of the nineteen-sixties. Needless to say, their original clothes are almost impossible to find and if your lucky enough by some miracle to locate an article or two. They can cost you an arm and a leg. The good news is that you can make them yourself. The downside is that there aren't any new patterns being manufactured for these vintage dolls. Don't despair, thanks to the Internet you can usually acquire the original vintage patterns, priced fairly reasonably at places like eBay and Ruby Lane. The bad news is that nine times out of ten, the patterns are so old and worn out that they're next to impossible to use and tear up easily.

I learned a long time ago that each time I acquire a vintage pattern to make a more permanent copy of it and it's paid off. If you would like to have a more durable copy of a favorite vintage pattern, just follow the directions below. You'll turn a barely or non-usable old pattern into one you can use for many years to come.

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need:

scissors

vintage or favorite pattern you want to save

Scotch tape, if needed

Iron

interfacing

straight pins

tracing paper (optional)

Step 1. If the pattern is vintage and not in good shape, carefully take the pattern out of envelope. Separate the pieces.

Step 2. Gently smooth each piece with your hand if possible. Then carefully press with warm iron, to make the pattern pieces lay flat.

Step 3. If there are any tears or rips in the pattern, lay flat and carefully secure the tear together with scotch tape.

Step 4. Lay the interfacing on a flat surface and place the pattern pieces on top, secure with straight pins.

Step 5. Carefully cut the pieces out, be sure to transfer the markings, darts, etc. either by hand or use tracing paper.

Step 6. Save your new interfacing pattern in a large zip lock bag.

When you acquire an original vintage pattern, be extremely careful when you remove the pattern pieces from the envelope. Many of the vintage patterns are fragile and  are vulnerable to being destroyed, just from the process of taking them out of the package.

Notice the vintage pattern to the right; at first glance, the pattern envelope doesn't look like it's in that bad of shape to be as old as it is, but check out the small rips and tears . The pattern pieces that are folded inside, have rips and tears all through them. The damage is in many areas of each pattern piece, due to the way they were folded. Not to mention, the pieces were dry and a little brittle, due to how and where they were stored so many years ago.

1.Be sure to label the bag for future reference.

2. If possible, make a photo copy of the original pattern envelope and a copy of the instruction sheet . Place them inside the baggie as well.

This new pattern made of interfacing is extremely durable and will last for years to come.