Hobbies And Interests
History
Although Ebeneezer Butterick may not have been the first person to think of creating a sewing pattern before cutting out fabric, he was the first on record to produce and sell a graded (different sized) pattern made on tissue paper. He was also the first known person to manufacture the instruction sheet along with the sewing pattern, in mass, for sale to the public in 1863. Before that time sewers, mostly women making clothes for their families, used a kind of wax chalk to draw garment pieces directly onto the fabric. Originally the patterns were only for men and boys, probably because Mr. Butterick was a tailor. However, women's garment patterns were added to the new company three years later.
Types
Butterick, one of the oldest pattern manufacturers, is still going strong. They have had many guest designers--who created clothing specifically for Butterick--to create sewing patterns to sell to the public.
McCalls is one of the larger and older companies still manufacturing sewing patterns today. They have also employed famous designers for the purpose of creating sewing patterns.
Simplicity began its company on the premise, as per its name, of creating easy-to-use sewing patterns and selling them to America's middle class.
Vogue, known for its famous magazine, began producing sewing patterns in 1899. Six years later, they started selling their patterns through mail order. The patterns were then sold in retail stores eleven years later. These patterns are more high-end designs, not so much for the ordinary everyday wear of middle class women. The patterns are mostly for the more advanced sewer.
Significance
Commercial sewing patterns changed the history of how people created garments. They no longer had to draw a pattern from memory onto the fabric. There were hard, card-like patterns available. However, they only came in one size, leaving the sewer to reduce or increase the patterns to the size needed. With commercial, graded sewing patterns, the sewer could purchase the size needed. This fact eliminated the guess work and saved a lot of time.
Today, a sewer, using a pattern that many times comes in multiple sizes within the same pattern packet, can save quite a bit of money. Besides garments, sewing patterns can be found for pet accessories, quilts, dolls, handbags, and hats.
Considerations
Sewing pattern manufacturers are making it easier all the time for the home sewer to create something unique or something much like other garments and fabric items in stores. It might be considered creativity with help. The sewer chooses the fabric and notions such as lace, trims and buttons, but he uses a standard pattern. Anyone else can purchase the same pattern and basically making the same item, yet no two will ever be the same.
Misconceptions
A beginning sewer may not think she can complete many different items. But, today's sewing patterns note on the front of the sewing pattern packet--as well as in catalogs--which patterns are for beginners, intermediate and advanced sewers. Everything a sewer needs to know about items needed to complete the project are on the back of the pattern packet. Once home with the necessary fabric and notions, if the instruction sheet is followed step by step, anyone choosing the correct pattern for her sewing level should succeed.