williamsews

Vintage patterns. I have been sorting old patterns, changing them from plastic bags to envelopes, which are acid-free and will preserve them. Fashion and styles evolve, but some men’s fashion is constant, these clothes would certainly be fashionable today. These are from the late 1930s to early 1940s – I’m so glad the date is included on patterns. I won’t make these garments, but I do love old patterns. I have some from the 1960s that I will wear. Charity shops used to be a great source of these patterns, but it not anymore, pity. Back to sorting these treasures. Please visit my YouTube channel:  williamsews - YouTube Take care, Will.  

  Flour sack fabrics were borne out of necessity and poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the patterns endure today. Families were so poor that women made clothes; dresses, shirts, toys, etc, out of the cotton bags that contained flour. When the manufacturers realised this, they began to print the bags with fashionable designs. The patterns were quite beautiful. I have bought new copies of the fabrics and, along with US Civil War or Victorian patterns, they are my favourite. Reusable sacks were a wonderful idea, I suppose people don’t buy in such bulk anymore. It’s recycling at its best. Still making shirts but fabric is becoming scarce. I will have to face the world soon. Take care, Will,

  I was shopping in a newsagent yesterday when a customer asked if they had any postcards, the young assistant didn’t know what they were. It seems that they have gone the way of telegrams, aerogrammes and so many other past and passé items. I sent postcards to my mum from every place I visited in my travelling days (along with souvenir spoons), they were fun and the photos were much better than any I could take…except I wasn’t in the shot. I sent dozens over the years, they were a great way to send a short message (Wish you were here) and were the text messages of their day. I scrabbled around and found a few that have been saved; The variety was wonderful; whimsical, artistic, funny or scenic. The cards I treasure are from the First World War, my grandfather sent them to my grandmother from France. Two of them had embroidered pockets to insert another, more private note. My sewing consists of repairs and alterations at the moment while I decide what to make next…I am sewing a few...