How do you find patterns?

[Former_Member]

I'm just curious how everyone shops/browses for patterns? Do you search by type/the exact number? In stores or online? By company or year? Does it vary?

Just curious to see what everyone's routines are!

[TouchWoodDesign]

I'm always on the hunt for classic or unusual 1940s, 1950s and 1960s patterns so love watching this team's 'new listings' thread.

If I'm trying to track a particular pattern down then I would search by company and number. Otherwise I find it really helpful if shops have categorised their patterns by decade.

Searching for vintage patterns on Etsy is very convenient, but nothing quite beats the excitement of tracking down a box of fabulous patterns at a charity shop or garage sale!

Cheers,
Eileen.

[Former_Member]

Decade comes first for me - I definitely have my faves - 1920s and 1960s - searching on eBay and Etsy. Then I try and whittle it down by clothing item, eg. dress, coat, top...

I agree though, that nothing beats finding them at auction or charity shop - mind you that's becoming an increasingly rarer source nowadays.

[CoutureService]

I look in my pattern drawer! I'm starting to put them on line. I try to stay away from patterns. I don't know which is worse -buying fabric, or buying patterns! Probably a toss up.

[Abbysfabric]

I hit the jackpot on patterns last weekend. Found huge boxes of 1930's - 1960's patterns at two estate sales. Most never used. Now just to get them listed...

I'm like you CoutureService - I can't resist patterns, fabric or buttons.

[SerendipityinMay]

I love fabric and patterns both. Love the feeling of happening upon a bin full of vintage patterns at a garage sale; i really like finding 40s,50s,& 60s patterns in particular.

[Former_Member]

Jealous Amy!

[Former_Member]

Estate sale & auctions :-D

Seriously, though, I mostly look for doll patterns. Thus, I figure out what size doll I'm trying to dress and search. 14" doll pattern, 18" Miss Revlon Pattern, etc.

[FoxVintageUK]

I look for mainly 20-50s ones and lots but recently have been trying to find a printed pattern for a 1950s little girls dress to make for my 6yr old but its amazingly hard, tried vintage dress girls dress etc and 50s but not many come up at all, not sure where am going wrong :/

[VintageGirl007]

I'm with most of you ... can't seem to resist buying more and more patterns, fabric, yarn and buttons!

I know I need to sell some of my vintage patterns but for some reason I do not want to let them go. I was fortunate enough to purchase a pattern file cabinet for $50 from a local fabric store that was going out of business. It is FULL of patterns I have collected for over 30 years.

I need to start listing some of them, though. I wish there was a less time-consuming and an easy way to duplicate the pattern pieces of the ones I really love before selling them.