Summer Pattern News Update!

Hello, my friends!

Long time no blog update on the pattern line!  I did a Facebook Live video with this news, but here’s a proper blog post as well.

So, a while back, while I was actually still pregnant with my baby (who is now over one and a half!) I mentioned that Wearing History may be going back to doing some single size patterns.  Well,  that day has come!

Now, before you get too sad, let me say that I’m still going to do multi-size patterns.  YES!  I will!  But… I’m taking a bit of a break.

Why?

Well, life has been a bit tricky for me lately.  My baby is running EVERYWHERE.  My mom has Alzheimers and it’s a bit stressful. Life is moving fast, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up.  I came out with only TWO multi-size patterns last year!  I used to do almost one a month!  And the one I did this year I plunged a good six months into making it up with photo instructions and multi-size and everything… but sometimes my idea of what’s an awesome pattern and YOUR idea of what an awesome pattern is can be a bit different.

So I had to take a step back.  WHY am I doing what I’m doing and HOW do I move forward in my life as it is now?

I started making vintage style patterns in 2007.  That’s over ten years ago!  Back in ye olden days of Wearing History they were what the industry standard of the time was- hand drawn copies of period originals and photo copies of instructions.

Well, being a bit of a self-driven nut, I couldn’t just stop there… so I thought “I’d better computer draw these so they’re more accurate.”  And then I thought “I’d better true these up, because some of these old babies are wonky.”  and then I thought “I’d better multi-size them so more people can sew them”.  And then I added photos of them made up, blog tutorials, even some videos!  And the last one had photo instructions!

Which is all AWESOME if you’ve got the time and mental energy to do all that!  Phew! It’s a LOT of work!

But let’s be honest- we’re a super niche market.  Before long, I was throwing lots of time and energy into things that were a bit of a gamble.  Some patterns I’d nearly kill myself for and sell, like, ten copies.  Other ones, like ones I drafted myself, like the Smooth Sailing, took off like rockets!  That’s still my best selling pattern.

But I need to be honest with myself. I can’t do what I used to do.  At least, not right now.

So, I’m trying something new. Which is also something old.

I have TREASURES.  Total TREASURES of vintage goodness.  Things I wouldn’t be able to do for YEARS AND YEARS if I did my old methods.  Especially in my current life.

So, I hit off the new idea with a BANG and am bringing you THREE NEW PATTERNS!  All single size, from original period source material-  but trued up, because, let’s be honest- some of those oldies needed improvements!  Typed up instructions, pretty little packets.  Good quality like you’re used to from me.

Our first 1950’s Dress and Bolero in a 36″ bust, 30″ waist.

Our first 1920’s pattern is a dolman blouse in size 38″ bust, 42″ hip

And a late 1930’s wrap dress in size 34″ bust, 28″ waist.

And what are we doing next?  MORE of these!  I’m trying to pick a variety of sizes.  As you know, most vintage goodies were small.  But for this first batch I’ve got one size 34″ bust, one size 36″ bust, one size 38″ bust.  I will try to keep varying the sizes.  Most originals I have are on the smaller size, but I am going to try to get some other ones in there, too.

Evening gowns!  Bathing Suits!  Lots of cool things!  What are you looking for? Let me know!

And what’s after we have more single size patterns out?  When my life calms down a bit on a personal level, we’ll do a vote.  And I will pick the one you all vote should be multi-sized. We see what size range that particular pattern can be safely graded to (because grading does distort once you get beyond a certain amount of sizes), and then we open a pre-order with a minimum number needed to get it fulfilled.  And when we hit that number, it gets made!

Why?  Because then I KNOW what you guys want! I can do what we need to do to meet your needs.  I give more control over to my customers, who I’m super thankful for after all these years.  You guys have made my business be able to work.  And I’m very thankful.

In the middle of this, I will have some personal project that I will make for Wearing History.  Right now I’m trying to work on a long-term 1910s pattern I started- I’m a total overachiever with photo instructions.  But I also want these cute little vintage lovelies to be made so you get more selection of rare things to find.  And then we can sew lots of pretty things!

When I’m feeling more on top of things- when my girl is a little more grown to where she can occupy herself and mama gets more uninterrupted work time I can re-evaluate where I am. But right now, I need to make the mom thing work, the daughter thing work in light of my mother’s condition, and the business thing work!

Hugs to you, my friends.  Hope you have lots of awesome summer sewing plans!

Maybe some plans now include the three new patterns?

You can get both the printed patterns and e-patterns on http://wearinghistory.clothing and the e-pattern versions on http://wearinghistory.etsy.com

 

 

4 Comments on Summer Pattern News Update!

  1. Bex
    June 18, 2018 at 4:25 pm (6 years ago)

    Sorry to hear life is so busy at the moment!
    Loving the new patterns, I had to buy the halterneck right now :D

  2. Quinn
    June 18, 2018 at 6:24 pm (6 years ago)

    Exciting announcement! It’s hard to put so much effort into projects that are received differently than you think they will be. I think this is a great attitude to be able to move forward for now. :) Best wishes of course as you tackle all the things in your life.

    Best,
    Quinn

  3. Hilde
    June 22, 2018 at 10:55 am (6 years ago)

    It is a wonderful solution, I love your idea to get your customers involved in what pattern to bring out as a multi size next!
    I hope life gets less busy for you.
    I couldn’t not buy the wrap dress, it looks amazing!

  4. karen harvey
    July 1, 2018 at 9:18 am (6 years ago)

    That sounds a fab idea to me as we all have to adapt how to work to fit in with family life and commitments. I’m loving what you’ve recently released and don’t mind single size patterns and the voting process too x Still keep on recommendation that smooth sailing trousers and blouse combo, it’s invaluable, and watch out for a tweak on one of you’re oldies that I’ve had ages and recently seen made up adapted for a stage production ;-)

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