Sewing Patterns Straight from the Time Capsule

Recently, I was given an old bread box full of scraps of fabric, ribbons and laces, buttons, and nine excellent sewing patterns that dated mainly from the late 1960s to the early and mid 1970s. The box was really a sort of time capsule, straight from someone’s home. It included shopping bags full of freshly purchased fabric and ribbons, and even an old booklet that was advertising ‘Stich Witchery’ from December of 1972.

Of course, my favourite of all the content of the bread box sewing capsule was the mixed patterns. I am in love with and intrigued by the fashion and style of the period. I haven’t even been able to look inside the patterns, for I was busy with other sewing projects for the longest time, (and still am). However, today I had time to quickly look through them, and photograph them, for you wonderful people.

This first one is actually older than I thought it was. I couldn’t find a date on the package or on the instruction paper like the others, so I simply assumed it was from the same time periods as the other patterns despite it’s ‘older’ looking style. In reality, this pattern is from 1956. This is the oldest one that was in the box, and the only one that was an Advance pattern. (The pattern number is 7812). Well, they certainly do not make them as they once did. People do not generally even use aprons for cooking or cleaning anymore (even though I’m sure that many still do), it’s not really a necessity as far as clothing anymore. This pattern was originally charged for 35¢ in the U.S. and 40¢ in Canada.

 

This next pattern is Simplicity 7641 and was dated 1968. It’s a collarless A-line dress with a high round neckline and a zipper in the back. It could have been made with or without short sleeves. There was also a pattern for a long sleeved, button up jacket with a lined collar. From what I have seen, this dress style was quite common and popular among young girls in this era. Although I personally would not usually wear something quite as feminine as this (I am a boy, after all), I think it was an attractive and daring style for other individuals who would fancy to wear it. I’m thinking about making it, but sizing it for somebody else who would like to wear it. This outfit is dainty and ladylike, and was originally priced at 75c for both the U.S. and Canada.

This particular pattern is the Simplicity 8200 from 1969. It includes patterns for a jumpsuit, jumper, and blouse. (Let me apologies for the big, missing cut out in the photo, I’m not sure what happened, of course, but I hope you can still get the image).The blouse has a button closing in the back, set in sleeves gathered at the arm hole (long or short options), and a two piece ‘Peter-Pan collar’. The long sleeved option of the shirt has elastic casing forming ‘self ruffles’. (shown in the second picture, it was cut out of the first). The sleeveless and collarless jumpsuit and jumper have a low, round neckline and a zipper on the back side. Personally, I absolutely love jumpsuits similar to this. Not necessarily the same exact, but some of them that I have seen are absolutely wonderful. This lovable and dreamy jumpsuit pattern was charged for 75c in the U.S. and 85c in Canada.

Here is another from 1969, Simplicity 8498. This pattern features a dress optional in two lengths. It has no collar and a front seam (along the ‘skirt’ part of the dress). It has a zipper in the back. It has optional long or short sleeves, and an option for a fabric belt, stitched into the dress and buttoned in the back. The skirt can be chosen to be made to reach the knees or the ankle (which seams to carry a more elegant look). The general style of this type of dress is similar to the 7641, or the pattern from 1968 shown above. However it is also quite different, due to the fact that this pattern has seams  in the front under the torso and the centre of the skirt. This appears to be a more prototypical and essential outfit. It was originally charged for 85c in the U.S. and 90c in Canada.

This bouncy and spunky looking outfit is from 1971, Simplicity 9319. It’s a jumpsuit and jacket, and the animated colours used to illustrate it on the pattern are a perfect example of the liveliness an outfit like this shows. The jumpsuit has leg length sizes from mid thigh, to ankle and has a zipper located in the front, and a low square neckline and an option of braid trim. Then there is an unlined jacket also with braid trim and a front button closing, long sleeves, a ‘V’ shaped neck line and patch pockets with ‘self flaps’. In the illustration, it is modelled with a white belt (on the middle, long leg length jumpsuit), and I think that it looks absolutely wonderful. I don’t usually see people wearing jumpsuits anymore, and what an intriguing thing it would be to put back into style. This coordinated outfit was originally charged for a solid $1 in both Canada and the U.S.

This is Simplicity 5204,coming from the year 1972. It includes patterns for long, high-waisted pants, a mini skirt, and a vest. The miniskirt has a zipper in the back and a waistband. The vest has a ‘V’ shaped neckline and and false pockets. The pants also have a back zipper closing as well as turned cuffs along the ankle. ‘Clothing that matches’ has sort of taken a new meaning these days. Wearing two items that are the same colour, is matching. It’s very rare that someone wears, say, a vest that has the exact fabric pattern as their pants. (Shown in the illustrated model on the far left). I personally love such a combination, but I guess matching like that isn’t an everyday thing anymore. This pattern was charged for $1 in the U.S. and $1.10 in Canada.

Also from 1972, is this next pattern, Simplicity 9887. This is an unlined jacket, mini-skirt, pants and shorts. The mini-skirt, pants and shorts all have a left-side zipper and an elastic waistband. The mini-skirt displays pleats in the front. The pants are slightly ‘bell shaped’ (Oh!). The jacket is unlined with a button closing in the front and notched collar, peats in the back, long set-in sleeves, patch-pockets and an optional back band. This outfit seems to have a brilliant audacious look to it. This once cost $1 in the U.S. and $1.10 in Canada.

Jumping forward a bit to 1975, I show you this pattern, Simplicity 7093. It’s a shirt-jacket, a skirt, and/or pants. The original pattern included transfers for stitching on the floral designs shown on the illustrated model on the farthest right. The shirt-jacket has a front band and button closing, or snap closing ‘shirt-type’ collar, long set-in sleeves that are pleated to the button or snap fastened cuffs. It has patch pockets with a flap, fastened with a button or snap. The pants and skirt have a front zipper and waistband. The pants have curved seaming. Maybe it’s just me, but something about this outfit has a wonderful ‘rainy day’ feel to it. This pattern originally sold for $1.50 in both Canada and the U.S.

Lastly, is the Simplicity 7185, also from 1975. It looks very similar to the last pattern shown. It’s a simple pantsuit, with a top stitched jacket, trimmed with embroidery or some optional designs. The jacket has a front button closing, a ‘shirt-type’ collar, patch pocket with button flaps, and long sleeves with buttoned cuffs. Also, includes the pattern for top stitched pants with a fly front zipper. With the right kind of fabric, this look could really go along way. It’s agreeably casual but still quite alluring and attractive. It originally sold for $1.50 in both Canada and the U.S.