Vintage Sewing Patterns – SEW Many Clever Uses! 2

I love vintage sewing patterns. I don’t sew (though I can manage a straight line), but I really love the patterns (and maybe one day, I’ll actually learn how to sew).

Patterns from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s are my favorites. It’s the illustrations that draw me in – like a magnet. The fashion during those eras make me think: Stylish. Sophisticated. Elegant, yet simple.

I also love the flexibility of vintage patterns. Sure, if you know how to sew, you can make yourself an entire new wardrobe – and you’d look pretty darn good, too! But if you’re a non-seamstress like me, there ARE other uses for vintage patterns! Here are some ideas.

Using Vintage Patterns

• Scan the pattern envelope to create digital illustrations.
  • Print the digital images in color or in black and white, frame them, and hang them on a wall – instant art!
  • Use the digital images to create custom greeting cards, gift tags, bookmarks – or any other kind of paper project you are working on.
  • Bring your digital images to a printer and have large size prints made, then use that paper as custom gift wrap – clever, eh?
  • Print the images on transfer paper, and iron the images onto tote bags or lunch bags, or even t-shirts.
  • If you’re good with a photo editor program, you could even turn these illustrations into coloring pages – adult coloring pages are all the rage right now!
• Make colored copies of the images, and use the copies as embellishments in scrapbooks or journals, or even for your decoupage projects.
• Use the patterns themselves as special gift wrap for small items. Tie a vintage ribbon around the package, and add the gift card or tag you made (see above) for a special touch.
• Use the pattern paper instead of standard tissue paper inside gift bags.
• The tissue paper patterns can also be used to make tissue paper flowers and wreaths.
• Embellish a standard Christmas light string with mini paper flowers around each light – just cut strips of pattern paper to 3′ long x 2″ wide. Use a scallop scissors on one side of the strips, if desired. Wrap the strips around the base of each light bulb on the string of lights, going around and around the base until you come to the end of the strip, then wrap floral tape around the base of the paper flower to hold it onto the light base. Continue for all remaining light bulbs, and you’ll end up with a very cool light string that is perfect for decorating your room.
• Use the pattern paper for decoupaging, embellishing artist trading cards, and other mixed media projects.

Do you have ideas for other non-standard uses for vintage patterns? Share in a comment below!

TIP: The Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki website contains information on sewing patterns by decade, along with images of sewing patterns. It’s an excellent resource to look up patterns by manufacturer and pattern number, and is useful for dating the year of a pattern – like the patterns below, that are in our shop now.