Vintage Finds on Ebay

July 24th, 2008 in sewing, other crafts

Caitlin Channing, contributor

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Photo: Caitlin Channing

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Do you know that feeling when you find something so special and unique you just have to have it? And that little item brings so much joy into your life? Well, about a year ago I was sick of studying during finals week and even though I should have had my nose in a book I just had to take a break. I went onto Ebay, which is something I hardly ever do, and typed in vintage patterns. I was mainly looking for images but came across a McCall's pattern catalog from 1951. It was a bit tattered and torn of course but as I scrolled through the images I just had to have it. I placed a bid and continued to do so until it ended and to my surprise...I won!!!

About a week later as I was unpacking from my move back home it was delivered to my door and I ripped through the packing material as a 5 year old would on Christmas Day. It was beautiful...the drawings, the photographs and the clothes, oh the clothes! I loved it so much that I went back online to see what else I could find. It took a few days of searching but finally a listing for a 1975 Butterick's pattern catalog came up. I was persistent in bidding and my love of the item must have paid off because I won the bid!

What is so great about my pattern catalogs is that I can look at them and be inspired by vintage items and to see how fashion re-creates itself. I love them and wanted to share them with you. I took a few pictures of some of my favorite pages that might just inspire you to snoop around Ebay for your own vintage finds!

posted in: sewing, other crafts, vintage, 70s, 50s

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Comments (3)

jonwen45 writes: I dearly love looking at the vintage patterns and also the fabric. I am old enough that I have seen styles and fads repeat themselves over several generations.But one thing that I have observed is that good taste never goes out of style and usually these kinds of clothes can be updated by changing the hem line,or sleeve length,or a lot of times by just using an updated scarf,belt,jewelry,etc. I would take a guess that might have been the beginning of some recycling.....when a stylish lady had to stay on a budget,but she was always the most fashionable lady at all of her social events...because she knew how to "make do". Posted: 6:29 pm on July 25th

HeleninCA writes: What a hoot! I think I have some of these patterns. Fashion eventually comes back and maybe I will be able to use them someday. Posted: 1:13 pm on July 25th

MichaelaMurphy writes: These are simply smashing. It is so funny to look at these too. I have, right now, several new dresses that look exactly like a couple of these pages. Thanks for sharing these--they would make great coffee table books! Posted: 9:59 pm on July 24th

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