Wearing History

09/02/2026

Just a roundup of all the cute vintage patterns I've release this year, since I always forget to post them on Ye Olde Blog!

If you're on my new-ish email list, you'll also get this in your inbox today :) I lost my previous email list (thousands of subscribers!) due to a change in MailChimp. Womp womp. So if you want to get back on the list head over to my website or check the blog :)

Howdy, Y’all. It’s time for a pattern roundup, since I’m absolute rubbish at remembering to post on the blog when I have new things to share!

09/01/2026

Hurrah! Finished up the second kid's pattern I've had in the works since the beginning of the year!

This drop-waisted child's dress pattern is from 1916, and has been a huge hit around here. It does take quite a bit of head-scratching to figure it out (original vague instructions), but hopefully my notes on the pieces will help you decipher the antique original.

This is in the original size 6 ONLY, and is from the Pattern Preservation Project. I made my version in a nice soft cotton plaid with linen/cotton accents and antique buttons. It's very comfortable and cool to wear, and doesn't feel very costumey!

Note that I lengthened the original skirt for a slightly taller child, and took in some of the circumference for this sample. The opening overlapping the pocket is true to the period pattern (contrary to the illustration), so you can adapt that placement to your preferences.

The e-pattern download and printed pattern are available now in Etsy and on my website. http://wearinghistory.etsy.com and http://wearinghistorypatterns.com

Yay! Most of my in-works patterns for this year are now completed and I can start something new! Probably for adults this time around ;)

08/21/2026

I love a good art deco bathroom, and there’s something extra surprising about this one. I bet this isn’t what you think of when you picture Little House on the Prairie, but this was actually a Sears home bought by Rose Wilder for her mother and father, Laura and Almanzo Wilder. Isn’t it crazy to think the same kid whose experience was written in the Little House books had this as an adult?

She actually preferred her 1890s house so moved back there after a few years, but that time span of “covered wagon” to “art deco”, and that there were folks alive who experienced both, will never cease to amaze me.

Extra shout out to the cool closets and vintage kitchen, and the transparent towel racks in the bathroom.

(Latergram, from our trip to MO last month ❤️)

08/19/2026

Welp, I didn't expect to finish up a pattern today, but here we are! I started this in the Spring, when I found some really great 1930s reproduction quilting fabrics and discovered the lack of cute reproduction 1930s dress patterns for kiddos out there.
And so, here it is!
This one is a size 6 (one size only), and is full of iconically 1930s kid styling. I personally think it would be adorable in reproduction feed sack cotton with contrast bias trimming and buttons. The original didn't call for decorative bias, but did say you could decorate with rows of cute topstitching!
My kiddo has since had a big growth spurt, and wasn't toddler size even when I started it, but perhaps some of you out there may be able to use this little cutie for your own kids, grandkids, friend's kids, children in theatre or film, or what have you!

Suggested for advanced, because I didn't add extra instructions and the originals are quite vague and text-only. But I hope someone will attempt this cutie and share some photos with me!

Listed now on both my Etsy shop and website. Available as printed patterns and pdfs.

08/17/2026

As promised, the first bunch of images from the wonderful estate sale find. These were completely torn in half, down the fold line, and I had to puzzle and piece eachbit together.
This is the little pattern "newspaper" for Pictorial Review Patterns in April of 1919.
Larger images and text (including pattern numbers) are on my blog at wearinghistoryblog.com
My blog also has a new look! My old site could no longer receive updates, so a new theme was just installed. If it looks a bit different, that's why. It's still me, I haven't been hacked ;)
More pages next time!
#1919

08/15/2026

It’s been a while since I’ve found some really good pattern related stuff locally. Super exited about this estate sale haul!
NFS, but I’ll try to do some scans and remaster some of these chopped up old catalogs. Will post on my blog when I share pics!

08/14/2026

Hey all!
I just posted some free antique clip art images on my blog over here. Feel free to download and use them for your own projects. All from original antique sources that I remastered- No A.I. over here!
https://wearinghistoryblog.com/2026/08/free-clip-art-edwardian-frames/
Here's just one of them as a teaser image. Click the link for all of them.

08/13/2026

Finally! I know a few of you have been patiently waiting for me to finish up this awesome pattern. I finally put the e-pattern layouts together, and this liittle beauty is now listed online.

This one is in one size only, size 36" bust, 39" hip. It's very iconically early 1930s, and slips on over the head with no side fasteners and minimal waist shaping. If you want a closer fit, you can tie on a peplum or use a cute little belt (a good excuse to use those art deco buckles you may have been hoarding).

This one is Advanced, with minimal instruction. Best for those who are familiar with vintage construction and fit, or have a strong adventurous spirit for experimentation.

This can now be found in my Etsy shop and my website. Links in profile.
http://wearinghistory.etsy.com
http://wearinghistorypatterns.com

08/10/2026

Just wanted to share this absolutely stunning hat my friend is selling. Truly a work of art!

08/09/2026

Adventureland party outfit! I finished up this split skirt (secret pants) from my pattern AC111 (circa 1919-1920) in just two days! It’s paired with the 1930s “Sagebrush” blouse here for my adventurey look.

I made my split skirt from thrifted linen curtains. I was lucky to find a set of three, so I should have enough to make myself a jacket. I think they were about $6 each, and I used almost two panels, so fabric was about $12 total. I used the pattern I came out with several years ago now, from an antique original. Not going to lie, even I had quite a few head scratching moments since it’s been a while since I made the reproduction. It’s definitely “Advanced Difficulty”. Have an antique sewing book ready. In the end I just went with my gut, and this was 95% machine sewn since I was in a hurry. I ended up taking the waist in about an inch and a half- I find these 1910s skirts do run large at the top edge consistently, so I expected the change. I used a shorter internal waistband than the pattern called for so it easily works for lots of historical and vintage time periods. I ended up making up a snap placket since these old patterns never included fastening instructions. And I made 20 buttonholes and attached 20 buttons! Since no button markings were included in antique patterns either, I just used my button gauge tool stretched to its max and went with that spacing. The buttons are old store stock natural shell purchased at least ten years ago.

For accessories I’ve got an antique hat I bought at a reenacting timeline event many moons ago, a vintage scarf, antique lace up adventure boots (barely fit me since I had a kid but I squeezed into them for the night), and a thrifted belt and thrifted antique purse.

Putting together cool outfits doesn’t have to be expensive, it just takes sourcing patience 🙂

It was fun, and I loved having an excuse to dress up. I hadn’t done it in a while!