Sewing Patterns

Sewing patterns gained commercial success in the late 1800s after Ebeneezer Butterick invented the graded sewing pattern, in response to his wife's wish that patterns could come in different sizes. Another boost came with the advent of fashion magazines, which included patterns for current styles that readers could make them themselves. Most vintage sewing (e.g. dress or apron) patterns are paper or cardboard, so an older vintage pattern in good condition is a rare find.