Vintage Sewing Notions

Please join me in a vintage session of vintage sewing notions. I will be sew glad if you like them as much as I do. But before we do that, a story.

I grew up in a large family of girls and wore a lot of hand me downs. I was so tiny for my age, my older sisters’ cast offs never fit. My Mom had two sisters who didn’t bear their daughters on the early side, but just itched to sew some clothes for little girls. When they came to visit us, sometimes there was something sewn on their machines for me to wear.

In junior high, we females had home economics and learned sewing and the basics of cooking and baking. I loved being at a sewing machine and wanted one of my own. I was terrible at making mistakes that I wouldn’t undo, but my skills increased even if my patience didn’t. I did get a secondhand machine in high school and sewed the Twiggy-style junior fashion of the day.

As a newlywed, I bought myself a new Singer and went to classes on how to use that exact model. Unfortunately I stupidly sold it just a few years ago. I have since acquired a newer model without all the bells and whistles, and am teaching myself to sew clothing again. I have developed an amazing patience in sewing. My friends are shocked!

I love the mid 19th century word “sewist” rather than “sewer,” which means I sew but have no delusions about being a seamstress.

1956 Vintage Uncut Bathing Suit Pattern

I think I remember my mom wearing this type of bathing suit on the very rare occasion when she went to the beach with us. Mind you, she sunbathed and wouldn’t want to get her beautiful wavy brunette hair wet. She had the most amazing figure most of her life in spite of bearing six kids. I particularly love the boy short, romper-like plaid suit. This particular pattern is for a  Junior sized figure but I imagine it might have also been scaled for Women’s sizes. Sheworethedressagain on Etsy has this fun in the sun pattern for $100.

Wiss Model C Pinking Shears With Box

Antique and Vintage Sewing Machine Attachments

My machine is newer and may not be able to use these, but they are small gems of mechanical genius. These would have attached to the machine as part of the presser foot and mechanically move up and down with the movement of the needle. Just amazing. My friend’s mom was a super talented sewist and made clothes, hats and  even bedspreads and curtains for herself, her husband and her two daughters. She must have had an older model machine and upgraded to a new machine, which she used for 40 years. She kept her old attachments similar to these. We just watched a video online of a woman demonstrating some of these items, which must have made elaborate clothing and ruffles and trims with one of the older machines. This box of attachments is offered for $35 by OzarkCountryCrafting on Etsy.

Dritz Floral Comfy Chair Pincushion

I needed a new pincushion because mine was donated. I have been using an open box of pins, which tend to spill out, sending the pins rolling off the table. Pins are so much easier to grab and also to put back on the arms, back and seat cushion of this over six inch high wingback chair. This one is still in its box and the bonus green pillow holds sewing scissors and two thimbles. I’d love to have this near me when I am hand sewing  and keep some threaded needles handy. TheRedCrownBoutique on Etsy has this collectible and usable pincushion offered at $49.50.

Antique French Art Deco Sewing Kit

What a beautiful item that at one time was a mandatory travel companion. One never knows if a hem will fall or a button decides to let loose. Ordinary folks traveled with far fewer garments than we will cram into a suitcase nowadays. There is even now a return to more hand sewing and clothing repair, which I think is wonderful. A corner chair with soft music and a good light is the perfect place to hand sew. If I owned this, I would bring it on a trip with a cardboard strung with the most basic colors for repairs. This may very well might have been a gift for someone’s first trip or leaving for college. I would embrace the life that it had before it came to me. The Etsy shop StoneyJack  has this set for $82.

Here’s a picture of me and my dad in the summer of 1969. I sewed the flower power bellbottoms I am wearing. I also made the groovy sash that goes with the pants that doubles as a headscarf. Now, 50 plus years, later I have taken up sewing for pleasure. Thanks to all of the shops above for helping me with this post.

Please sign-up for our email newsletter, delivered once a week, so you don’t miss out on any of our picks or articles celebrating all things vintage.