Adding to Penny's useful post: If you want the real thing, eBay is a good
source for old patterns, and they often have the precise year on them. Last
time I did this (which was some years ago) I also found that there were a
number of web vendors specializing in vintage patterns.
Be aware that vintage patterns will have different numerical sizing, so you
need to see the actual measurements on the back of the envelope to find out
what your size would be in a particular period. Also, they were sized to fit
the model figures of their own periods. Many of today's "historical" patterns
have been revised to modern figures (bra shapes, for instance). Going for the
real vintage patterns may actually be more useful if you have a figure that
doesn't fit right in modern patterns ... but it may also mean you'll need to
do some alteration to work over your modern undergarments.
Even if you don't want a vintage pattern, a scan through the offerings may
help you pinpoint particular fashion details by year, if you want to compare
those to the ones in the modern lines.
--Robin
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