Butterick Pattern Company

Created by Ebenezer Butterick in 1863.  The first patterns were for men and boy's clothing and were cut and folded by members of his family.  By 1866 they began supplying women's dress patterns. 

In 1867, Butterick published the "Ladies Quarterly of Broadway Fashions" and in 1868 added the "Metropolitan".  In 1873 "The Delineator" began publication.  The first pattern instruction sheet was introduced in the 1920's and was call the "Deltor" and perhaps helped the Butterick Company survive the Depression when other pattern companies failed .

In 1948, Butterick started printing markings directly onto the tissue pattern.

Butterick pattern #6015 (the Walk-away Dress) was such a popular phenomenon that the company stopped production of all other patterns until the demand for #6015 stopped.  No other pattern before or since has been such a best seller.

For a more through History go to the Butterick Website

Pre 1930

Prior to the 1930's Butterick had no real design or logo plan.  You will find many different types of lettering and information.  Basic styles will be your best indicator of when these patterns were made.

1930-1939

1930's Butterick number series appears to have started around the 3000 number and continued through 8900.  Since none of these patterns are dated, it is impossible to verify, but you can follow the sequence of styles through the years and get a rough estimate.  Butterick used many different logo placements in this era so the logo is not a good indicator.  Style and length are better indications of the dates.

1940-1949

Butterick was still changing the logos around and trying to settle on a distinct "look"

Some say Companion and some don't.

1950-1959

In 1951 the found their envelope design niche.  A colored box in the upper left hand corner with block letters "Butterick Printed Pattern"  They moved the logo again in 1959 and removed the colored background of the box.

1960-1969

1960's started with the 9000 series and the Side logo of block letters.  The numbers started over again with 1000 in the early 60's and Butterick moved the block letters to the top of the envelope in 1966.

In the late 60s, there was a Butterick Boutique line.

1970-1980

1970's showed few changes except for the serif font, until 1979 when the company reverted once again to Block Letters.  These are a bit different from the earlier fonts but the simplicity of the styles as well as the pricing give you a clear difference between the eras.

After several years selling and handling old sewing patterns and catalogs, I have compiled this list of dates and pattern numbers.  Since most patterns are not printed with the copyright information on them this list is computed using information from magazines, pattern books and other published sources.  The best I can do most of the time is assume that if a pattern is published in a catalog that is it's date of release.  There are of course crossovers and some patterns are rereleased.  So there is definitely room for error in my calculations. 

This guide is meant as just that.......A GUIDE.  It is not a definitive copyright date source.

Many Thanks to: Erin at "A Dress A Day" for creating the wonderful "Sewing Pattern Wiki", all of the contributors to the Wiki, and all of my wonderful friends and pattern sellers, (especially Birgit at Stitches and Loops ) and collectors who share their information and photos and knowledge.  (there are too many to list here, but you can find them on my Links Page,) and last but definitely not least, my Dear Husband for giving me tons of help and encouragement to research all of the data to compile for your research benefit.