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History of New York Pattern Co
New York Pattern Co
operated for a very brief period between 1932 and the early 1950's.
Not much is known about them. The art work is exquisite and most if
not all patterns are unprinted. The sleeves are slim compared to
other pattern envelopes and were probably meant for mailing.
The pattern number is
only an indicator of the date on vintage sewing patterns. You
can’t use the number alone because the companies would start over
again when they got to a certain level. You must consider the
general silhouette of the clothing along with other factors such as
hair, price, sizing and envelope style and logo placement you can
get pretty close to the issue or copyright date. Please be
aware that even if a pattern is dated, it could have been in
production for years and could even be a re-release of a previous
number.
Style eras
often crossed decade lines. For instance it is very difficult
to tell a 1938 pattern from a 1941 pattern. The basic style
and design elements were the same. The same thing applies for
1959-1961 and again in the 60s and 70's. There is more
difference between 1964 and 1967 that there is between 1969 and
1971.
Besides the general
look and art work of vintage patterns, the sizing can be a very good
indicator. In the beginning of Home Patterns, the bust
measurement is often the only measurement given. By the 1940s
patterns gave bust and hip measurements but often the waist was not
given (due to the fact that the sewist could change that element).
Until 1956 a Size 12
was for a 30 inch bust. In 1956 sizing changed and a Size 12
was for a 32 inch bust. In mid 1967 the standard changed once
again and a Size 12 became a 34 inch bust and remains so today.
So if you are trying to date something near the year of size change,
the size can be a great clue.
All Numbers
listed have been found either on a dated pattern, or in a magazine
or other publication of the period.
These pages
are constantly changing as new information and new publications are
found. So check back often to see the current changes.
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