Storing and caring for my vintage patterns - The Dreamstress

By A Mystery Man Writer

Last updated 19 May 2024

Storing and caring for my vintage patterns - The Dreamstress

I inherited a bunch of vintage patterns from my Grandmother, and more from an honourary aunt, plus I’ve bought plenty, and been given even more by other lovely people, over the years. I estimate that my collecting is nearly 1,000 pattern dating from the mid 1920s, to the 1980s (plus there are the modern patterns I own!) So how do I store and care for all of these patterns? There are lots of posts entitled “How to store and organise patterns,” but really, there is no one right answer. This is just how I do it. First, each pattern goes in its own, individual, zip-lock bag. I pay $14 per 100 bags in just the right size (and try not to think about the fact that I’ve spent almost $150 in storage!). The bags protect the patterns, and keep the envelopes, some of which are fragile or torn, or coming apart at the seams where the glue has failed, from further damage. I’m working on transferring the collection to acid free comic book bags, …