Pattern Rescue: restoring and preserving vintage sewing patterns

Restoring and preserving vintage sewing patterns

Restore Preserve Recycle Trade Post Donate Tributes Support

What can you do at Pattern Rescue?

Restore your damaged or incomplete vintage sewing patterns from the spare bits and pieces others have donated. Search our inventory of incomplete sewing patterns for the pieces you need. Replacement pieces are free; eligiblity restrictions apply. Learn more

Preserve a vintage sewing pattern and build Pattern Points by providing scans or copies of small pattern pieces, or lending your pattern to duplicate larger pieces. Learn more

Recycle unwanted patterns that are not particularly collectible. Browse through the donations and pick out a few to add to your pattern stash -- or send us the ones you no longer want but can't bear to throw away. Recycled patterns are free; limits apply. Learn more

Trade collectible vintage patterns that you don't want for one that you'll treasure. Wander through the special collection of vintage patterns and embroidery transfers in need of a new home. Collectible patterns require a trade of Pattern Points you've earned. Learn more

Post a pattern request so we can help you find that elusive sewing or embroidery pattern you've been looking for, or for a pattern piece or two to patch up your incomplete pattern. Check the posts and see if you can help. Free service; moderated. Learn more

Preview's over! You may now submit your pattern requests. :-)
Make sure you have the current version of all pages. Near the top is a message reading: "You're viewing this page as it looked on September 1, 2010" and there's a "Check for updates" button. (If a newer version of the page exists, clicking the button will display it AND the date to the left will change.)
Be sure the Request Form is the current version too. The older one won't work.
There's also a new Pattern Index page in case you want to check for a special pattern, see if a pattern is available in more than one size, or find a pattern that's been moved to a different page.

Wait a minute -- free sewing patterns?

Yes, indeed. We've always relied on donations of damaged patterns to supply free replacement pieces. But a lot of people wanted to donate complete sewing patterns, too. So we're now the trustee for hundreds of perfectly good sewing patterns in a wide range of styles, eras, and sizes.

The tricky part is figuring out how to deal with postage, make all the patterns available in a fair manner AND keep the site running. The easiest way is to send the patterns out and ask the folks who get them for a small donation to cover the shipping -- so that's what we're going to try first.

We'll keep shipping as long as there's enough in the Pin Money fund to pay the bill at the Post office. We've donated a hefty chunk of our personal allowance to get things started. It's up to YOU to keep it going.

So get a free pattern or two, trade up a few patterns, and refurbish a couple of your damaged patterns. Then come back here and add to the Pin Money fund so others can do the same.

Use the form below to register with Pattern Rescue. Choose one of the three mailing lists available:

Register for general site news and policy updates only (sent once a month or less).
Browse to be notified when new patterns are available (along with site news and policy updates).
NoNews if you only want to use Post page services and do not want any other email.

You can only be on one mailing list at a time. (You can also use this form to unsubscribe whenever you want.)

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Page Last Updated 31 Aug 2010