Sewing patterns provide a uniquely detailed look at the lives of working-class people throughout history that clothing collections held at museums or universities seldom offer. These patterns — flimsy packets of paper covered in shapes, numbers, and symbols — guide sewists through the process of making everything from sweatpants to wedding dresses. And through most of the 20th century, before manufacturers moved production to capitalize on cheap labor abroad, sewing at home was a way to have high-quality clothing for less money.
But scholarship around patterns and home sewing is still relatively underappreciated, often dismissed as women’s work or insignificant to fashion and art. The common pattern’s ubiquitousness only adds to its disposability — patterns were cheap to purchase and finicky to preserve and were never meant to last.
For the community of vintage sewing enthusiasts, an unassuming website maintained by the University of Rhode Island is a priceless and irreplaceable treasure. The Commercial Pattern Archive is one of the few projects in the world that safeguards these documents that are fragile, easily forgotten, and born to die. A labor of love and insistence on the part of a small team of historians, costume designers, archivists, and hobbyists, the archive began in the 1990s and includes a physical stash and digital database of English-language patterns unparalleled in its scope and depth. CoPA is home to around 56,000 physical patterns going back to the 1800s, along with books, pamphlets, journals, and other related material.
Abby biked down the dirt path far from her house, biking away from what she wished to forget. It poured and storms CRACK! booms of thunder crashed around her, She stopped her bike in front of a small cabin in the woods, a cozy and warm aroura flowing gently from the inside. Abby knocked gently on the door- on the second knock Katherine opened the door holding a warm cup of tea. Kathy stared at Abby as she stood drenched in water with nothing but her clothes and bike with her "My... Abby, come in." Kathrine said with a soft warm tone. As Abby walked in, she could smell the aroma of something steaming from the oven. Kathy walked to a table that sat comfortably in the kitchen, Abby sat at the seat on the other side. Kathy poured a cup of herbal tea and placed it Infront of her "so, Abby I must inquire, what has caused you to come to my cabin?" Kathy worried to herself about Abby. "Oh... I- I cannot tell... I apologize...." Abby said in a soft worried tone. "Well, in that case I wont ask again." Kathy said understatedly "thank you..." Abby uttered.
After around 2~ hours of chatting and laughing,
"Kathy, I must go-" Abby began, "but before that..." Abby hurried over to Katherine and planted a soft kiss on her lips before running out confused. as Abby left Katherine uttered under her breath "You party animal..."
I was very lucky and fortunate enough to meet and greet with the majority of the cast of Futurama at RICC. I also got to meet some of the writers and producers of Futurama at NYCC back in October so that was pretty cool. I figured what the hell I’ll have the cast sign it as well.
This will forever be one of my most prized possessions. Cant wait to hang this up somewhere.