Sense & Sensibility Patterns » Dollar Downloads

“Among My Souvenirs” Brooch ePattern – Only $1

Jennie Chancey — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:34:40 +0000

The “Among My Souvenirs Brooch” is the perfect touch to your period outfit. It was a very necessary article of jewelry throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, both to add feminine embellishment and to keep those beautiful lace collars and ruffled jabots in place! It spans many eras, and you can even do a modern adaptation by pinning it to a lapel, a hat, handbag, or scarf. A simple thread oval with a dainty scalloped edging takes less than an hour to make, then with a handful of vintage buttons, jewelry, beads, rosettes, lace bows, or whatever strikes your fancy, you can personalize it and turn out your own unique accessory! Add a pin back and it’s ready to wear. It’s so fun to decorate, you may find it necessary to make more than one using different themes and colors! The model uses a small hook and ecru size 10 thread, but you can do it in black, dusty blue, or rose for an equally period correct brooch. You can even use it as a backing for a smaller oval pin. Skill level: low intermediate. Designed by Kristen Stoltzfus exclusively for Sense & Sensibility customers. Only $1!

Share and Enjoy!

Button Necklace Crochet ePattern – Only $1!

Jennie Chancey — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:25:38 +0000

Inspired by a gallon jar of vintage buttons, this Interchangeable Era Button Necklace is a perfect accent for your period costumes. It’s both quick and easy to make, using only the three most basic crochet stitches and taking an hour or less to stitch. A great starter project for those interested in dabbling with thread! It features a doubled 18 in. chain, basic closure, and a dense 1 1/2 in. pendant, which makes a wonderful backdrop for a novelty or vintage button, creating an endless variety of styles for different eras–as the photos demonstrate. Tips on choosing the best look for different eras are included. Skill Level: easy. Designed by Kristen Stoltzfus just for Sense & Sensibility customers.

Note for European and Australian customers: Some crocheting terms are different from the US. Thanks to customer Antonia L, who shared a great link to translate terms from American to British (also used in AUS): http://crochet.about.com/od/conversioncharts/a/termtranslate.htm

Share and Enjoy!

“When Buying New Frocks” and “Fashions for Women of Varied Tastes”

Jennie Chancey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:36:37 +0000

This Dollar Download includes two fun features. The first, entitled, “When Buying New Frocks” (ca. 1907-8) is jam-packed with advice for the Edwardian woman seeking to build an appropriate wardrobe on a reasonable budget:

To the average woman, getting a new gown is more or less of a serious matter. There are so many things to consider outside of one’s individual preference as to style and colour. With a limited amount of money to spend, it is imperative to avoid extremes in style, for the majority of women cannot have an expensive new gown with each change of the season….

Another short feature, “Fashions for Women of Varied Tastes” (ca. 1909) has also been included and has lots of fun advice for appropriate clothes for many occasions. Fun!

Share and Enjoy!

April 1900 Fashion Feature from The Designer

Jennie Chancey — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:35:24 +0000

This lovely fashion feature from the April 1900 issue of The Designer includes several fashion plates, plus an article on knitting (with instructions for some neat projects), and a couple of ads for fun. These pages were a gift from a long-time customer, who found several old magazines falling to pieces in her grandmother’s attic. Unfortunately, the detailed descriptions of the fashion plates are missing, but we can still enjoy the lovely images and the articles that remain!

Share and Enjoy!

“Mrs. Ralston’s Chat About Spring Clothes” (1905)

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:11:09 +0000

This is a two-for-one deal! You get two articles by the knowledgeable Mrs. Ralston–one about Spring styles for 1905, the other answers to questions girls ask about their clothes. There are lots of beautiful drawings of the latest fashions, including sidebar ads for Easter 1905 dresses and more. The Q&A from young ladies is the most fun to read and includes questions like the following: “I am girl just twelve years old and very tall for my age. How long should I wear my skirts?” Lots of fun!

Share and Enjoy!

Early 1900s Fashion Features

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:07:40 +0000

This download includes three articles from the early 1900s (my original copies are, alas, undated, but hairstyles and dress styles provide good clues). First is a feature about fashionable hats. Most amusing is the author’s contention that “hats have seldom shown a greater variety of ugliness than has been the case this season!” She nevertheless finds the prettiest of the available styles to showcase. Next is a beautifully illustrated piece about negligees–lovely, long gowns and wrappers to match. Finally there’s an article with photographs of intricate embroidery by “peasants!” Enjoy!

Share and Enjoy!

“Overhauling Last Year’s Wardrobe” (ca. 1905)

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:04:11 +0000

This cute article explains how to take last year’s clothes and make them over for a new season. Includes advice for everything from saque coats to skirts to hats.

Share and Enjoy!

American Mothers and Children Photo Feature (1908)

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:01:23 +0000

This charming photo spread features American mothers with their children from 1908. The pictures are really special — lots of smiles and warmth…and amazing outfits! My only regret is that the full spread won’t fit in landscape format on the scanner. Each page is 11×17″ by itself! So you lose some of the details in the fold at the center between pages. But there are so many pictures left to drool over that it more than compensates! Also included in this download are the full-color front cover and a lovely Kodak ad from the back cover.

Share and Enjoy!

1908 “Gowns of Muslin, Gingham, and Calico” article

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:55:09 +0000

This is a beautiful one-page article by Mrs. Ralston from a 1908 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. This piece contains detailed illustrations of fashions for young women, along with descriptions of each (including suggested fabrics and trims).

Share and Enjoy!

1908 Ladies’ Home Journal Summer Fashions

Jennie Chancey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:52:25 +0000

This is a charming article with lots of beautifully detailed illustrations from the June 1908 Ladies’ Home Journal (summer fashion issue!). Three pages of text cover everything from what flatters a particular complexion to what a governess should wear–all written by Lady Catherine Milnes Gaskell. Here’s a sampling: “While eccentricity is to be deplored, let your dress be individual. Do not don yourself in a certain colour solely because it is the fashion. For instance, if your face is broad wear your hair high, and do not let your hate be half a yard in breadth. A clever French woman once said to me. ‘English women only think of what they like; we across the Channel study our defects, which with care can make our successes.’” I’ve also included a bonus page of “Frocks for the Holidays.”

Share and Enjoy!