Stretch & Sew Patterns Sewing Idea Booklets - Pattern Hacking 70s Style

[@jeneffleurage7266]

Loving Stretch and Sew Patterns! The ones I’ve made have been well-drafted and many still look contemporary.

[@sandywalker2048]

It was fun seeing you showing Stretch n Sew patterns. I worked at a Stretch n Sew Store for many years and loved working there. Thanks.

[@SharonSews]

Hi Sandy, thank you for watching and commenting. That must’ve been really fun to work in a Stretch and Sew store! Were you familiar with these sewing idea booklets?

[@dale4032]

that was cool.. They were really big in the 70s I have only patterns however I will keep an eye out for the booklets.. Cant you see our sewing room getting bigger and bigger..lol

[@carolrechtoris7416]

I also made both views of Raincoat Stretch&Sew 1078 from 1983. Frilly collar winter lined coat made out of black wool, and raincoat with detachable hood out of gabardine fabric. I still wear both coats. In the 1990's there was a Stretch & Sew Fabrics store in suburban Chicago.

[@dinahgabel3813]

Really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing more of your booklets. My mom took Stretch and Sew classes back in the 70’s and I have the patterns she purchased along with her notes. I have sewn quite a few in years past and will pull them out again and give them a look with the idea in mind to hack them to a more modern look!

[@SharonSews]

Hi! I’m sorry for my incredibly delayed response. Life you know 😬 I love that you have the patterns along with your mother‘s notes from classes she took in the 70s. What a treasure! What I love about these patterns is they are timeless and lend themselves well to hacking. Now that life seems to be back on track (fingers crossed) I will get the rest of these booklets filmed and up on the channel so you can look at them and get some more ideas. Thank you so much for watching and commenting.

[@craftymystic4868]

How fun, my mother used to own a Stretch and Sew franchise and I own and use quite a few of the basic patterns. Those idea booklets I’d never seen, they must have been optional. Some of the ideas would later turn into published patterns, like the tie blouse. Yes, Perky Bond was an adhesive tape I still use. Also had a whole branded line of interfacing, that, as well I still use. Mom used to tease Dad she would Perky Bond his mouth shut. They also sold the knit fabric with coordinating ribbing, and sometimes woven fabrics to coordinate as well - wasn’t branded, but did indeed come from the Home Office.

[@SharonSews]

I remember you commenting about that on my Stretch & Sew pattern video. How fun! It’s been hard to find a lot of info but what I’ve found has been interesting. I’m going to put a short video together on what I’ve found. I wish I had learned about these back when the stores were open!

[@karenegeberg6007]

That was so interesting! Thanks, Sharon! Happy sewing!

[@SharonSews]

Thank you Karen for watching, and commenting!

[@debcobb9739]

Orlon jersey was a synthetic acrylic knit that was made by Dupont that stopped making it in 1990. These are so interesting. I own a large amount of quilting booklets very similar to this. Mama said there'd be days like this

[@carolrechtoris7416]

I have sewn Stretch &Sew pattern F832 from 2002 views B and C out of knit ~25% stretch several times. I like the necklines of these views.

[@Sewlimitless]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I feel like pattern companies nowadays wouldn't do this because people wouldn't have the need to keep buying patterns.

[@SharonSews]

It was a great idea! And so helpful to the home sewer, especially at a time when they may not have wanted to purchase a new pattern. They would purchase that idea booklet, but would still have to purchase fabric and notions. I think you are correct, I think pattern companies would rather put out a new pattern with the variation, instead of telling people how to do the pattern hack themselves.

[@janetpaden8878]

Orlon is actually an acrylic that's been liquified to blend with other fibers. In this case probably polyester. I remember these kinds of jersey fabrics. They were not soft after a few washes. They did hold up, if you didn't dry them in a dryer. They usually had a plastic like feel to them if you did happen to dry it. I actually hated clothes made of this material. Think leisure suits of the 60's-70's when polyester became the norm for cloth manufacturing. Today's acrylic fabrics can be as soft as cashmere. The closest thing I can think of today would be polyester pique perhaps? Or maybe a double knit made with polyester?

[@TodayinJensSewingRoom]

Wow. What a history! xox

[@SharonSews]

XOX Thanks for stopping by and watching! Hope all is well with you 😘

[@elainemariesews2683]

I remember going to some stretch and sew classes with my mom back in the late 70’s, I still have the patterns we purchased back then. We learned a lot about sewing with knits as sergers for home sewists were not readily available.

[@SharonSews]

What a great memory! I have heard that the classes were really wonderful, my friend Laurie took some of the classes back in the day. I did not know anyone that’s sewed back when I learned how to sew, and I sure could’ve benefited from some of those tips! I remember trying to sew a knit top in the late 70s and the seams all popped 😂

[@elainemariesews2683]

@@SharonSews Those are definitely fond memories. My mom was really the only person in my life that sewed aside from the other students in my high school sewing class, but I didn’t really do any sewing outside of class with any of them. As it is often said, it’s a quite solitary hobby I don’t have any “IRL” friends that sew, just virtual friends😊.

[@ElleGrayTea]

Loved this! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@SharonSews]

You are so welcome!

[@arleneharris6275]

I loved Stretch & Sew patterns! I worked at one of their stores in Cleveland in 1979. I decided I wanted to become one of their teachers, however they decided to close the store. Much to my disappointment, I never got that opportunity. A few years ago, we were cleaning out the basement so I got rid of all my patterns. I couldn't get the quality fabrics anywhere so i decided I no longer needed the patterns. What a mistake that was! I'm still sorry to this day!!

[@SharonSews]

Thanks for sharing! I love that you worked at one of their stores - I wasn't familiar with their stores at all and feel like I missed out on a great learning opportunity :-). How disappointing that you were unable to be one of their teachers - and that you got rid of the patterns. But they are plenty for sale online or at thrift shops if you have a fave or two you want to repurchase!

[@julieknabe3610]

Wow!❤

[@cantwaittosea]

I would love to see the S&S contemporary makes! I wonder if the patterns are usable for non stretch fabrics?

[@cathyswope5174]

Orlon is a synthetic fiber invented by DuPont used as a wool substitute. Think thin sweater knit with pills! 😅 Loved this overview, makes me appreciate Stretch & Sew patterns. Although I rarely see them here since we are Kwik Sew ( originally Sew Knit & Stretch) country.

[@SharonSews]

Oh interesting! And yuk 😂 I remember driving past a Stretch and Sew store in Bloomington and not realizing what it was. I missed out 🤦🏻‍♀️ I also remember trying to get a tour of the Kwik Sew headquarters when I was organizing the Minneapolis Pattern Review 10th anniversary get together but no luck. I didn’t know the previous name - thanks! You have so much sewing history knowledge!