Christmas In July - A Look at Some Vintage Christmas Patterns

When talking about Christmas patterns, it's a really big subject!  I wasn't sure what to focus on, because there's endless varieties.  Stockings, ornaments, wreaths, all kinds of other decorations, gifts, and more!

But I decided to narrow it down to two things for this entry (plus a little bit more, maybe).  First, Santa Claus costumes, and second, Christmas-themed aprons!  Maybe we'll have another entry later this month, or a bit closer to the actual holidays.

Christmas seems far away right now, but it's the perfect time to start sewing to make a special gift!  If you need a Santa costume you really can't start too soon.  Start now and avoid the holiday rush!  Not to mention your homemade costume is bound to be better than something from a store.

Let's look at some Santa costumes over the years... who doesn't like Santa?

Picture from Vintage Pattern Wiki

This definitely isn't the oldest Santa Claus costume pattern in existence, but it seems to be the oldest one that's been posted/shared on the Vintage Pattern Wiki.  From Butterick and dating from around 1940,  it's a more old fashioned Santa.  Obviously, a hard to find pattern!  Note the leggings, they could be useful for a lot of costumes, not just Santa!

Picture from Vintage Pattern Wiki

This 1930s - 1940s era costume from McCall('s) has a similar pointed bonnet/cap for Santa, and similar leggings for, I guess, if you don't have any knee-high boots laying around.  I really like this bonnet style cap for Santa, you really don't see that anymore, it's more of an old school, elfin look.  Certainly better for keeping St. Nick's ears warm!

Image via Vintage Pattern Wiki

A few years later, in the 1950s, McCall's featured this more modern looking Santa in a pattern with a somewhat politically incorrect-looking Chinese outfit.  This Santa looks like he could be out of a Coca-Cola advertisement.

Image via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Butterick's 1950s take on Santa also included a doctor, an artist, and yet another Chinese outfit.  The jolly Santa on this envelope looks well-padded in contrast to some of the skinnier Santas seen in these illustrations.

Pattern via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Butterick produced a father-son version of this pattern for decades!  This later version features Santa, the doctor, the Chinese outfit, but replaces the artist with a "Mexican" costume.  In stock at Clutterina's Shop.  I especially like how it looks like Santa is shrinking as he moves down the envelope.  Honey, I Shrunk the Santa!

Image via Vintage Pattern Wiki

An even later version of the same pattern, with a skinny-looking Santa, again with the Chinese costume, a chef, and an elf or jester getup.  Has he been on a diet?

Team member Fancy Work has it in stock!

I couldn't seem to find any Simplicity-branded vintage Santa patterns from before the 1980s.  Does anybody know of any?  I feel somewhat certain they must have produced one.  Maybe I'll check around some more and see if I can find one pictured in a catalog somewhere.  I did find this cute pattern though that would be great for a Christmas pageant or dance recital:

From Vintage Pattern Wiki

I thought it was cute that you can make not only Santa, but also his reindeer, a Christmas tree and a toy soldier!  Pretty silly but also pretty adorable.  That Christmas tree costume is kind of hilarious.  The illustration makes me laugh too.

Image via Sandritocat

This 1980s pattern featuring a load of costume possibilities includes not only Santa, but also a ballerina, a genie, a pirate, a middle eastern dancer and a vampire!  They produced this pattern for years, apparently and variations for both kids and adults are in stock at Sandritocat, Frisky Scissors, Atomic Regeneration, and Clutterina's Shop.  Oh, the teal colored outfit would be great for your production of The Nutcracker and the Arabian Dance, don't you think?  I think maybe they are still producing variations of this pattern.

Image via People Packages

Team member People Packages has this interesting Santa and Elf movie inspired pattern in stock.  It's quite nice, isn't it?  I love the fabulous Santa bottom left.   You can make an elf costume just like Will Ferrell's Buddy.

Image via The Granny Squared

This high-quality and impressive modern Santa pattern from McCall's is very well done.  It cleverly includes a pattern for Santa's toy sack and for a sweet stuffed Santa doll that is sure to be an heirloom and part of your Christmas tradition.  Won't everyone love bringing out Santa every year?   Santa can hide a special gift in mini-Santa's sack!  Variations are in stock at The Granny Squared, Purple Plaid Penguin, and Grey Dog Vintage.

OH, and don't forget Fido!  You can dress Rover or Fluffy up as an Angel or Santa Claws, using this cute pattern that is in stock at Sew Betty and Dot and All The Precious Things.

There are some more REALLY old and awesome Santa Claus patterns detailed and shared over at Unsung Sewing Patterns, I hope you'll check them out!

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Now, how about some cute Christmas aprons?

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

This example is really cute!  Santa + Western Cowboy motifs.  A cocktail apron for mom, a barbecue apron for dad, and a bib for little Suzy.  Plus a pot holder!  The cowboy-hatted Santa says "Hi" or "Howdy" spelled out with a lasso, and dad's apron has an added cowboy boot.  Very unusual!

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

This cute mail order pattern features a variety of Christmas motifs.  WAY cute for your holiday party!  These are all adorable, make little ornaments or stockings with rickrack... maybe you don't need a pattern?

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Here's a really cute and unusual apron set featuring a candy cane, and Santa popping out of a chimney on the roof top.  Also included a Valentine's Day apron.  Check out the snow-covered roof!  A lot of effort for an apron, but sure to be a treasure.

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

This isn't an apron, it's a circle skirt... but I really loved the Christmas tree motif on the one skirt!  I think it's amazing!  Can you imagine waltzing into a party wearing it? :)  Va-VOOM!

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Likewise, this adorable girls' suspender-skirt pattern features amazingly cute holiday motifs.. and look at the little matching cap!  This would be ultra-cute for a pageant, dance recital, or skating performance.

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

This classy little cocktail apron with a scalloped hem features gold angelic motifs.  Much more subtle but festive nonetheless. 

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

A real family pattern for gingerbread baking, mom and Sis in their frilly aprons, dad and Junior in barbecue style.. and the little dog in a bib!  Amazing!  Note dad's a "chef" while poor mom only rates as "cook."  Bobby is "Chef's Helper," Suzy is "Cook's Helper," and Rover is "Taster," with even a dog-shaped cookie on his bib!  I suppose maybe you could also give the bib to a baby, but maybe do without the dog cookie.  Would your dog wear this?

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Of course, Advance was in on the Christmas party apron trend too!    Pretty holly and angel motifs on roomy pockets.

Image via Vintage Pattern Wiki

This lovely apron has a poinsettia motif for Christmastime, and a flower for spring.  In stock at Jantiki.  You can put it on a tablecloth as well.. or how about sticking it on a stocking or tote bag? (You could put a gift in the bag!)

Via Vintage Pattern Wiki

Lastly I had to include this "Gifts for Dad" pattern... because I thought it was kind of hilarious that "Dad" would want a pipe and a cigarette on his Christmas stocking.  I wonder if anyone ever made this with those motifs?  I guess a pipe could theoretically be related to Santa, but I'm not sure how a cigarette has anything to do with Christmas besides possibly setting the Xmas tree alight. :)  Maybe he got a case of Philip Morris for Christmas.  Don't smoke, kids!

Additionally they made these "Sock Full of Gifts" patterns for other members of the family too.  I know of one for mom and one for sister and baby as well.  I assume there must be one for brother.  A "Mom" version is in stock at Crafty Paneen.

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All of these patterns are consistently popular and hard to find in stock.  Especially aprons are very popular and never go out of style.  

However, over at the Pattern Patter Team on Etsy, it's always Christmas!  We're always open and always ready to celebrate, so please check out all the Holiday patterns that team members have in stock.  Happy shopping!

Click Here!

Did I miss your favorite Christmas pattern?  Have you ever made any of these?  Which one is your favorite?  Do you make Christmas presents for your loved ones?  Have you passed down a homemade treasure?  Let us know in the comments. :)

Christmas Is Coming...

By Sherri from Sew Betty and Dot

It's Christmas! (Well, it's Christmas in July, in any case--and for those who don't celebrate the holiday, there are patterns below that are great for any celebration).

Are you ready? Only five months to go! The Pattern Patter team has just celebrated Christmas in July with a big pattern blitz: tons of fun craft, doll, home dec, and Christmas patterns (as well as the usual fantastic selection of beautiful clothing patterns) were posted, just in time for some summer (or winter, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere) crafting. Why wait until November? Get started right now: set up your sewing machine right in front of the air conditioner (or heater), pour yourself some lemonade (or a cuppa), and off you go!


'Twas the night [or five months] before Christmas, and all through the house

Cross Stitch House Patterns: All Fairy Vintage

  Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Butterick 6383: Sew Betty and Dot

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

McCall's 3425: RosesPatternTreasury

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

McCall's 7384: HoneymoonBus

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds,

Simplicity 6702: PatternShop

While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap

Simplicity 1023: Historically Patterns

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. [Wrong sash, I know, but poetic license here!]

Vogue 7810: DejaVuPatterns

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

Patch Press 362B: FabPatterns 1015

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

N ow, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! [Work with me here...]
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

Authentic Patterns 309: OmasBricaBrac

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too

Simplicity 8378: MBChills

Butterick 4252: PeoplePackages

Simplicity 9018: Patterns from the Past

Teddy Bear Pattern Books: EmSewCrazy

Simplicity 4815: RomasMaison

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

McCall's 5651:

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

Vogue 7321: JFerrariDesigns

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

Sew and Stuff Wreath: Sew Betty and Dot

 He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

McCall's 7099: Selvedge Shop

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

There are loads more wonderful Christmas, doll, toy, and craft patterns (not to mention fabulous frocks for holiday soirees and outfits for the little ones to wear to see the Nutcracker) from Pattern Patter team members, so get cracking: you only have five months left!

Christmas In July Blitz!

HoHoHo! Merry Christmas! As the sweat pours down and temperatures continue to rise for those of us in the northern hemisphere it's time for us to keep busy inside, getting a jumpstart on those Christmas plans. To help you in your endeavors, the delightful PatternPatter team is having a blitz today. You can see all the new listings in this thread, which also includes a list of shops offering sales. So what are we offering?

Things to keep kids busy!

 PrePrinted Fabric panels like these are great for getting kids involved since the cutting
and sewing lines are already printed. From Sew Betty and Dot

Placemats for the Christmas table or make them seat mats for the kids to sit on around the tree
Christmas morning. From EmSewCrazy

Keep those nimble fingers busy!

Things to keep you warm!

Sweet Baby Bunting

For those who deal with more rain than snow.

Something more along the lines of what I need to wear in winter.

For Staying In

For Going Out

For Whatever You May Be About

Where ever you are, I hope you are having a wonderful day! See ya around!