When I buy vintage patterns, I look for the size that corresponds w/ my measurements - I'm usually a 14-16 in the old sizing(40s-70s). I still recall that I was taught to check the measurements on a sewing pattern anyway, & not to go by a number size alone.I've also bought many that are just so cool I couldn't pass 'em up - no matter the size = ) What you're talking about is pattern making & I think would be a pretty big job for a novice & tough to learn on 1's own - you might check for schools/classes in your area. If you can get hold of some size charts(or if the patterns have them on the back) you might compare the sizing for different eras' - vintage pattern catalogs might be of use for that.Are you aware that fit & style vary from era to era as well?I find the sleeves & armholes of many vintage patterns way to tight for my modern tastes.& those super pointy bustlines of the late 40s-60s can be very problematic too = S That said, I love old patterns too, but hesitate to use the older 1s for fear of damaging them - I have nothing older than the late 30s tho. HTH

Zena, Joan has very good points, but I'm going to take the other side. :-) If you enjoy the sewing, find you like working with "customers" (like when sewing to a friend's specifications), and think you might want to "go professional", see if you can join a group called Professional Association of Custom Clothiers or PACC. They have local groups all over the US. They can be very helpful in providing a supportive group for people who sew professionally. How to put your business together, how to figure what to charge, dealing with customers, sources for supplies, commiserating about lunatic clients, etc. This group is probably way beyond where your skills are right now (and kinda expensive) but they are the group that you'd want to join if you were to regularly sew on a professional basis. I've gone to seminars that they've put on here in Portland, OR, and found that there are many ways to be "professional". One lady designs clothing patterns, another does phenomenal beaded garments that are VERY expensive, another does wearables that are sold in local boutiques, and one lady does mostly hemming and alterations on ready-to-wear that people have purchased. (Or costumes, like Carol!) Most people in our local group are very generous in giving of their time, suggestions and opinions to help newcomers to the field. You may find you just like doing home dec, rather than clothing. There's lots of ways to get paid for sewing. That said, I don't sew professionally, BUT I do really like sewing. I make things for friends, for myself, for my house. I decided that I didn't really want to work to the demands of others on their deadlines because it would take the fun out of sewing for me. If it were to be a paying business, I would have to worry about a lot of other things besides sewing, and I just don't want to. Then it becomes work, and I want my sewing to be play. That's just me though. I would say have your friend (or husband or whoever) pick a pattern and some really inexpensive material for a simple garment that doesn't have a big deadline. Make sure that if you goober the material the garment, no feelings will be hurt. Measure her, work up the garment, see how it fits her, make the adjustments - do all the stuff that you'd do for a "real" customer. See how you like doing it. If it feels like something you could enjoy, keep practicing. If you find you'd rather not sew for others, well, then don't. You'll only have "lost" some time, and really since you were practicing your skills, you won't have really lost anything at all. It's really good to get lots of opinions from others that have "been there" but don't be afraid to try something to see if it would work for you. Joan's right about having to practice alot (take some classes to build your skills!), but starting out small, and sewing for yourself, your family and your friends is pretty much how everyone starts. I gaurantee that Donna Karan did not wake up one morning, say to herself "I should sew something!", then rent a huge studio and hire 30 people. She started out by sewing for her friends and sketching designs in a cheap notebook just like the rest of us. Start small with projects you feel like you can do well, say no to projects you don't feel comfortable with, and work on building your skills. If you enjoy it, get good at it, and can work it in around your little one, then go for it. You don't have to make a full-time job of it by tomorrow. Babysteps!

Is there anyway to make a 'dart' in that area so as to not interfere with the sleeve or collar? You would need to make the same dart in the back also, of course. I just hate for you to get into changing the sleeve. Hope this is clear. Salena

One of the greatest cons about sewing anything from a vintage pattern is finding the suitable fabric for them. Almost everyone of the vintage ones in the catalog is a garment that requires a woven fabric. Those were from a time when good quality woven fabrics were plentiful. Now, it is rare to find anything nice and woven and that does not have synthetic stretch fibers that completely change the hand of the fabric and make it unsuitable for most of those old patterns. Good woven fabric has been replaced by fabric made from old soda bottles/petrochemicals. Just horrible!! I did some American Girl doll sewing too and I found the free online patterns to be very good, but I think that they cater more to the adult who sews for their own doll. I was sewing for a doll for my young grand daughter and needed items that were easier for her to handle and that she could relate to better.. The Pixie Faire patterns are good and are intriguing and almost make me want to go and buy myself a doll and sew for her. One problem that I had with sewing these small doll items is that it is difficult to buy small measures of trims like lace and ribbons. My local Joanns, being the rat hole that it is, does not offer much of a selection by the cut measure. Most ribbons are sold on the spool. For many of these little items all you might need is about a foot of something that will serve for many items. But, it is non existent. I was sewing for the Wellie Wisher doll and I did end up buying a pattern for her. If you have the essential elements of bodice, pants and skirt you can create all kinds of things on your own. Online is a great resource for patterns for many things. That includes patterns for knitting, also. I have never looked through the pattern catalog and been so uninspired. And, I have been tripping through pattern catalogs for a very long time. I have one from probably the early 80s, Butterick, I think. It is a real relic of days gone by and that will probably never return. Last time I looked at the modern printed version, it was quite thin and the layout was different. Different layout is fine, but the offerings were pretty thin, as well. And, they are all so dated, even the ones that are NOT vintage or inspired by vintage. So many old shirtdress patterns! When is the last time you saw someone wearing a shirtdress? I have read conflicting assessments of Joanns in this year of the virus. It looks like they are continuing to try and steer that ship into a different direction. It looks like they are quickly moving away from garment sewing and more towards the glue and glitter stuff, and the offering of places for "makers", as those who were formerly known as "crafters" are now known. I find much more inspiration online, and the ability to share through blogs is great. It seems that Australia may still have some fabric availability. I see some intriguing pattern companies out of Aus and I read about folks there going on vacation to places around the Pacific nations where the textile trade seems to be stronger. They blog about buying fabrics while on "holiday". The style offerings from these foreign designers and pattern drafters offers a different view from the old and stale and tired offerings of the big 4. About the only thing that I feel that I can count on anymore is linen that I get from an online source. I like a comfortable and simple pattern and unstructured pattern to go along with it. There is much beauty and pleasure in simplicity of design. Yeah, I, too am vintage and have some vintage patterns. But, my older and wiser self is also bigger and better than that one that wore that size. There was excellent styling in those offerings just a few decades ago. Now, not much at all.