February Contest - Your Oldest Folkwear Make

January 29, 2026 17 Comments

As we celebrate Folkwear's 50 years of creating unique and amazing sewing patterns for historic and folk clothing from around the world, we wanted to make sure our customers were at the center of this celebration.  Folkwear has been around for 50 years, and so have our customers!  We hear from you all every week -- many who were sewing with Folkwear patterns from the beginning.  Maybe you discovered them in a shop or a museum in the late 1970s or early 1980s.  Maybe your mother made you a Prairie Dress when you were a child.  Maybe you saw Folkwear advertised in a magazine or newspaper almost 50 years ago (and you sent off for a mail-order pattern).  We hear these stories all the time, and it is so wonderful!  Folkwear sewing patterns were different even then.  They spoke to people about their lives, their stories, and the stories they wanted to know.  They gave people an opportunity to learn more, dive deeper, and express creativity -- through cloth and culture.  

So, to kick off our fun series of 50th anniversary contests, we want to see the first Folkwear item you ever made (or wore)!  Was it from the 1970s? or 1980s?  or 1990s?  Or more recently? Do you have a photo?  We want to hear from you!  In this contest, everyone is a winner!  We will have a coupon code for everyone who participates (20% off your next order in our store), and we will choose 2 winners with the oldest garments for a $50 gift card to Folkwear.

To enter the contest: 

1. Send us a photo (a photo of a photo is fine) of your oldest Folkwear garment. Email it to us at mail@folkwear.com
2. Tell us about the garment! When was it made? Did you make it? Did someone else? What fabric was used? Was it for an occasion? What did you love about it?  Do you still have it?

And if you don't have a photo, but you have a good memory and can tell us all about the garment, we will accept that too (sometimes the garments don't last as long as we wish).  What pattern was it? What fabric was used? Was there handwork on it? When did you wear it? Tell us the story!

You can also tag us on social media with your make:  @folkwearpatterns on Facebook and @folkwearsewing.patterns on Instagram.  Add the hashtag #50YearsofFolkwear to join in celebrating Folkwear's 50th Anniversary.  

The contest will end on February 28, 2026.  We will pick winners by March 4th.  

More questions?  Send us an email at mail@folkwear.com

First photo at the top is #101 Gaza Dress - from one of Folkwear's first photo shoots.

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