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News

Folkwear's Year in Review - 2020

December 30, 2020 1 Comment

Folkwear's Year in Review - 2020

What a year this has been.  While it has definitely been less busy on the home front, at Folkwear we've had a surprisingly busy year.  

We started the year with a new employee, Cynthia, who has helped with pattern designs, blog posts, and lots of sewing.  And, Esi joined us half-way through the year to help with sewing and digital pattern work.  Then, when the pandemic started we closed our in-person retail section and set up safety measures for the office.  

The resurgence of home sewing was delightful to see.  From sewing masks to creating elaborate costumes, sewing gave people a task and a way to help as well as a way to escape difficulties and create.  

One of the bigger challenges we faced this year, behind-the-scenes, is updating older patterns.  We realized that when we go to re-print many of our patterns, the original printing plates have gone bad.  Which means that we have to re-create the pattern and digitize it.  This also gives us the opportunity to re-size some of our patterns to make them available in larger sizes.  And, since we have a digital pattern, we have also started making the patterns available as PDF patterns.  And, we have found that you all really like PDF patterns.  Certainly, the paper patterns are not going anywhere (most people still love paper patterns), but PDF patterns have become much more popular.  There is no shipping cost, so international customers appreciate the PDF patterns, and they are instantly available.  

Here are a few accomplishments we've made at Folkwear this year:

Pattern releases:

    • 1920's Flapper Dress (PDF pattern only)
    • 158 Ghanaian Smock
    • 211 Two Middies (re-release)
    • 229 Sailor Pants
    • 262 Spectator Coat (re-release)

 PDF patterns released:

    • 101 Gaza Dress
    • 102 French Cheesemaker's Smock
    • 104 Egyptian Shirt
    • 106 Turkish Coat
    • 111 Nepali Blouse
    • 112 Japanese Field Clothing
    • 119 Sarouelles
    • 122 Hong Kong Cheongsam
    • 124 Bolivian Milkmaid's Jacket
    • 126 Vests of Greece and Poland
    • 129 Japanese Hapi and Haori
    • 144 Belly Dancer
    • 158 Ghanaian Smock
    • 205 Gibson Girl Blouse
    • 209 Walking Skirt
    • 210 Armistice Blouse
    • 211 Two Middies
    • 219 Intimacies
    • 227 Edwardian Gown
    • 229 Sailor Pants
    • 250 Hollywood Pants
    • 262 Spectator Coat
    • 267 M'Lady's Corset
    • 270 Metro Middy Blouse

Patterns re-sized this year:

    • 104 Egyptian Shirt (now up to 2XL)
    • 111 Nepali Blouse (now up to 2XL)
    • 119 Sarouelles (now up to 2XL)
    • 126 Vests of Greece and Poland (now up to 2XL)
    • 227 Edwardian Gown (up to 3XL in PDF only for now)
    • 250 Hollywood Pants (up to 3XL in PDF only for now)

Tutorials:

    • Pocket Series: patch pockets, in seam pockets, welt pockets
    • Flamenco rose (fabric rose)
    • Beaded embroidery (flapper dress)
    • Chinese Jacket embellishments, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
    • Fitting adjustments for Sailor Pants
    • Make the 211 Two Middies into a dress
    • 229 Sailor Pants Sew Along
    • Explaining the construction of the 261 Paris Promenade Dress
    • Sewing tips for making the 122 Hong Kong Cheongsam
    • 211 Two Middies Sew Along
    • Add simple short sleeves to the 1920s Flapper Dress
    • Make a dress from the 240 Rosie the Riveter overalls pattern

Free Pattern releases:

    • Vintage pocketbook (with design from 114 Chinese Jacket)
    • Parasol

Cynthia wrote several interesting fashion history blogs this year.  One of the most popular was History of the Pocket.

white pocket holding flowers

I also did a bit of Folkwear sewing for myself (trying out patterns and tutorials, making modern versions and samples, etc.).  Some of my favorite makes are the 140 Flamenco skirt that I still wear and absolutely love; the 212 Five Frontier Shirts in linen; the 240 Rosie the Riveter shirt and dress I made from our tutorial (my favorite summer dress); 202 Victorian Shirt dress that is so warm and cozy; 126 Vests from Greece and Poland that is simple and easy; and 148 Back Forest Smock Dress I made with knit fabric (it's so pretty).  

Woman walking toward camera wearing a red skirt with flounces and a blue button down shirt

 

Though I was not able to travel as much as I had hoped, I was able to get to Spain for a short visit in early February and learn more about flamenco and fashion.  

    There have been other challenges this year too.  Our main pattern printer shut down twice this year for a total of 4 months.  Which meant that we ran out of patterns occasionally and had backordered patterns fairly often.  We are really hoping this problem will not continue in the new year.

    Looking forward to the next year, we have lots of plans - for a few new patterns (lingerie and the like), for more PDF patterns (your favorites made into PDFs), and for more content such as tutorials, sew-alongs, and videos (we did add to our YouTube channel a bit this year, and hope for more in the new year).  We also plan to make more Folkwear samples and everyday wear.  And I, personally, want to make the 227 Edwardian Gown for myself.  

    We are looking forward to 2021 - to better health, to more traveling, and to lots more sewing and creating.  

    And we wish all the best for the new year for you as well!

    - Molly and the Folkwear team



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    1 Response

    Connie Lawrence
    Connie Lawrence

    January 24, 2021

    Thanks for “The History of Folkwear”! I’ve been a Bay Area resident since 1969, and a life-long seamstress, so I was aware of, and a buyer of “Folkwear Patterns” from the beginning!! Thru life’s transitions, I would notice changes with the patterns & availability. It was always a “bedrock” of Bay Area entrepreneurial vision for me, a comforting mainstay of evolving patterns & techniques & tips! Thank you for taking me back into that creative time of my youth, and for continuing the inspiration into the future. The Nepali Blouse was my first dip into a Folkwear garment, circa 1979. I used a deep red drapy rayon, a nice fit, a practical yet elegant top! Hearing about all the changes that the “Brandname” went through was a revelation! Keep up the excellent work!! Thanks for “carrying the torch”! Sincerely, Connie

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