By looking at the directions, charts, and advertising in these early publications it really brings home the mindset of needle artists of the time. Yes, traditional crafters followed patterns, even though I am sure many people improvised on them as they do today. The complexity of the patterns is astounding. Do any of us have the time and mental focus to accomplish any of these examples today? I think not. Without the aid of a computer, and a lack of career, we might be able to make samples? Unbelievable charts, here.
The best part is they are all free to use for non-commercial purposes. It is an archive that is preserving all the little paper patterns that people may have in great grandma's old suitcase in the attic. What treasure. I have literally gasped at some of these pdfs as they've appeared on my screen, and can't help but save them to my own archive. You never know when the apocalypse is coming to kill the Internet. I can't explain why I love printed patterns like this -- maybe because that is how I learned as a child? Hours spent with library books counting little squares? Is it in my ancestral DNA? Who knows. All I know is that I hope to actually use some of these amazing things.
Ilhami Atalay is an artist that opened my eyes up to collage and mixed media, and using textile patterns in an unexpected way. I can not find any reproductions of the images I've seen of his that utilize paper patterns online. I have a few postcards somewhere (?) in which the papers might be visible. He makes large scale collages of women in traditional Turkish dress, filling in the strong shapes with a variety of painted and printed patterns, many showing traditional and antique motifs. The patterns provide a beautiful overlay of context and reinforce the traditional dress, and illustrate the strong connection that exists still between hand textile work and Turkish culture. Just brilliant. It just isn't the same, here. While we make things and explore craft, traditional Turkish women make a large set of hand made items for their marriage using filet crochet, embroidery, and other skills passed on through generations. Just beautiful work.
Seeing the patterns on the Antique Pattern Library makes me want to go live in a cave with materials, bread, and water. And parrots. The only problem with that is I wouldn't be able to read my pdfs.
What will you make today?