Sewing Catalog Ephemera Sheets
These printable ephemera sheets feature images from a vintage sewing catalog. Scroll down and you’ll find a sheet of gift tags, a sheet of 2.5” x 4.25” images, and a sheet of 2” x 3” images. All free to download.
Please note that the preview images you see one this page are low resolution, but the downloaded sheets are high resolution.
Home sewing has a long history, dating back to ancient times when people would make their own clothes using simple tools and techniques. In the Middle Ages, sewing was typically done by hand using a needle and thread, and was considered a necessary skill for both men and women. During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the invention of the sewing machine greatly improved the efficiency and speed of home sewing. This allowed more people to make their own clothes and also led to the rise of the garment industry.
Gift Tags
The earliest patent for a sewing machine was issued to Thomas Saint in 1790, but it was not until 1846 that Isaac Singer developed a more practical and functional machine, which he patented and started to produce and sell. By the late 19th century, sewing machines had become a common household item, and they greatly improved the efficiency and speed of home sewing.
In the 19th century, sewing machines were typically powered by a foot pedal and were made of cast iron. They had a straight stitch only and were operated by turning a hand wheel to raise and lower the needle. These early machines were relatively simple, but they were a significant improvement over the previous method of sewing by hand.
2.5” x 4.25” Rectangles
Sewing supplies from the 19th century included various types of thread, needles, and fabrics. Threads were made from natural fibers such as cotton or silk, and were often dyed different colors. Needles were made of steel, and were available in various sizes and shapes to suit different fabrics and sewing tasks. Fabrics were also made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or wool, and were often hand-woven or produced in small quantities.
In addition, other tools and supplies like thimbles, scissors, and measuring tapes would also have been commonly used in home sewing during the 19th century.
2” x 3” Tags
Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.
If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site. Pinning is always welcome and appreciated!
To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.
