Charlie’s Aunt offers a range of vintage “make-do-and-mend” inspired sewing patterns in both PDF and printed formats. Following the success of Emma Brennan's books, the first two Charlie's Aunt paper patterns for Indygo Junction launched at the international quilt market in the US in May 2010.  We now also offer our own range of PDF patterns via our Etsy shop at www.charliesaunt.etsy.com under the Charlie's Aunt label. This will give us a great chance to take the patterns to a wider audience and capitalise on the current resurgence of interest in sewing crafts worldwide. The Charlie's Aunt range is also printed and distributed in Australia by Pattern Press.

The Charlie's Aunt collection comprises 40s and 50s inspired sewing patterns for bags and other stitched accessories. The patterns have all been hand-drawn, illustrated and scanned in keeping with the personal and home-made ethos of the patterns of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, which form the basis for the inspiration behind the collection. The sewing patterns offer easily constructed simple designs with a retro feel, varied by adding different pleated panels, pockets and trims to change the look. Offering patterns in both PDF and printed format enables us to cover all preferences.

Note: Customers are allowed to make a limited number of items from Charlie’s Aunt patterns to sell, as long as they read and digest the information at the foot of this page, and stick to the guidelines.

The PDF patterns contain one style of bag, but many also have instructions for trims, such as rose corsages or stitched badges, that can be used in other fashion accessory projects.

Each downloadable pattern contains:

• Full-sized pattern templates ready to cut out and use (some of the bigger templates need to be taped together)
• Well illustrated, detailed and easy to follow instruction sheets
• A colour cover sheet with photographs of the finished piece and extra pictures of the style made up in different fabrics

Some of the styles offered as PDFs are also available in printed versions. This includes the Melford Messenger, The Poacher's Bag, Gershwin & Ellington Clutch Bags, Home Guard Clutch Bags, Casablanca Clutch Bags, The Home Front Bags, Premium Bond Bags and the Kitchen Garden Bags, as shown below. Most of the printed patterns contain two different versions of each bag, and represent good value for money. Please email emma@charliesaunt.com for details. To purchase PDF or printed patterns direct, go to www.charliesaunt.etsy.com

Below are the covers of the current Charlie's Aunt printed sewing patterns:

Below are the covers of the PDF patterns currently available in our Etsy shop:

Streetcar Bags by Charlie's Aunt for Indygo junction	Victory Bags by Charlie's Aunt for Indygo Junction

IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Note: Customers are allowed to make a limited number of items from Charlie’s Aunt patterns to sell, as long as they read and digest the information below and stick to the guidelines at the foot of the page.

I am frequently asked if people can make the bags, jewellery and accessories in my patterns and books to sell. As most people know, the patterns, books and the bag designs are covered by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act. As with all books and commercial patterns, this means that people can use the patterns to make bags for personal use only, including for friends and family – but they cannot be used to make bags for a business.

As with all patterns designers, I have taken a great deal of time designing and perfecting patterns and the copyright laws exist to prevent other people from simply using the patterns as an easy source of designs for a business. It is a protective mechanism that prevents us from being ‘ripped off’ as it were. All commercial pattern companies are covered by the same laws. My designs are quite distinctive and as such, I wish to retain the right to be identified as the designer and to profit from the designs. The copyright law is in place to protect designers and writers who choose to risk sharing their knowledge and patterns with the public and most people understand and respect this.

I have wrestled with the copyright issue for years. I initially took the line of most pattern designers and followed the copyright laws to the letter, and said no. Then when I did allow my patterns to be used by some people to make items in limited quantities to sell, sadly many of them abused this privilege and were founding entire businesses based on my patterns. They put my vintage inspired look and unique concept forward as their own, and even added their own "designer" labels or used my descriptions, which is not acceptable! This made me very sad because my patterns are extremely distinctive; they come from my heart and are truly important to me. I design them so people can share my love of vintage inspired accessories and sewing – not so they can create a business empire out of my work! It really isn't fair for people to expect any designer to put in hours designing templates, drawing diagrams, writing instructions and working out the hard bits to maybe sell 6 patterns for $40 to someone who then builds an entire business on it. Okay, so now you understand the frustrations and the reasoning behind it, here’s the good bit!

As times are hard and I know a lot of my customers would like to be able to make a few items from my patterns to bring in a little bit of extra cash, I have decided to again allow it, as long as they stick to the following rules: