Vintage and Out of Print Doll and Toy Patterns

There are many definitions of vintage when it comes to doll and toy patterns. For the sake of this article, the concept of vintage will cover patterns that are no longer available for purchase and are available for sale and purchase by buyers and sellers with an interest in this market. The article will not distinguish between modern and antique patterns, as there is no real advantage to addressing that topic in this article.

This object became a topic of research as I researched free patterns for family members who knit, crochet and sew. I realized many of the Barbie, fashion doll, American Girl Doll, and 18" doll patterns which were so prevalent several years ago when I was purchasing them for friends has disappeared from the market place. I started writing articles about where to obtain free patterns for these dolls. When I started crocheting and knitting myself, I developed more of an interest in finding out of print books that were no longer available through traditional craft and bookstores.

One of the first issues buyers need to become aware of is which books are in fact out of print. This seems like an obvious observation. However, along with finding some great independent alternatives to eBay, I found that people have different expectations and values about what their items are worth. While many of the books currently in print were familiar to me and it was easy to check out their current prices, there were other smaller printing houses I became aware of that sell independently that are also heavily remarketed in the resale market. For instance, Shady Lane makes doll clothes for fashion dolls and the 18" doll market. Prior to my research, I had never heard of this company. The books were not sold at my local craft or bookstore. A quick check at Amazon did not show new titles available. However, a Google search of the company name quickly revealed a website and a new source for doll clothes. The interesting lesson I learned from this experience was the used books were often being resold at the same or greater value than the new books I could buy directly from the publisher. There is nothing illegal or unethical about reselling vintage and current used books on the same site. It does require buyers to know which books fall into which category prior to purchase.

Know the value of the books or leaflets being offered. Many books will be listed at different sites at significantly higher or lower prices. While vintage books can increase significantly in value, current used books should not exceed the current market value. Check the shipping. Lower prices often can mean higher shipping offsets. Check a few sites to see what the item is selling at and ask questions about the quality of the merchandise. A higher price does not guarantee better quality. I have paid less for a better quality pattern and more for one that was not in the best of condition. Sometimes the price is cheap for a valid quality reason. The phrase buyer beware is always important when buying a product you have not reviewed prior to purchase. There are vendors who can find buyers who will pay anything regardless of the quality of the pattern purchased. I have seen vendors advertise patterns with stains, rips, and missing pages for twice the price I paid for the same pattern in good condition. They seem to find someone to buy it. Asks questions about what you are purchasing. Shop around and be willing to wait for the right deal.

Work on becoming educated about the market. Know the names of the companies that produced the patterns you are searching for and as you find the names and numbers of patterns, record them. Even if they are no longer available at a specific vendor, they are a lead for a future search. It is much easier to narrow your searches when you know what information you are seeking.

Working with vintage patterns can be fun and exciting. Becoming educated about the market place can make finding those patterns even more fun.