James J. Shapiro, who helped revolutionize the home sewing industry as a founder and president of Simplicity Pattern Co., died Friday at his home at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan. He was 85. The c… ...

Simplicity patterns are continually being refreshed, Burgee explains, and as is typical, Van Zanten's original pattern left the book long ago. In a rare move, however, the company revived it.