What I hate about popular purse and wallet patterns
12-18-2011, 11:38 AM
#41
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 913
I have the same view as you about paterns. Used patterns for years to make clothing etc. and that part wasn't fun. If measurements are given for simple things like purses, I like that. Directions definitely need to be more accurate so the user isn't guessing what is what.
I guess I'm in the minority. I hate the tissue pattern paper. I sewed clothes for about 30 years and, because that was all we had, used the paper patterns. I feel much more free with just the suggested dimensions of pieces. Of course, I almost never make a pattern exactly as instructed. I make so many purses that the paper would slow me down. I do write instructions to myself in case I want to duplicate a bag. I do agree that most commercial patterns have poorly written instructions.
12-18-2011, 12:13 PM
#42
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 862
Most of us rotary cut and using a paper pattern would be more work. If you want to fussy cut any type of quilt block, you have to cut out a template. So don't beat yourself up about needing to do it for your purse or wallet. You may want it to exactly fit a pattern in the fabric and making a template is the only way to do it. However, if you just have a tiny print fabric, it's unnecessary. You would just cut away with the dimensions indicated.
Last edited by IAmCatOwned; 12-18-2011 at 12:23 PM.
12-18-2011, 12:44 PM
#43
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Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
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12-18-2011, 12:48 PM
#44
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
They should call it instructions, not a pattern. I hate it too. Seems like you are paying a lot of money, and more everyday for these patterns not to get a pattern out of it.
I come from a clothing construction background. Pattern pieces are always supplied in a pattern envelope. It appears that is not the case with the popular purse and wallet patterns that I have recently purchased. Designers just give you the dimensions of the various pieces that need to be cut. Some people may like that, but not me, so I have to take the time to draw the pattern pieces onto paper. Am I the only that is "quirky" that way?
I have a friend who makes pattern pieces for her paper pieced quilt projects. She hates taking a chunk of fabric and sewing it onto the paper and trimming it to size.
We all have our quirks.
I have a friend who makes pattern pieces for her paper pieced quilt projects. She hates taking a chunk of fabric and sewing it onto the paper and trimming it to size.
We all have our quirks.
12-18-2011, 12:54 PM
#45
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I agree that it is annoying to purchase a pattern only to find out that they do not have actual size patterns, especially those that say enlarge 200%. However, if I choose to make a tissue pattern piece, I would also use a thin fusible interfacing on the tissue piece so that it would last longer. I do this with certain doll patterns, like Raggedy Ann, when I know I will be making several, it's easier to cut it out and I know it will last much longer.
12-18-2011, 03:23 PM
#46
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Nevada
Posts: 6,958
I agree. I just tried to make a bag recently and some of the instructions were out of order. At least, I had pattern pieces for the smaller parts, but the instructions were not all that clear.
It appears to me that a lot of patterns are not proofed before printing them (i.e. giving them to someone else, maybe even a novice, to try to make the pattern before printing and selling them).
It appears to me that a lot of patterns are not proofed before printing them (i.e. giving them to someone else, maybe even a novice, to try to make the pattern before printing and selling them).
Last edited by caspharm; 12-18-2011 at 03:26 PM.
12-18-2011, 09:42 PM
#50
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Monterey Bay, California
Posts: 139
Making a teddy bear from a commercial pattern with a tissue pattern included, but the instructions are very poor! I've been sewing for 60 years from patterns, but these directions are not in logical order or well explained! I had thought I would cut the pieces and let my 10 year old grand daughter put it together, but not with these directions!
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