Thursday, June 11, 2009

pattern 911!!!

do you see the look of fear in my child's eye? she is hiding under the table from my rantings with a set of pattern directions!!!

help! calling all sewers! i need some assistance - pattern 911!!! i am a newbie sewer and recently picked up 2 patterns the other week and have been completely stumped by them. i don't have anyone to show me the proper procedures when it comes to pattern reading and all the other stressful things that seem to come along with these symbol filled, brain numbing instructions! i feel like crying! now i know why i had never sewn before, talk about overwhelmed! i have been finding it so rewarding to learn the ropes of the sewing world by winging it and sewing garments from my imagination or using my own clothes as a template that i thought trying a pattern would be fun for a change. boy was i wrong.

i don't want to give up completely though, does anyone out there know of a great website or book that could help me through the situation? any classes in the victoria, bc area? i am stumped, i need some direction or the pattern's are going out the window and i'll just wing it. anyone wanna help a girl out?
Posted by luvinthemommyhood at 12:50 PM Labels:

20 comments:

  1. uugghh... I hate patterns, too. Ok, here's my advice. Cut out all the pieces then piece them together yourself. I don't like directions at all!! So if I use a pattern that's what I do. Let me know what end up happening!!
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  2. Hey, that's a great idea Alexis! I never thought of that. I'll give it a whirl :)
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  3. What patterns are you trying to make? If you ever need help, email me your questions and I can definitely help you out!!
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  4. They are the ones from this post:
    http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2009/05/whats-on-your-needle.html
    I seriously have never made a thing from a store bought pattern and I am completely flustered. So I don't really have a specific question, I just need help in all of it..haha.
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  5. I used to make clothes from commercial patterns all the time before I learned how to draft my own. I still make things from time to time from them.

    With dresses, I always look at the finished garment measurements and go with the size that best meets my bust. The hips are easier to fix than the bust in this case. Hopefully that helps out with at least starting the project? I know a friend that has the tunic pattern and wanted me to help them out (truthfully, I think she just wants me to sew it for her!). So again, let me know....I can definitely help you out step by step if you need it!
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  6. Sounds good. Once I get going on it I will be sending you an email..a long one :)
    Thanks for the offer to help - you rock!
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  7. i'm with you, i was always scared to use a pattern, and after endlessly searching google for help, and came up with nothing concrete, help wise.i came out with my own solution. cut all your peices as stated by alexis, pin to your fabric.and cut out while still pinned. still follow your directions, they may seem complicated if you read them beforehand, so just follow step by step as you go. i never use the triangles, x marks or trace the markings onto the fabric, thats what a good pair of eyes are for!!!
    dont give up, its so rewarding once finished, and if i can do it so can you!!you can write if you have anymore questions.
    Good luck!!!!
    btw, what are you making?
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  8. 3sweetP's - I'm thinking of making something from the 2 patterns from the link posted above in the comments. I am thinking the shorter tunic dress. Your pointers were great. I need all the help I can get. All those triangles and shapes confuse me so badly.
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  9. Just make sure you cut your notches! Those are the triangles at the edge of your pattern. You don't have to cut the entire triangle out, I never do, I would just make a little snip. This is to ensure that pieces match up, like on the armholes and necklines.
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  10. all good advice, because I too, having never sewn am stumped with 2 patterns in my house also, and patterns/directions that I just don't understand the language of it yet - but I am going to try your tips too.
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  11. Melissa - oh, that's what those triangles are for...hahaha. Thanks!

    Mmmmeee - So glad I am not alone :)
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  12. I'll offer another person you can email or ask if you get stuck.
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  14. Cut the triangles outward away from the seam allowance- that helps. Also, mark the dots that fall along sleeves or any other place that is gathered or eased. Jut push a pin in at the dot, then mark with a washable pen. Putting in sleeves is the most annoying part for me, especially if they aren't gathered because often they are eased, which is a very, very light gather to help the fabric fit. Just take it one step at a time, like someone said. Also, avoid Butterick and even McCalls patterns for awhile- they seem to always be more complicated. A good book to get or borrow is Sew U by Wendy Mullin. It is about sewing clothes from patterns. Good luck!
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  15. If you need any help I having been sewing from patterns for years. I am trying to get more creative like you and the other wonderful repurposing women out there lately. If you need any help please feel free to email me at ms5@comcast.net. Good luck!
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  16. Julie - Thanks for the book recommendation, I just reserved it from the library and for the extra info on the triangles...eeek, there is just so much to learn. I wish I could just take a class and get it over with - ya know?
    Mauri - Thanks hun, I will most likely be sending you an email desperate for help...haha.
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  17. Hi! This is my first comment and let me just say how impressive it is that you sew without patterns (that seems scarier to me somehow). Anyway, no one has mentioned Pattern Review: PattermReview.com . If you have the number on your sewing pattern, you can look up and see if other people have made the garment. Also, there are message boards that often have helpful threads where other people may have asked/answered some of the questions you have. Hope it helps.
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  18. Yippee! A website! Jessica I will definitely be checking that site out! Thanks for commenting :)
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  19. Oops: there is no "m" in pattern. The correct website should be: PatternReview.com or you can also get there via http://sewing.patternreview.com/

    Hopefully I did it right this time.
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  20. Ok, everyone, I cut the pattern pieces out - phew, talk about time consuming, and then cut out the pieces with some dummy fabric and boy am I glad I did that! I realized after all my hard work that I had royally f*&*ed up! Oops! When I go to make the real thing I will know what I did wrong. Silly fold map thingamajigger that I didn't read right...so now my trial version dress will have a seam up the front and back too.
    So thank you for all your great tips! Cross your fingers for me as I go along to the next step.
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