Monica, I too use to sew clothing, not much now. But I bought a pattern for a poncho for presents for DILs and the pieces are also marked wrong, the hood for one must be for 2 heads, and the markings don't match. I don't know what to think ? rene

Any particular brand? I personally found problems with Butterick patterns 30 years ago. bggs

The pattern I'm using is McCalls. I used them years ago and they were great. It has been about two years since I bought a pattern. Don't remember what company, but the paper pattern was not even the pattern for the photo on the envelope. I'm just wondering if all the large pattern companies have gone down-hill. Is there any brand that you have used that is good?

My pattern is a McCalls Easy stitch'n save

I've yet to have a problem with Simplicity. bggs

If you are using a multi-sized pattern, it's easy to get lost when cutting. Many people will mark their cutting lines at intersections and other pertinent lines beforehand and pin fit so they don't get lost and figure out how the thing goes together...I do it too.

Case in point: I'm working on a blouse and the sleeves are wonky at the ends and don't match up...I'm a pin baster so I know beforehand if something is definitely wrong. The other favorite thing pattern companies like to do is draft the pleats that don't quite match--drives me crazy so it's fudge fudge fudge your way through the cuff area. I got one cuff on following their directions and it took me an hour for one lousy cuff. I did the other one the way I was taught and had it pinned and on the sleeve in 15 minutes without a problem--you wonder where they get these ideas for so-called shortcuts that take you longer than the conventional way of doing things.

I bought little girl dress patterns this year. I was shocked at how poorly the patterns are being presented. My pet peeve is that they now want bias tape for facings instead of giving a facing piece for the pattern

On those multi size patterns,b4 i even cut them apart i go over all the medium size lines with a red marker,the large size with a green marker etc.So that there is no chance of mixing them up when cutting out.
Kathi

Thanks for the good ideas. Has anybody used the expensive patterns that are in some of the quilting books? With the pattern I'm using, I guess it's lucky that I learned how to sew a long time ago and can "fake it" with the illogical pattern. Monica

I hate the multi size patterns. But one thing I found was I wanted a pair of infant/toddler panties/bloomers that had a center front & a center back seam. I went by the sketches on the outside of the envelope & in the pattern book, found one & bought it. Boy did I get a surprise! It was one of those with only side seams & no crotch piece either (that I already had several of). It looks like it would make their legs warped to wear something like that.

I remember when I learned to sew in 7th grade, I had enough problems even using good patterns. If they had made junky ones back then, I know I'd have given up! Coincidentally, I have been given a bunch of patterns from the '40s to early '60s. What a difference in quality, both in design and in instructions. Some of these patterns the lady had sent away for to small companies, and even they were decent. bggs

I spend most of my time at the quilting forum. I was also shocked at the cost of patterns when I went to buy some after years of using the same over & over. When I found out pattern making was just drafting I looked into it at the library. I figured I can do anything others can do. The local 'Jr' College offered a pattern making class. I took it and love being able to make any pattern from body measurments. Learning what goes into making a pattern made more sense to me than learning alterations. Of course I can now alter patterns because I understand the basics.

The price of patterns is high, but there's no excuse for paying full price, because they're discounted so often. sometimes I just would rather spend the time sewing, rather than pattern drafting. That said, I find instructions aren't what they used to be, rather than the pieces themselves. I do some sewing for historical re-enactors, and some brands of those patterns are awful, pieces not marked, don't fit together, variations poorly illustrated and described. One vendor had a web site for comments, and when I emailed her with the problems I was having, emailed back and said the wrong file had been sent to the printer. But she had it printed up and sold it anyway! And oh, since I was being paid for the work, it was a violation of the copywrite! (Never mind that other pattern companies allow you to make *One* garment for a private customer) The last ones had better instructions, except...no instructions for attaching the collar of a tux coat. I altered mens' wear for years, so I can figure that out, but I wonder how someone just learning ever gets anything completed, or if folks just give up in frustration.

Hi costumecarol, There are still some rural areas of the US that do not have stores that discount their patterns. That is, unless you are able to get to one that is an hour or more away. Also, I've found that some stores discount patterns when there are "slim pickens" in the drawers -- usually ones that are too small. After the sale, however, the larger sought-after patterns miraculously appear!
As a former employee of an out-of-business fabric department in an out-of-business department store, I recall being told to keep fabric bolts in the back until after advertised sales, so I can't help but wonder if some fabric stores do the same with patterns now. bggs

I dislike the multisized patterns, not only are they confusing to cut, but it assumes that size is just done in 1/2 inch graduations. Now I'm not a professional pattern maker, but if you look at people you soon realize people don't "grow" symmetrically. I would pay extra for a pattern in my size. This way you way only need a handful of patterns and be able to add details as you go.

You aren't kidding, people don't grow symmetrically! My daughter's bust size is about 4 sizes larger than her waist and hips sizes. I tried using the multisized ones for her, but gave up and now alter the regular sizes. bggs

I too hate the multi-sized patterns. Tracing the size I "think" I'll need is tedious, but cutting out the wrong size is a disaster, too. Oh for the days of single-sized patterns! Pattern fitting was much easier in the old days, too.

BTW, I discovered two errors in the instructions in SewNews magazine for a scissor-keeper that looks like a duck. I emailed them and never heard a word back about the errors. Hopefully, others making the duck will figure out the errors...apparently they either don't proof read well or they don't attempt to construct their little projects from the instructions before printing the magazine.

I never did finish that stupid duck.

Mary L (who is cranky tonight)

Hate them Hate them Hate them!
I wish multi-sized patterns would go the way of the dodo.

I just purchased a McCall's pattern for a formal, and it was VERY poorly printed, (the ink was so light you could barely see it.) the tissue was the thinnest I've ever!!! seen, and the measurements of the finished pieces do not match what's on the envelope. The measurements for sizing are equally erroneous, what fantasy land do they live in?

Can't say as I'll ever be inclined to purchase a McCall's pattern again. Cheap Cheap Cheap (except for the inflated price tag!!!!)

I buy patterns from Ebay, yard sales, and when they go half-off at Hancocks. If it's half-off day for a certain company, I'll poll my sisters to see what they need and I'll go and get everyone's patterns at once.

In a related question, I'd like to reinforce the pattern pieces, now that I've used them, because they are just falling apart...they won't survive a second use, really. Any suggestions?

Thanks all!

I bought a roll of pattern paper from Nancy's Notions (I think), and trace the original pattern in the size I want onto the pattern paper. I use my kitchen island which is a good height, and put the original pattern piece (that I have ironed) down, then tape the pattern paper over it. It's tediou...then for pin fitting, I hafta add the seam lines to be really accurate (or eye-ball them if I'm not feeling fussy). Multi sized patterns are a pain in the a**!! But a lot cheaper for the companies, I'm sure! And then they wonder why garment sewing is no longer "in".

Mary

Auntie geek,
If it's a pattern i like and think i'll be using over and over i trace it off onto inexpensive interfacing.That way you can mark on it with a pen or marker,it folds up and holds up better than the paper tissue ones.I buy yards of interfacing when Joann's has there's on sale,sometimes for as low as .50 cents a yd.
Kathi

There's a method for preserving patterns in one of Sandra Betzina's books. Take your tissue pattern, that you have altered and adjusted so it fits you, and get very lightweight iron-on stabilizer. Put the stabilizer on top of the tissue and use your iron to bond them together. The stabilizer should be very thin, thin enough that you can see through it, so you can see all your markings and notes. This will hold the pattern together and youÂll be able to pin it and use it multiple times.

I am a technical writer by profession. I write instructions on how to use complex computer software designed for large businesses. I know good instructions when I see them, and the instructions from the major pattern companies (McCalls, Butterick, Simplicity and Vogue) are just horrid. You'd think they had to pay extra for every word printed, so they use as few words as possible. My sister once bought an "Easy, only three steps!" pattern and found that they reduced the steps to 3 by simply leaving some steps out.

In a recent Threads magazine, there was an article about how to correct your patterns before you start sewing. Among other things, you were instructed to measure the seam lines of pieces that were to be sewn to each other to make sure they were the same size. Apparently, the low quality of commercial patterns is well known.

I only use the pattern instructions as a suggestion. IÂve collected a library of sewing technique books that I refer too often. I use techniques or construction methods that I like and I just ignore the pattern company instructions. My suggestion: Check out a number of sewing technique books from the library. Find one or two books that you especially like (good pictures, clear instructions), then purchase those and keep them on hand to refer to.

IÂve had good luck with Kwik-Sew patterns and Stretch and Sew patterns in terms of practical sewing techniques and clear instructions. They both produce multisize patterns, but printed on regular paper and very clearly marked. No tissues. Kwik-Sew prints each size in a different color.

CMC

wow excellent info everyone...I was thinking of that iron-on technique myself...wish there was a spray on product out there too...I've tried sizing and starch but it's only a temporary fix. Kathi I hit the sales too, but next time I'll stock up even more.

and Mary I was just remembering the seam lines....those are gone too...I remember my first pattern I ever made, a vest of some kind when I was 11 or so...and it had the seam lines printed. Hmm, wonder how much they're saving on ink now that isn't printed any longer either. (smirk) Also, they'll print dots, squares, triangles etc etc, but now they don't say what they're FOR !!!! hahaha! and they don't print them in the intstructions' pics either, but they do tell you to match them up...but not "why"....good grief!

Well I could go on but time to go.....

Thanks everyone!!

I was shocked in the multi-size patterns I bought recently. I'm sewing again after 30 yrs. It's amazing to me that according to the pattern I bought a size 12 is only an inch smaller than the size 20 from the way they had it marked!! Confusing and depressing...knew I'd gained some weight but not THAT much!!

Leona