Comments on: Pattern making and grading resources

By: Santosh

Santosh — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:03:15 +0000

Dear Kathleen,

We are based out of New Delhi ( capital of India ).
We offer flat prices for grading.
For a shirt like what you mentioned our price would be as follows :

$ 1.5 per part digitized
$ 30 for grading of shirt . We will send you a soft copy which can be printed by you at a bureau close to you or alternatively courier it back to you on a white paper or oak tag ( $ 2 per meter )

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:24:32 +0000

For obvious legal reasons, I can’t say one way or another about AAA or Cherie Bixler in a public place. Suffice to say that if you want to know the specific complaints levied against them (or any others you haven’t mentioned) you should consider joining our members forum which is private to get first hand information from people who had to learn the hard way. There are requirements to join. If there weren’t then it’d really be a public forum.
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/phpbb

This entry already said there was a negative rating about Michael before Kate ever added her comment. Please, DO expect problems! I’ve edited the entry to make the warnings stronger but really, I can’t force people to read. All I can do it publish it. You have been warned.

By: Andrea Frost

Andrea Frost — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:50:03 +0000

The same thing happened to me that happened to Kate with Michael smith of AAA Patters and Markings. He took my patterns and cashed my check and now I have nothing. I am going through small claims court and filing a police report.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:38:53 +0000

Hi Kathleen-

I’m a Fashion Design student in Los Angeles at FIDM. I am almost done with my program and just got a small freelance job from a client. She doesn’t know anything about sewing or pattern making. Since I’m still in school, I told her I am charging 15$ per hour- whether I’m making the patterns out of her existing dress, cutting, or sewing. Is this reasonable? She’s implying to me that it is a lot. Also it is difficult for me to estimate how long it’ll take without first making it. Any suggestions? Should I make a contract for her to sign to protect myself?

By: Jody Sims

Jody Sims — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:47:19 +0000

Rick’s Grading Service in the Dallas area is extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and fair. I’ve been a production patternmaker for 30 years and I recommend his work without question.

Jody

By: Nickey

Nickey — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:38:30 +0000

Hi, I goggled the name Cherie Bixler and this site popped up, I went to look her up on here, but she has been removed! I would like to know why and has an one done work with her. I found her on the Apparel Search, but AAA is also on there, and I see the comments about him. I have asked her for references, but she has not given me any, is that common..basically asking would you recommend her company. Thanks!

By: Kate Coxworth

Kate Coxworth — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:38:51 +0000

Kathleen-

My name is Kate Coxworth and I saw your older posting about pattern making and grading. I just wanted to let you in on an experience I had with a company that responded to your email request.

I hired AAA Patterns and Marking on 1/8/2007 to do all my patterns for women’s blouses. I flew down to Ozark Alabama to give Michael Smith a proper hand off and explanation of styles. Everything went well. I received an invoice from him on 1/19 for a 50% deposit ($1183.00) of the total. He cashed my check on 1/29 and guess what? No patterns! Currently we are in collections and he is not responding to any emails, letters, or phone calls after the initial contact with the collection agency and it is now 5/10/07. We are pursuing the matter and are thinking of suing him for fraud as he advertises on Apparel Search.com.

I just wanted to give you the heads up on this matter. I have reported him to the BBB.org but wanted to make sure that nobody else is fooled or taken advantage of.

Thanks,
Kate Coxworth

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:58:00 +0000

What does grading mean? What is the difference between a designer and a pattern maker and who is responsible for grading? Can anyone briefly walk me through this process? All of these things are discussed in great length in The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing. No other book goes into as much detail about the nuts and bolts of manufacturing a sewn product (there are 40 five star reviews on Amazon) or you can read sample chapters and view a table of contents. Select "my book" for selections.

By: ami

ami — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:08:36 +0000

I’m working on an idea for summer dresses. Unfortunately I have no experience in sewing or patternmaking.
What does grading mean? What is the difference between a designer and a pattern maker and who is responsible for grading? Can anyone briefly walk me through this process? Any help at all will be appreciated.

I was wondering if you could provide some insight in this area. I need to produce some dresses and I know the first step will be to develop prototypes. I’ve already had someone produce the sketches for me. Is it better for me to try and link the different processes/people (freelance) together or should I just provide the sketches to a pattern
making store who’ll take care of everything and come up with dresses I’m looking to produce?

By: Siobhan

Siobhan — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:14:17 +0000

Dear Kathleen
My name is Siobhan and I am amazed you could be quoted so much. I use a Lectra system and I am based in Ireland.
I have been computer grading in the industry for
12 years and set up myself 4years ago.

If the pattern is given.
I charge 40 euros for 5 pieces this is for digisting grading and layplans.This would be a full shirt frt/back/sleeve/clr and cuff.
Paper
is extra at 1.50euros per meter.

Your Sincerely
Siobhan
I you have any questions please email me at
siobhan.lectra@gmail.com