Comments on: Pop Quiz #473 pt. 2

By: Todd Hudson

Todd Hudson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:49:43 +0000

Even though I said I won’t sew from other people’s patterns, I admit I want to hire JC to suffer cutting/sewing from my patterns! Of course, I’d give him at least a muslin with the pattern.

I also tell my clients “You should really hire the factory to do these samples to make sure the whole enchilada is cooked through.”

By: Anwen

Anwen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:42:39 +0000

I wasn’t sure whether to mention the non-numbered notches in case it was a silly home-pattern thing But yes, this makes total sense – when someone’s sewing a zillion garments a day, why make things harder for them by not making it completely obvious which bit goes where??

By: Deanna

Deanna — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:26:58 +0000

I have worked in costume production for theatre, and it is so true that sewing for a good cutter is a pleasure. (We call them cutter’s instead of designers or patternmakers, not sure if it is a theatre thing, or a Canadian thing)
We come in to work to find all the pieces for the garments in individual piles. Often the only instructions given is a note pinned to the pile with the actor’s actual waist measurement. No picture, drawing, etc. But when you are confident that it is cut well, you know that if one piece is 1/4″ longer than the other, you have the wrong piece. Even on period costumes where the bodice pieces are not recognizable, it is still straightforward to put together because you know the lengths are exact, stripes/plaid match and notches are only used when needed. It can only fit together one way. Sloppy cutter, and you are constantly second guessing, tugging or shoving to make things fit together, it takes longer to sew, and you can’t press it enough to make it look good. IMHO

By: Andrea Baker

Andrea Baker — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:18:32 +0000

AHA! I was right…I didn’t want to guess in front of everyone and…well, look uncool I guess…

By: J C Sprowls

J C Sprowls — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:07:06 +0000

Hey… is that the same cuttingline that bids against me on with such fervor on eBay? He finds the good stuff, too. For example, he got to a French book on Neapolitan tailoring, Le Secret de la Coupe Grand Pieces de Napolitano, before I did.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:14:31 +0000

I don’t mind sewing for other patternmakers provided it’s a functional relationship. I treat every pattern I’ve never seen like it were a first pattern that needs to be proven.

Lol but you can’t assume that a pattern from another pattern maker is any good either, hence the need to prove any pattern that crosses your desk . I’ve got some patterns that I won’t even attempt. I recognize the handwriting!!!

By: J C Sprowls

J C Sprowls — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:04:51 +0000

I don’t mind sewing for other patternmakers provided it’s a functional relationship. I treat every pattern I’ve never seen like it were a first pattern that needs to be proven. Some people I’ve worked with don’t like that policy – but, I think it’s in the customer’s best interest.

By: cuttingline

cuttingline — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:52:04 +0000

As the other posters have mentioned, the piece shapes are not good for a refined fit……The pattern can’t be taken seriously if it is meant to be an accurate reproduction of the shapes. Let’s hope that it was merely a diagram of a “pattern” to be used for some other purpose, like the pattern shapes reproduced on the back of the old Mccalls patterns. I cannot imagine any professional wasting time sewing it.

By: Todd Hudson

Todd Hudson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:41:39 +0000

“This is why a lot of people won’t make protos for you if they didn’t make the pattern.”
Here, here! I did it once and would like to avoid repeating the experience.