Comments on: Production pattern tutorial 2

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 27 May 2011 23:53:16 +0000

Any news on when the DVDs might be ready? I am a home sewer (well, not very good) but am always looking for ways to make my stuff look better.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:43:00 +0000

Hi Robert In addition to my comments above which explain the course of this project, I've been out of sorts with my move. I have shot a video on correcting patterns (production pattern making) but it hasn't been released yet. There are tons of tutorials on this site, click on "tutorials" in the blue bar at the top of the page for a mostly complete list. Lastly, since you have the book, you can join our forum where we talk about a lot of stuff with a great deal more specificity and detail.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:03:36 +0000

So, it’s July 1, 2010, is there any news on this new site or DVD with the production pattern tutorial? It would be so nice to actually see a tutorial!
I love this blog and your book!
Robert

By: Kathleen Fasanella

Kathleen Fasanella — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:41:51 +0000

No, it wasn't ever continued owing to the above (my comment dated 11/10/08 8:38 AM). What we have done since then is to shoot the first of several videos. What will likely happen when the first is released for sale, is that I will start the new site at that time. Then, people who buy the DVD can access the site and forum at a discount for the first year. Anyone else can join by paying a subscription. People who pay a subscription can buy the DVDs at a discount so it all works out either way. This also applies to my forever book projects on sewing and production pattern making which will be rolled into this new site in the same way. In the interim, we discuss anything people bring up in our existing forum. I have also most recently done a production pattern class. These are announced sporadically. I won't do another one until next May or June.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:40:07 +0000

Was the production pattern tutorial ever continued, and if so where? Last post you mentioned it being at your new site (that was back in Nov. 2008). where is your new site? where can I find the info. on the rest of this tutorial? Thanks in advance. Rhonda

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:58:38 +0000

Lorne
In the short term till I get it going, what is it that you’re looking for specifically? What are you intending to do? Have you read those sections in my book? There is that whole section on production pattern making and several other additional chapters on grading, drafting linings, correcting patterns for shrinkage, making guides (and what they are), fitting (again, concepts never mentioned elsewhere). In short, the sorts of things you need in the daily work environment that are never mentioned much less explained in pattern books. And if you have this book, what sorts of details are you looking for beyond what’s presented? Anyone feel free to answer this last question as it would be helpful for me to know. Thanks!

By: Lorne

Lorne — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:39:23 +0000

Thank you so much for explaining Kathleen. I am VERY eagerly looking forward to your new site. There is such a need for information about production pattern making.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:38:09 +0000

Apologies if I’m missing something obvious, but was this tutorial ever continued? I can’t find the next part if there is one.

You’re not missing anything (sorry). With continued discussion (on the forum) the consensus seemed to be I would be giving away too much because some of the material would come from my book and as such, the format should be subscription based. The other issue is, I was concerned the whole topic of the blog could veer off course so I thought it’d be better to start another site for it. I haven’t launched the new site but I have been collecting material for it. I’ve been collecting names of people likely to be interested in it too (I’ve added your name to the list) and will also mention it here whenever it goes live. At this point, the hang up is integrating an easy subscription option that is ecommerce enabled and I don’t know anything about that.

By: Lorne

Lorne — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:30:14 +0000

Apologies if I’m missing something obvious, but was this tutorial ever continued? I can’t find the next part if there is one.

By: anne

anne — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 01:52:34 +0000

I’m a technical writer, working mostly in the software industry. Processes and the way people work fascinate me. I’ve also been sewing and knitting since almost before I can remember; and while I have bookcases full of texts, I mostly learn by poking around the inside of clothes in expensive shops. My keyring recently acquired a tiny retracting tape measure

I wouldn’t recommend capitalising all the nouns – it’s actually harder to read words in all caps. I use bold; it reads more naturally, but the eye is drawn to those words. When the reader needs to check the task again, they can skim through, mostly reading the words in bold – saving time and frustration.

However much you slave away on your carefully written text, remember that most people _don’t_ want to read it, they just want to do their job. There is no Nobel Prize for technical writing.

You should also start the task with a list of requirements – it’s really annoying to leap into a task (which is common behaviour) without reading it thoroughly, only to find half way through that the task comes to a screaming halt because you don’t have that essential little widget not mentioned in the introduction.

One last point – think through your steps carefully. Where I work, there’s one of those ‘what to do in case of a bomb threat’ signs, which is appallingly badly written.

The instructions tell you to talk to the person making the threat, and then call the relevant authorities. Somewhere towards the end, (around Step 6) it tells you not to hang up the call from the person making the threat! Which of course you already have done, to ring the police.

Sigh.