I've taken a while to write this pattern review, as I didn't want to come across as too angry and I wanted to process it all. This happened back in Feb 2012.
I found these patterns online and I have another blogger friend who makes lots of these patterns, and find them great. I wasn't sure, but I finally decided to give them a try, especially as you get a free 'pattern of the month' when you purchase. 2 for 1, right?
And we've all had those sewing disasters, right? where for whatever reason- the fabric, the style, the time of the night (or the month) when it just doesn't work? I have put this disaster all down to those things, but the hardest bit was I asked for their help; I contacted the company, based here in Melbourne, for further help.
Firstly, here are the instructions:
That's it. Also, they are one size only- very hard if you want to make a multi-size pattern ie size18 waistband with a 14-16 skirt.
They stated that they are "a very new boutique pattern company - we are
industry based and are learning from our wonderful sewists all the time."
In my first email to them, I couldn't find the seam allowances in the instructions; I didn't realise when transferring markings to the pattern I had to mark the seam allowances on each piece of (stretch) fabric, as some were 1/4 inch and some were 3/8inch seams. Either transfer or have the paper pattern open at all times to go back to. (I tend to transfer everything then fold the paper pattern up out of the way).
The 2nd time I emailed back I'd pretty much given up- I wasn't referred to the help section online, I requested a refund and I'd return the products, as I'd had enough of trying to guess from the fabric what to do- this is an area I definitely fail at. As my friends will attest- I like a pattern, instructions and both written and illustrated instructions. I follow a recipe for cooking, I hate winging it and making something yuck. I guess I'm a bit of a control freak like this.
The response from the company to my request was to re-email the instructions, and send photos of the completed garment. And to let them know how I got on.
The finished garment.
Garment and pattern in the bin. Looked so good on a drawing!
Oh, the 2nd pattern I got was this, but I'd already been burnt once, I went with this pattern instead, after a review from a similar sewist to me.
So this, StyleArc, is how I got on. I've gone back to getting well written, easy to follow commercial patterns, and online patterns that I can easily follow. I've put it down to sticking to what you know! And getting if off your chest, finally!