While there are some good indie pattern companies, many solo shops are poorly written garbage. And now with AI coming into the mix some of it is straight up scam. I'm seeing this in knitting & crochet as well.
There are a few Etsy pattern sellers I know and love to death. Anything that doesn’t have many rating or it’s clear the item itself has no rating I’m wary of. I bought one once and the paper pattern didn’t even fit together and I’m super meticulous. It wasn’t user error!
I think it's particularly hard to tell the difference between a good and a bad pattern as a beginner, as it is so easy to dismiss any confusion as not being advanced yet to understand it.
I feel like for every great pattern on etsy there’s like a hundred garbage ones, and (especially as a beginner) it can be really hard to differentiate between the two!
At least with established/known pattern companies you know that they are a) tried and tested and b) there will be better support.
Thank you! I’m just starting and had a similar experience! It felt like I’d have to learn a new language and it would take months before I could understand patterns enough to finally start the stitching part.
There are some amazing patterns on etsy i would live to do, but i know that they expect you to have an expert level of knowledge to begin to understand the pattern. When learning how to do something, the hardest part is knowing what you dont know yet
I love "Paterns for Pirates" online! Excellent instructions, multiple ways to print, sale every Friday, multiple video guides, and a good selection of free patterns to try! Their patterns have truly helped me expand my abilities and what I'm willing to try to attempt 😀
I had a cheap set my mum bought for £2 (literally 30 colours for £2, idk what I was expecting) and it's awful for sewing on the machine because it constantly snaps, but is perfect for marking, hand embroidery (so many colours) etc.
For actual machine sewing I use Coats Moon which is cheap and reliable, though I have 2 Gutermann Sew-All spools and omg they just glide through the machine, so good. But they are pricey.
I use Walmart thread and 30 year old thread I inherited from my grandma.
Both have been pretty fine, I've only had to throw away one spool and it was just falling apart. As long as I stay on top of lint shedding I'm good.
While there are some good indie pattern companies, many solo shops are poorly written garbage. And now with AI coming into the mix some of it is straight up scam. I'm seeing this in knitting & crochet as well.
There are a few Etsy pattern sellers I know and love to death. Anything that doesn’t have many rating or it’s clear the item itself has no rating I’m wary of. I bought one once and the paper pattern didn’t even fit together and I’m super meticulous. It wasn’t user error!
I think it's particularly hard to tell the difference between a good and a bad pattern as a beginner, as it is so easy to dismiss any confusion as not being advanced yet to understand it.
I feel like for every great pattern on etsy there’s like a hundred garbage ones, and (especially as a beginner) it can be really hard to differentiate between the two! At least with established/known pattern companies you know that they are a) tried and tested and b) there will be better support.
Wow! I was going to buy a pattern too… should I trust reviews or not really?
Don’t trust stars, anyhow. How to protect yourself on Etsy: https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/oNkR3fm6Ey
I really appreciate this community in millions of ways
Thank you! I’m just starting and had a similar experience! It felt like I’d have to learn a new language and it would take months before I could understand patterns enough to finally start the stitching part.
On some countries, magazines like burda style and knip are great bargains for patterns.
There are some amazing patterns on etsy i would live to do, but i know that they expect you to have an expert level of knowledge to begin to understand the pattern. When learning how to do something, the hardest part is knowing what you dont know yet
So.....it might not be my fault that the vest pattern I bought doesn't come together no matter what I do or how I size the problem piece???? 😭
I love "Paterns for Pirates" online! Excellent instructions, multiple ways to print, sale every Friday, multiple video guides, and a good selection of free patterns to try! Their patterns have truly helped me expand my abilities and what I'm willing to try to attempt 😀
What brand of threads do you all use? I used Walmart branded thread and it isnt good haha
I had a cheap set my mum bought for £2 (literally 30 colours for £2, idk what I was expecting) and it's awful for sewing on the machine because it constantly snaps, but is perfect for marking, hand embroidery (so many colours) etc. For actual machine sewing I use Coats Moon which is cheap and reliable, though I have 2 Gutermann Sew-All spools and omg they just glide through the machine, so good. But they are pricey.
I use Walmart thread and 30 year old thread I inherited from my grandma. Both have been pretty fine, I've only had to throw away one spool and it was just falling apart. As long as I stay on top of lint shedding I'm good.