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| Yes. That is a grown woman modelling it...! |
Phew, we've been getting down and dirty with our Dolly Sling redesign. We've tweaked and preened and primped a coupla things; they're much better designed now.
And it's all yours! Click here to buy the PDF pattern download.
Aw, the Dolly Sling - it's just one of our all-time favourite products - it has a lovely cute shape, the size is just right for fitting in lots of different shaped and size toys and dolls, and it even fits some well-known toys such as Build-a-Bear and Born Again dolls.
So if you're looking for a really unusual gift to make, this one definitely has wow factor.
Why OriginalStitch Patterns? Let me tell you...
1) No Wordy Cutting Lists!
Don't know about you, but honestly I find written lists tricky - I'm a very visual person, so I mean no offense at all to patterns which use them, but I likes pictures. So we always use cutting list images - you can see literally every single piece you're going to need.
2) Consistently Named Pieces
When you sew from a pattern, you start off with lots of pieces, and halfway through you have half-constructed bits....now I can get confused in patterns when there's no 'halfway house' names; patterns often state "Now take this piece" or worse, omit the noun entirely - "Turn over and stitch along sides" Um...turn which bit over? The bit I've just done or the thing I had to do before that?!!
We always make sure that once a construction is completed, we tell you what it will now be called, and when it comes up again in the pattern, that's how we refer to it. Sounds basic - helps in the long run!
When you cut out our patterns, you won't be expected to add seam allowances. I know this can in some cases be necessary, especially in the world of dressmaking, but we tell you every step of the way what seam allowance you'll need to stitch. It's almost always the same throughout the pattern, but even so, you will always be told what it is.
4) A Besquillion Diagrams
It's one of my very favourite jobs here at OriginalStitch, so maybe that's why we have so many of them, but we use looooooads of diagrams in our sewing patterns. I draw them myself, having designed the product myself or stood over Amanda while she makes it, so they are straight from the very horse's mouth - I draw them from the exact construction at that very point, so if there's still pins there, I draw them; if there's loose threads hanging down, I draw them. We then have our lovely designer Jon colour 'em in all pretty so they're even easier to understand, and have shading where there would be some, and right and wrong sides of the fabric properly coloured. Lovely. If you're terribly clever, you can probably almost make something without even reading, which is what my mother does.
"It says it right there look Mum - quarter of an inch, see?"
"Oh I haven't read the pattern, I'm just using the pictures." she said.
5) No Template Enlargement
When you cut out our templates, you won't have to enlarge them. I'm quite happy to admit this may be a matter of preference, but I try to think of the person sewing from their abode up the top of a Welsh mountain, with no access to a photocopier shop, and as temperamental an all-in-one printer as we have (shh, don't tell it I said that, it's easily upset...). So our templates are designed to fit on an A4 sheet, so that when you print them out, they're real-size. You may have to join pieces together to make the whole template before applying to the fabric, yes - but we make this as easy as possible by including full written instructions and using nice little symbols.
Our patterns are currently PDF downloads, to which there is a link in your confirmation email, once you've purchased your Sewing Pattern PDF from the website. We have chosen this method because of our eco ethics - we felt it was a little cheeky to go printing out reams of paper for our sewing patterns when we bang on about environmental concerns.
Having said that, we'd be interested to know if you would like them as a paper version, because we would seek to work with some lovely bonkers paper made from rhino poo, or beer dregs, or old Barbie packaging or something. (We ain't joking, our tags ARE made from old beer dregs!)
7) Online Support
You can get support when making your pattern from our Facebook Page - just come and holler at our wall! One of us will come and join in the discussion. Of course you can always email us directly too.
So, if you haven't taken a peek at our sewing patterns yet, have a little look.
Which of our products would you like to see a Sewing Pattern PDF for next?
2 people clicked here to comment. You can too!:
Great post, like the re-design and details of how OS patterns work - just tweeted it :) Beth (the linen cat)x
Thank you Beth - that is a compliment indeed, coming from you x x x
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