This week I wanted to share with you the process on how I my designs come into being – this is just the shortened summarized version (I don’t want to bore you too much), and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into my processes.
I usually design my sewing patterns in one of two ways. I either A, am inspired by a photo or garment that I see online or in stores – I then design my own version, and recreate the pattern from there. Or B, I just come up with a design in my own head (according to a theme of sorts, usually from a mood board I’ve created), and then create the pattern from there.
This week I am working on a blouse design I found on Pinterest, that inspired me to create my own sewing pattern version – or in this case – two different versions.
Blouse picture from Pinterest
My own designs
As you can see, I’ve added a few different features, like the buttons on the shoulder line and the neck pleats moving to one side on the second design.
After I have decided on my design, I usually sit and stare at it for a few hours – it may appear that I am just day dreaming, but what I’m actually doing is looking at each and every part of the design, and each and every seam and section. In my mind I’m visualizing what the pattern pieces will look like, how I may have to alter or change each part to create various design effects – and how I should change each pattern piece to get the design effects that I’m looking for.
I usually make a good few notes during this process, and when I’m done, I sit down at my computer and start to digitally draw out and design those pattern pieces.
One of my digital designs
Once I have created the first pattern pieces, I print them out in one size and I cut and sew the garment, writing down and recording each step I take as I go along. Once I have done this I know the best processes to use to complete the garment, and I can see what changes I need to make to the pattern for it to work (if there are any). This process can usually go over a couple of days (sometimes a week or two) depending on how complicated the garment is, and I may even make a few samples to make sure I get the design right.
Once I have done all of this, I then grade the pattern. What this means is that I add in a few good sizes in the spectrum from extra small to triple extra large. Because I do this in CoralDraw, I quite literally carefully measure out each size and move each line and point accordingly (it’s at least another day’s worth of work).
After this is all done, I then type out the sewing instructions, and then re-create each step digitally. Digitally drawing each step (you will see some of my older patterns had photographs for each stage, but I found it was difficult to always photograph each step clearly, and the picture made the instructions file HUGE! Which is why I switched to creating digital renderings).
After a couple more days, when all of this is done, I then try to film the sewalong, as well as I photograph and edit the final version of the garment for packaging and marketing purposes.
After editing and final touches, I launch them all – preferably at the same time, but unfortunately sometimes I am short on time and they are launched separately.
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All of this takes days worth of work and effort, and I think that after a few years my skills have become vastly improved as I’m always trying to better myself and offer you better quality sewing patterns as I go along.
I hope you enjoyed this insightful peek into how I work
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