Kat from Modern Vintage Cupcakes came up with the brilliant idea of 'Indie Pattern Month', a chance for us sewing bloggers to celebrate the talents of the ever increasing number of independent sewing pattern designers across the globe.
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If you read my post last week about my experience sewing up Simplicity 2444 you'll know that making that dress was the very first time I'd used a pattern from the 'Big Four' pattern companies (Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls and Vogue). Considering I started sewing around 18 months ago and also the range and number of patterns available from these companies is probably quite surprising. Though when I think about it, it shouldn't have been to me as I love indie patterns so much! It may be the illustrations or styling on the envelopes of the big 4 patterns but I find it much easier to get excited by the more contemporary indie label designs.
I think I've stuck with using indie patterns for so long because I find their construction instructions and diagrams to be so amazing for a novice seamstress. I'm a completely self taught seamstress; I learnt by reading sewing blogs for tips and tutorials, referring to sewing books but mainly just by being guided by the instructions of the patterns themselves. One of my earliest projects was the Lonsdale Dress from Sewaholic Patterns. Taisa's pattern instructions are fantastic and include tips and tricks which you just wouldn't find in mass produced patterns. Some of the techniques I learnt making this dress (like using stay tape, clipping seams and lining) are now completely natural steps to me that I use on nearly every project.
Indie patterns have a lot going for them, mainly because you can guarantee that so much time, thought and consideration has gone into the creation of each pattern. The packaging is just one example and a particular favourite of mine for this is Papercut Patterns. The patterns arrive in beautiful little boxes with a fold out hanger for storage and and removable postcard image of the design with all the useful 'back of envelope' information on the back; easy to take with you fabric shopping! Then the patterns themselves are printed on lovely robust paper, along with the cutting and construction instructions which you can fold up into a cute little booklet.
In fact indie designers are great for encouraging beginner sewers, and not just through their instructions but through things such as free pattern downloads, such as the Colette Sorbetto Top, so you can try your hand without spending a fortune. They provide amazing resources on their own blogs like tutorials, sew-a-longs and even often make themselves available to answer questions if you get stuck when with part of their instructions. I followed the By Hand London sew-a-longs for both the Charlotte Skirt and Elisalex Dress and was lucky enough to even get some advice choosing lining from the lovely Elisalex herself at a meet up!
I think there's something for everyone offered by indie designers. Maybe you want your patterns NOW so some designers, like Grainline Studio, provide an instant PDF download option for their patterns. Maybe you're after hard to find modern patterns for men, then new company Thread Theory may be just what you are looking for!
Here's a little round up list of the fab indie pattern designers I know of; I love discovering a new one so hopefully some of you might too!
I know I'll be mainly sewing indie labels well into the future, in fact I'm currently working on the Coppelia Cardigan from Papercut, along with a third (yes third!) version of the Lonsdale dress from Sewaholic and I've got my eye on the gorgeous Hawthorne dress which has just been released by Colette! Have you tried sewing with a pattern from an indie label before? If so what are your favourites?
If you read my post last week about my experience sewing up Simplicity 2444 you'll know that making that dress was the very first time I'd used a pattern from the 'Big Four' pattern companies (Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls and Vogue). Considering I started sewing around 18 months ago and also the range and number of patterns available from these companies is probably quite surprising. Though when I think about it, it shouldn't have been to me as I love indie patterns so much! It may be the illustrations or styling on the envelopes of the big 4 patterns but I find it much easier to get excited by the more contemporary indie label designs.
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| My second Sewaholic Lonsdale |
I think I've stuck with using indie patterns for so long because I find their construction instructions and diagrams to be so amazing for a novice seamstress. I'm a completely self taught seamstress; I learnt by reading sewing blogs for tips and tutorials, referring to sewing books but mainly just by being guided by the instructions of the patterns themselves. One of my earliest projects was the Lonsdale Dress from Sewaholic Patterns. Taisa's pattern instructions are fantastic and include tips and tricks which you just wouldn't find in mass produced patterns. Some of the techniques I learnt making this dress (like using stay tape, clipping seams and lining) are now completely natural steps to me that I use on nearly every project.
 |
| My La Sylphide Blouse from Papercut and Charlotte Skirt from By Hand London |
Indie patterns have a lot going for them, mainly because you can guarantee that so much time, thought and consideration has gone into the creation of each pattern. The packaging is just one example and a particular favourite of mine for this is Papercut Patterns. The patterns arrive in beautiful little boxes with a fold out hanger for storage and and removable postcard image of the design with all the useful 'back of envelope' information on the back; easy to take with you fabric shopping! Then the patterns themselves are printed on lovely robust paper, along with the cutting and construction instructions which you can fold up into a cute little booklet.
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| My Elisalex Dress from By Hand London |
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| My first Scout Tee from Grainline Studio |
I think there's something for everyone offered by indie designers. Maybe you want your patterns NOW so some designers, like Grainline Studio, provide an instant PDF download option for their patterns. Maybe you're after hard to find modern patterns for men, then new company Thread Theory may be just what you are looking for!
Here's a little round up list of the fab indie pattern designers I know of; I love discovering a new one so hopefully some of you might too!
- Sewaholic Patterns (paper patterns only)
- Papercut Patterns (paper patterns only)
- By Hand London (paper patterns only)
- Colette Patterns (paper and PDF)
- Grainline Studio (PDF only)
- Megan Nielson (paper only)
- Salme Patterns (PDF only)
- Thread Theory (PDF only)
- Victory Patterns (paper and PDF)
- Cake Patterns (paper and PDF)
- Pattern Runway (PDF only)
- Deer & Doe (paper only)
- Sinbad and Sailor (PDF only)
- Closet Case Files (PDF only)
- Tilly and the Buttons (PDF only)
- Blue Ginger Doll Patterns (paper and PDF)
- Aime Comme Marie (in French paper versions only, just discovered this one after a tip from Sabine!)
- Merchant & Mills (paper only, another new discovery though not sure if they are technically indie!)
- Citronille (mainly in French but limited patterns available in English, paper only. Introduced to me by Nikki)
I know I'll be mainly sewing indie labels well into the future, in fact I'm currently working on the Coppelia Cardigan from Papercut, along with a third (yes third!) version of the Lonsdale dress from Sewaholic and I've got my eye on the gorgeous Hawthorne dress which has just been released by Colette! Have you tried sewing with a pattern from an indie label before? If so what are your favourites?