Jane in NC Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Update in post 15! Hanging head in shame... I am assisting with a 4-H sewing project. Some of the girls have a Simplicity pattern for a bolero that is intended for a beginning sewist. I was given the pattern to familiarize myself with it. The best thing to do was make a mock up. The construction is just screwy but the worst is that the back band/facing does not fit the pattern. How are beginners suppose to learn how to sew with less than clear instructions and pieces that don't fit together? Growl, growl... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I have had problems with Simplicity patterns myself. However, their customer service is awesome. I called on a weekend and got an answer much more promptly than I expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 I have had problems with Simplicity patterns myself. However, their customer service is awesome. I called on a weekend and got an answer much more promptly than I expected. Thank you for telling me this. It never occurred to me to telephone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 We've had problems with their patterns too. Instructions that don't make sense. Sometimes I wonder if the pattern instructions are written in a foreign language and then they use google translate to translate them. Pattern pieces with notches that do NOT line up properly. And the latest one - completely sized wrong - at least 2 sizes smaller than it should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Just a thought to double check - you probably know this but I thought I'd mention it just in case. Sometimes, pieces aren't supposed to line up exactly. ~ For example, for a fitted garment, on the upper back, often there are two notches with more fabric between the back two than the front two. This is intentional - there is essentially a dart here, but instead of making the dart you are supposed to "ease" the back into the front - to basically gather the back to the front, ideally without making it look too gathered and without stretching out the front. Not easy, of course! But it gives you the ease you need in the back to have a fitted garment that you can actually move in. If the instructions mention "easing" the fabric between the notches, that's what they mean. That's actually why the notches are there - to make sure the easing happens in the right place. ~ Also, it's important to understand that when you match up two pieces you want to match the *seam* line, not the edge of the fabric. For a straight seam, both will be the same. But for a curve, the edge of the fabric is *longer* than the seam line (5/8" in from the edge). Also, sometimes with sleeves, the seam allowance is cut with a kind of triangular part on the end, making the edge of the fabric longer than the seam line. If you think about where the seam line is on each piece, and match them, sometimes that solves the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I hate those patterns! The printable online ones are so much easier to use IMO. Check out youcanmakethis.com. Scientific Seamstress/CarlaC's patterns are always great. She has a helpful blog too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I've always had those patterns to be off on size. When dd was little it was doable. Now though, nothing I make fits her. For the longest time I thought it was me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Well, I'm glad it's not just me. Imo, fiw the McCall's were even worse. Dd had some apron patterns to make and they were incorrectly sized and the directions were just upid. How they could take such a simple project and make it so difficult; it must have taken a lot of work on thier part. I ended up making a pattern myself for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mynyel Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I had a problem with simplicity too. I called and the only thing that bothered me was they wanted me to ship *ALL* the material and everything to them. They were willing to reimburse me for the pattern and material and everything but it was really a pain in the rump. What were they going to do with it anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Yeah, for better patterns, look for Ottobre or KwikSew. I've heard Burda ones are good too. McCall's, Simplicity, and Butterick -- hit or miss. (But cheap! I trace my nice Ottobre and KwikSew patterns, but not the Simplicity, etc. ones; I have bought the same pattern three times because DD outgrew the first size, and at a dollar each, it wasn't worth my time to trace them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Yeah, for better patterns, look for Ottobre or KwikSew. I've heard Burda ones are good too. McCall's, Simplicity, and Butterick -- hit or miss. (But cheap! I trace my nice Ottobre and KwikSew patterns, but not the Simplicity, etc. ones; I have bought the same pattern three times because DD outgrew the first size, and at a dollar each, it wasn't worth my time to trace them.) I agree with this but I am simply helping with a sewing class. The girls had already selected patterns and fabric before I became involved. And as much as I love Ottobre, I don't think I would have beginning sewists trace these patterns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 You might want to look at PatternReview.com - you can see if anyone else has made the pattern a posted a review. It can be really helpful to read of others' experiences with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Thanks for the ideas, Justasque. I looked at Pattern Review before beginning the project--no reviews. I did find a novice asking about the facings on a sewing forum. I figured that she was just a novice until I had my issues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJPPKGFGSC Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I just spent the weekend struggling with a facing on Simplicity 1926. It is a really cute girls dress with an inset neck band. I am sure that it will not fit - I finally redrafted the piece - and it looks great now! I did check Pattern Review, and read more or less the same comment about the difficulty of the inset. If only it will be warm enough to wear next weekend.... even the short sleeve jacket might not be warm enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Update! I called Simplicity. After leaving a message, they were back to me in 30 minutes with my pattern before the customer service rep. I blew it! The facing band is applied in a counter-intuitive way. So, I guess I'll eat crow on this one. (Of course, I have yet to try the correct method. I drafted a new piece and improvised!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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