Here I am again, ? on different pattern: McCalls 4424

[bridesmom]

It does seem like pattern directions are being translated from a totally different language into English lately. I pretty much have given up on reading directions, unless I am into something totally new to me, then I read it, read it again, pin it, baste it and end up doing it my way. I have found Nancy Zieman has lots of great tips on doing things easier than the pattern companies directions. Sometimes the directions are so bizarre. The only time I have heard of a continuous loop is with doing a quilt binding. It's a way of cutting the fabric in one full piece with no, or minimal seams on it.

[MartySews2]

Laura, I think you've hit on another problem with sewing ... outsourcing the patternmaking & writing directions. It used to be the designer wrote the directions for the pattern that they drafted. However, now the designer just provide the drawings, then a patternmaker drafts the pattern, & someone else who may or may not be familiar with sewing in a 3rd world country writes the instructions. There are a few designers who still design, draft & write their own instructions ... Peggy Sagers, of the Dallas/Ft Worth, TX area does for her Silhouette patterns; Claire Schaeffer designs & writes her instructions for Vogue; and Pati Palmer will write her own instructions for her patterns for McCall's. Loes Hinse still designs, drafts & writes her own instructions, too. I know that they are others but these are the ones that I purchase for the instructions. In Children's wear, Michele Michie designs, drafts & writes her own instructions as well as Cheryl Davidson of Heirlooms Original. Any other pattern, I skim the directions & then just make it my way as many times the directions make no sense whatsoever. It can really put a newbie to sewing off because they don't understand how to translate the written instructions into a 3 dimensional garment. That's what I teach in my sewing classes each week is the instructions are guidelines but are not to be taken literally or it will drive you crazy. All garments have basic construction techniques and it's the trims, the details, choice of fabric, etc that makes it stand out as one of a kind. Just saying ...
Marty

[DorothyL]

Marty, technical writing is a very specialized style. Mainly because it is HARD. Knowing how to do something like sewing, even if you are the designer, doesn't mean you can effectively communicate that knowledge. Even knowing how to do something and being a writer doesn't mean someone would be a good technical writer. Not to say knowledge of sewing and or writing doesn't help, but to write good instruction really requires good technical writers and because it is such a specialized craft the people that do it expect to be well paid. And that is where the pattern companies and designers cut corners.
Dorothy

[lendube]

Good point, Dorothy. And to bring it on home, that's why I don't try to explain a sewing technique here on the board very often. I can't describe it in a way that makes me feel comfortable advising another person. It doesn't stop me from blabbing about everything else under the sun though.........

[DorothyL]

I can't describe it in a way that makes me feel comfortable advising another person.

I feel the same way --- and I write for a living.

Dorothy

[bridesmom]

Never thought of it like that before Dorothy , thanks for the info! It's kind of like trying to put pictures into words that mAke sense to everyone, not an easy job!!

[kjh9835]

I usually only use McCalls, Simplicity or Butterick patterns. Butterick patterns are more difficult for me to understand compared to the others. I do agree that those new to sewing are often put off and give up because they can't understand the directions. I used to go to mom's or my Aunt JoAn's before they both moved to FL. Sometimes Joe can help when he's home but I hate being "stuck" waiting on help so I come here

The dress is done and I've made the hat (after a call to Marty today), the only thing left is the panties and I don't have any bias tape. I do have plenty of the fabric left over so I'm just going to make my own.

Still no computer so can't post pics but will take them anyway and when I get it fixed/replaced, I'll post the results.

Thanks all,

Kathy

[kjh9835]

Well....

I just scanned this same pattern section and pretty much posted the same identical picture and question before it dawned on me that I had asked it the first time I made this dress. After I remembered, I searched 4424 and found this thread, figured out what to do and deleted the post I had just made. That was a waste of about 30 minutes but hey, at least I caught it before anyone else did. Still not going to finish it tonight as I want to get the hand quilting done on the second wall hanging before bed.

Kathy