What I hate about popular purse and wallet patterns
 

I come from a clothing construction background. Pattern pieces are always supplied in a pattern envelope. It appears that is not the case with the popular purse and wallet patterns that I have recently purchased. Designers just give you the dimensions of the various pieces that need to be cut. Some people may like that, but not me, so I have to take the time to draw the pattern pieces onto paper. Am I the only that is "quirky" that way?

I have a friend who makes pattern pieces for her paper pieced quilt projects. She hates taking a chunk of fabric and sewing it onto the paper and trimming it to size.

We all have our quirks.

I have a tissue paper pattern for my wallet/s that must be 30 years old now and I won't get rid of it. I have made many wallets from that pattern and have revised it several times to better suit me. I would be very disappointed to open a "pattern" to find I had to draw my own...

I knew there was a reason I don't buy bag patterns. If you have to draw your own anyway, why waste your money on a so called pattern.

Every pattern I have purchased in the past few years has been like this. Look on the bright side you only have to make a tissue pattern once and you can use it over and over.

Add to what you are saying the fact that the directions are often 'garbled.' It seems that since quilting and purse making designers don't know how to write directions! I often rewrite the instructions for myself.

ali

I never thought about making an actual paper pattern, I think I will head for the sewing room and make some paper patterns, would be so much easier to construct a bag etc. . Thank you

The patterns that annoy me the most are the ones that give you a tiny little picture of the piece and then you are suppose to take it to the copyshop and enlarge it 240%. That may be easy enough if you live in an urban area but for those of us in good old rural Ontario, the copyshop may be 30 miles away! At least if they give me the dimensions, I can draw it out on newsprint if nothing else.

I too, wished that bag/wallet patterns would give you printed pattern pieces. It would be so much quicker for the sew-er. It would also make me feel like I was getting my money's worth. I pay $7 - $10 for a pattern and open it up and it's one sheet of measurements & directions. ugh !

I guess I'm in the minority. I hate the tissue pattern paper. I sewed clothes for about 30 years and, because that was all we had, used the paper patterns. I feel much more free with just the suggested dimensions of pieces. Of course, I almost never make a pattern exactly as instructed. I make so many purses that the paper would slow me down. I do write instructions to myself in case I want to duplicate a bag. I do agree that most commercial patterns have poorly written instructions.

I just bought a Pattern for a cute wallet and some of the pieces are just rectangle or square cuts of material. Do I need a pattern for that. No! Pattern pieces for the curved parts were included. I enjoyed making it so much I made 20 of them to give to the girls in my department at work for xmas and I also made a credit card size xmas card and slipped it into one of the two card holder spots. if I ever learn how to post pics' I'll show them off!
peace

I also prefer to have dimensions to cut from rather than a paper pattern if it's a simple rectangle. However for curves or special shapes it's nice to have the paper pattern.

[QUOTE=ube quilting;4788297]I just bought a Pattern for a cute wallet and some of the pieces are just rectangle or square cuts of material. Do I need a pattern for that. No! Pattern pieces for the curved parts were included. I enjoyed making it so much I made 20 of them to give to the girls in my department at work for xmas and I also made a credit card size xmas card and slipped it into one of the two card holder spots. if I ever learn how to post pics' I'll show them off!

I want to see your pictures. Little cards would be so cute and personnal. I like that Idea.

I too, like just cutting the fabric. I do not like to cut tissue paper patterns out before I can use them. Waste of my time and effort. Merry Christmas all.

I only bought a few of the purse patterns and think the same....with quilt patterns, they just tell you to cut - x- rectangles so was not surprised to not have patterns, However, I think it is wrong to sell a pattern that tells you to copy at % larger. For what they charge, things that can't be cut by measurement alone should be provided or one should be told up front.

I must admit it was an eye opener to me the first time I saw a commercial quilt pattern to discover it was merely directions. After years of sewing clothing either with bought pattern pieces or my own drafted paper patterns I sure miss paper groceries bags as I used these for patterns and I still have some of them.
I think directions that are sold as patterns are highly over priced. I have only bought one pattern - for the Bow Tucks Bag.
Have to admit I do have a lot of quilt magazines most of which I hardly ever look at these days. Wish I'd had a computer when I started quilting. With all the free patterns available I could have saved a small fortune but I would only have spent it on fabric and I have soooooo much now.

I agree that for the money the patterns cost we get little. The directions are so bad often that you have to figure them out yourself. I also agree that it is a shame we have to drive to a town, and pay more money to get the size pattern you need. We already paid for the pattern.

I agree, it's a real pain. I don't draw them on paper though. I draw the pieces onto posterboard. Then all I have to do is lay the piece on the fabric and draw around it. I've done that with clothing patterns that I make over and over again too. For clothing patterns, I glue the tissue paper pattern to the posterboard. I figure if I have to draw it out anyway, I may as well make it destroy-proof. The other great thing about posterboard is NO PINNING!

I'm just the opposite!!! I HATE tissue patterns. Made one last year and then gave the pattern away. Since the rotary cutters and mats came on the scene I've sewn more bags in the last 5 yrs than I did in the other 55!!!!!

I hate that too. I usually make a paper piece the size needed and use that. I am not good at using a rotary cutter other than a full cut across the fabric.

It is not just bag patterns that are like that. I have been making dolls for longer then I care to admit, and they have pretty much always been printed on regular paper, unless you buy from one of the major companies. And any square or rectangular parts were just dimensions. I use typing paper if the pattern is small enough or freezer paper otherwise. I also like to make the patterns out of heavy interfacing if it is something I want to last. They used to make pattern paper and an interfacing product made specifically for copying off your patterns. When making things for my kids or grandkids, if it was a pattern I knew I would use a lot, or want to use several of the sizes in a multisize pattern, I always copy it off. For some strange reason I have always found that process relaxing.

I only use my rotary cutter for quilting or sometimes bags. I don't think cutting through tissue onto fabric would be very accurate. But I could be wrong.

I never make a tissue pattern for the purses, I just cut the dimensions required with my rotary cutter and mat. I appreciate not dealing with the tissue patterns, but I do agree commercial patterns of all kinds are very vague, and hard to understand sometimes. I would hate to be a beginner, trying to guess what the heck thay are talking about. I have found that Halloween costume patterns are the worst. I think it is very unwise of the pattern companies to be so vague in ther costume pattern instructions, as many beginners start out making a Halloween costume and then decide if sewing is that confusing, they want no part of it.

I hate that too, if I pay for a pattern, I want the pattern.

I am also in the minority.I sewed for years using the tissue pattern,now since I quilt,I prefer measurements.I don`t make paper patterns.If it is a curved edge such as a flap I like a template.I think it is much easier to cut a piece for example 18 x 20 than to use a pattern piece.:thumbup:

I'm with those who don't want paper patterns for straight-edged pieces. I'm making purses for my DD and DILs for Christmas. The pattern inlcuded pattern tissues, but I just measured them and cut to the measurements. Using the tissues took too long. Guess it's from having made the transition almost totally from sewing clothing to quilting. I'm not even into paper piecing -- just give me fabric, no paper required!

I haven't read all of the replies but I guess I must be in the minority again. I find it easier to just grab a rotary cutter and slice out the fabric to the dimensions required than to use a paper pattern. I will agree that the directions in most patterns leave a lot to be desired though.

I too came from a clothing background, and yes I resent paying good money for a pattern just to find a bunch of dimensions that I have to draw out and cut...another way we have invented to dumping the work onto another person's lap I suppose.

The manufacturer is saving on space,time and outlay by the sound of that. I hope it is reflected in the price of the pattern.

If you know someone who is getting married, ask them if you can have the aisle runner after the wedding. You can get a lot of patterns out of one of these. I don't like tissue patterns if I'm going to make many items from it. The patterns made from the runner last forever. If you don't have access to a runner, use cheap pellon when it is on sale from JoAnn's.

I don't buy patterns, unless I actually need to. Like you, I get very frustrated when I get a pattern and have to make my own to the dimension that I want. Rather than do that, I draw my own to begin with. Totes, Wallets, purses all have a similar pattern just different dimensions and designs. When this started, I went to a Thrift store and first looked at all the purses, took a measurement then looked them over thouroughly. I found that almost all purses start with a rectangle. For a deep purse or tote a large rectangle, etc. Want gatherss? Gather the 2 ends. There are so many possibilities. For quilt patterns, I find that all of them have tiny pieces and most only make a tiny block. I can't work with tiny pieces and really don't care for those that have a dozen triangles and tiny squares and some with rounded edges. So, what do I do. I look at a picture, use a page of graph paper and draw to scale my Quilt Block Pattern. Perhaps it is stilly to do all this, but I'm retired, live in a beautiful retirement apartment home with 2 bedrooms on the 3rd floor where I can see a mile away and love it. If you can draw a straight line with the assistance of a ruler, you can make a pattern.

I have to agree on this one... I'm paying too much for patterns with no pieces and lousy directions. I like the interfacing idea for replacing tissue. I'm making a lot of my own patterns, and if I ever sell one, you can be sure it will have pieces AND good directions.

Most of the bag patterns I have purchased seem to be written assuming one will use a rotary cutter and not need a paper pattern. I never thought of making a pattern for them. And I agree, the patterns are way overpriced for a few sheets of black and white printed paper and one color photo of the project!!!!!

Make my own
 

I make my own esp. if I'm going to use it more than once. I use tear away for pattern pieces. It's a little sturdier than tissue. If I need something more during for say a circle template that I'm going to draw around, I use foam board (science board). It's inexpensive at Walmart or Target and lasts like iron.

I agree, the purse patterns should have pieces it would save a step-you wouldn't have to make a pattern.

Shelbie, I agree with both you & "kso". If a pattern requires that I make my own pattern or have to wait til I go somewhere to enlarge one, it just doesn't get made. Recently I purchased a wallet "pattern" directions that came on a card & I was supposed to make a pattern from dimensions given. The orig. description may have said it was a card but I apparently missed that. It was a lot to pay just for a card. It went to the bottom of the pile of patterns I wanted to make & will prob. never get done.

Yes, I feel a bit jipped when I open a pattern and there are no pieces; sometimes I get confused and mess up my measuring and don't realize it until it is too late. One such example is the pattern that is so popular on here (I've only made one!). When we pay $7 to $12 for a pattern I feel we shouldn't be out of line expecting clear instructions or pattern pieces that we don't have to enlarge in order to use.

I like having a pattern piece also so I use sheets of parchment paper that are used to line cookie sheets, the white ones that are see thru and make my pieces. The directions are a pain to follow!!! So i try to remember what i did and write my own notes on the pattern i trace or right on the printed pattern directions. It is awful what they charge for the patterns as to what you ;actually receive. I will step down from my soap box now. Thanks. LOL

What I have discovered over the years aside from the lousy patterns you have all been talking about is that many people, even instructors of quilting don't have a basic knowledge of sewing dos and don'ts. Things like straight of grain etc. are very important in the successful creation of anything made with cloth. Those who have some training in garment construction are able to create quilt related items with a much better outcome. Knowing when to stabilize a fabric and what to use for a stabilizer etc. can mean the difference between success and failure especially when making accessories or things that will hang. Using fabrics of similar weight and density of weave produces I much more pleasing finished work. We have all seen beautifuly pieced items that were marred by seam allowances showing through because the lighter pieces were to transparent for the darker ajourning pieces etc. A basic knowledge of different stitch lengths and their uses also produces a better outcome. Quilted garments or accessories that fall apart when laundered probably were not properly stitched or the fabrics were not compatable.
New quilters will be more successful if they get some basic instruction in sewing skills before investing in expensive materials and lots of gadgets for quilting.

I do not buy them anymore. I get so many free in the quilting mag.'s. I have made pattern's from them and use them for all by changing them around. I can look at a bag and copy it with patterns I have already made.

I too come from a sewing of clothing background and prefer to have a paper pattern. What irritates me even more than having to draw my own paper pattern is trying to decipher the instructions. There are certainly some people who can't write instructions in a manner that's easily understood by everyone.

I bought a pattern for a purse then discovered it is all direction with measurements for the pieces. I had to draw out the pieces on drawing paper and then continue the next day with cutting the fabrics. Almost became TOO much fun!!!!! But now I have the paper pieces and plan on making this purse again. I think written dimension patterns should be priced less than the ones with all the real pieces.

I am curious. Why would you make a paper pattern? Wouldn't it be the same thing to just cut the fabric as you would the paper? As long as the pattern has the graphics along with the dimentions, it's ok with me. Now if there were no graphics, then I would be peeved lol.