That’s it, you have officially taken the plunge and ordered THE pattern of your dreams… But what happens next? You are a beginner and don’t know how to sew a garment yet? Or maybe you already have some experience and are wondering about the concept? If so, this article is for you.
FIRST STEP, pattern
First, you need to get your holy grail – the sewing pattern for your project. Go to your Patternette account or your email box to download your pattern. It should be sent to you a few minutes after you have confirmed your order and payment. If you don’t find it in your inbox, check your spam folder… these things can happen. If you still cannot find your pattern, please contact us here with the number of your order so that we can help.
Your order comes with:
- a PDF sewing pattern in A0 format for each option (except for the collars, it would be a shame to waste paper when you can print it on just one or two A4 sheets!)
- an A4 PDF sewing pattern for each option
- an instructions manual
Once you have downloaded your pattern, all you have to do is print it at home or have it printed in a print shop. If you have decided to print it at home in an A4 format, then you need to assemble all your pattern sheets together. Refer to the instructions manual for details on how to do it properly.
STEP TWO, preparing
It is ESSENTIAL to prepare your sewing project. A well thought-out sewing project is more likely to be a success. This involves choosing the finishing details, picking the right fabric, and adjusting the pattern to your own body shape. But how to ask yourself the right questions? Well, we have some good news for you. In the instructions, you will find a section named “I cut out and prepare my pieces“, which we recommend you print out because it was made specially for you to get the full Patternette experience. It’s a canva you can fill in to guide you in making the best choices for your sewing project.
Here’s a quick summary of the things you need to pay attention to:
- think about all the finishing steps to your project, this will help you to know which pattern pieces to cut out and which steps to follow in the instructions manual
- compare your measurements with the size chart and consider any adjustments (being between two sizes, lengthening/shortening lpieces, etc.)
Once you are confident about your choices, cut your pattern to the size closest to your measurements. Going bigger is better than going smaller! So don’t hesitate to oversize your garment – it’s easier to adjust it afterwards.
STAGE THREE, mockup
This is a step that is very often overlooked when sewing a garment, because it adds to the workload. But it is an important step which prevents unpleasant surprises and, above all, avoids wasting your final fabric. But how do you test a pattern? Well, it’s simple: use an old fabric. This could be an old sheet, a fabric you don’t really want or calico fabric, which is a fabric often used for sewing trials because of its low price (around 5€ per metre).
The mockup is especially important when your body shape is different from the standards used to model a pattern (back arch, H-shaped morphology, long bust, etc.). This is THE time to try everything on, modify and adapt, because this is what this stage is meant for.
STEP FOUR, final garment
Once you have made the perfect mockup for your project, it is time to tackle the actual garment with your beautiful fabric! Don’t forget that all the patterns come with different options. It’s up to you to choose which ones you’ll use. For example, if you’re making a top: have you chosen the facing, collar, lining or bias? Where will you place the zip? On the centre back, the centre front or the sides? This will determine the position of the pieces you will be cutting (on the fold or not?).
When sewing, it is also important to consider the finishing touches of your work. This includes overlocking/overcasting the edges of your pattern pieces and interfacing collar pieces, collar stand pieces, cuffs, etc. Thanks to these extra minutes spent on your project, it will last longer. And you will be even prouder of your garment!
