Pondering topics -do us all a favor and pick one

I’m stuck on a variety of posts -I’m always working on several at a time, not as though you’d know as of late- and not making headway. The main reason is that I don’t have the final answer or solution. I always think I have to have that before I start and on some of these, I just don’t know.

Here are some examples:

  1. Knit pattern grading: Not as we typically do it via coordinates but as Stuart does it. I’ve successfully experimented with it but I’m not confident and would like to compare notes.
  2. How to order a marker: Just when I think I have this nailed down, a new experience changes it all. I truly do believe though that I will not make another marker unless the customer can guarantee a return call inside of five minutes. Indirectly related to #3.
  3. Another reason small orders are shunted off to the side: Why you’re not the priority (and don’t take it personally). Can’t speak for everyone but first in my queue is whoever stands to lose the most, not who spends the most.
  4. The fastest way to pattern and prototype: One style, soup to nuts -including introduction to a sewing contractor, can be prototyped, fitted and corrected in a day. I do it (caveats apply) but don’t know who else does and I’d like to know (bet you would too).
  5. Pattern engineering to fabric width constraints: Now doesn’t that sound yummy? Fraught with challenges of narrow goods, I made a linen duvet for my featherbed.
  6. Sewing a lined casual men’s jacket: My current personal project; my poor husband needs a coat.
  7. Insert your topic here: ’nuff said.

So please vote for your topic of choice -and if you can provide some heavy lifting on topics 1,2 & 4, that would be awesome!

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45 comments

  1. Leigh says:

    I will vote for these:
    I like #3 because a lot of the time your tips work for my biz too.
    #5 just sounds like fun.
    And #6 because my husband needs a jacket too.

  2. I would say the following priority would allow for a series…

    1) 3 Another reason small orders are shunted off to the side

    2) 4 The fastest way to pattern and prototype

    3) 5 Pattern engineering to fabric width constraints

    4) 1 Knit pattern grading

    5) 2 How to order a marker

  3. Quincunx says:

    #6 has some of the prep work done in previous blog posts if I remember correctly. Might want to save that for when you have less time.

    Topic: so what were you supposed to use to soak up spilled sewing machine oil, again? It was something grainy. I panicked and used table salt.

  4. theresa in tucson says:

    Another vote for #6 since, as already stated above, you have done some preliminary work already. Then #5 and then #s 4, 3 and 2 and only because I am curious.

    Quincunx, in the motor pool we used to clean up oil spills with a product resembling kitty litter (and it probably was). In fact, one motor sergeant used to take some home for his cats. Not legal, but he did.

  5. Bob says:

    I vote for #6 as I need to do this for myself and want to know how to it correctly as opposed to “winging it” on my own.

  6. JustGail says:

    #1 and #5
    Which leads to a vote for #7.

    I’m a home sewer who’s stopped by here occasionally for a few years now. In the last round of give-aways, you commented a few times that the grading and draping books were not fitting books. Which made me think “huh?”. I had to stop and think about that for a while. Finally, it made sense when I remembered that you’re writing from the pattern making industry view.

    With the (slowly) increasing popularity of garment sewing, I’m think the terms grading and fitting (and sometimes drafting?) are being used interchangeably. A post clearly explaining the difference would be great. Or a pointer to it if you’ve already done one (I’ve looked and didn’t find one).

  7. ramona says:

    # 6 – It’s on the top of my to do list for my husband.

    You’re over my head a lot of times since I’m a casual sewist and not a professional, but I love reading your posts. I almost always come away with something I can use.

  8. Susan H says:

    I vote for all topics, in reverse order. The last 3 interest me more right now than the first 3, but all are intriguing.

  9. Bente says:

    I am in doubt if I should rank the topics to my own interest or related to general interest (who to judge?) for the readers. I try the between..

    #3 Another reason small orders are shunted off to the side
    #4 The fastest way to pattern and prototype
    #5 Pattern engineering to fabric width constraints
    #2 How to order a marker
    #1 Knit pattern grading

    My own topic of choice:
    How can we make the production process (the making from a to z) more sustainable. What can we as small manufacturers do?

  10. Taja says:

    All of the topics sound interesting, although I’m not sure I’ll be of much assistance with comments.

    Personal order of preference:

    4, 6, 1, 3, 5, 2–and anything else you care to write about or discuss!

    Thanks for all of your work, Kathleen. I’m working full time, plus spending a lot of time on R&D for a potential venture. I usually check F-I several times a week, but rarely comment.

  11. Avatar photo

    I’ve put all these responses in a spreadsheet, thank you, the input has been invaluable. Personally, I would have thought #1 would be highest interest with #2 tailing it.

    The way I’ve tabulated results is to assign a weight of 3 to one’s first choice, 2 to one’s second choice and 1 to any subsequent selections.

    I’ll update the running tally later but any of you could also do the math. So far, #4 (with 52 points) is leading by a wide margin.

  12. Stephanie Jiang says:

    Definitely #4 – The fastest way to pattern and prototype!

    I’m working for a designer right now, and it takes about 10 days to get it from pattern to prototype (i.e. 1 week to make patterns, 1 day to cut, 1-2 days to sew). Wondering what your processes are.

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