Has anyone made this dress, or tried their printed patterns?

[Beachtastic]

I've been binge watching old episodes of Sewing Bee and it's triggered nostalgia for the tactile process of choosing fabrics etc and the satisfaction of seeing something wearable emerge from the chaos.

Dress patterns aren't as easy to come by as they were back in 1873 when I last made a garment.

I found this, which looks fun to make with potentially pleasing results! Has anyone else tried it, or tried one of their "Printed A0 copy shop" patterns? The idea of piecing together A4 PDFs does my head in 😬🤯

thefoldline.com/products/fibre-mood-khloe-dress

I used print at home patterns and sellotape a4 pages together. It’s a bit tedious but they are usually numbered so doesn’t take too long and I prefer to the cutting of of the fabric

I haven’t used their patterns, but the one time I used an A4 PDF pattern I laid the sheets out on pattern paper and traced out just my own size. I never feel that loads of A4 taped together lies quite flat. I felt more comfortable with the accuracy and stability of whole pieces of pattern paper. It’s also easier to store if you want to reuse the pattern.

What a great idea! I agree, I was wondering about the sellotape. It never occurred to me to make my own tissue pattern.

Thank you!

Yep, burda pattern paper is quite easy to come by - it's thin but nice quality.

I've made a couple of fibre mood patterns and they go together OK but are plainly made for tall Dutch people 😂

I've also used the fold line pattern printing and it's not the cheapest way of doing it but the quality is fine. I prefer to order printing of pdf patterns separately, though, so I can just select a few sizes and avoid the spaghetti.

Why not buy old patterns from the 1980s or 90s. There are lots of them around and they will probably be cheaper than the ones on offer now.

Just remember that the sizes will all be 'wrong' so check measurements rather than relying on the pointless and unhelpful numbers

I will, if I ever see one I like!

That old brown tissue paper all folded up in the packet is all part of the faff that I crave!

In the meantime, I've ordered some Burda pattern tissue as @PickAChew suggested.

I have also ordered this fabric to make the dress I shared upthread. Dirt cheap, so room for error 🫣 and also rather quirky! The dress will either be a triumph or a disaaaaaster...

poundfabrics.co.uk/products/number-puzzle-cotton-poplin-fabric?variant=55988342194556

I have to say I've never seen a sodoku item of clothing before. Interesting.

I know! I thought if making an original garment, it's in for a penny in for a pound. It will either be a stroke of genius or... not 😬

(Edited to add: Plus, I think the squares will assist with cutting pieces!)

I just hope I don't attract people who want to solve the puzzles 🤓

Pound fabrics are good! I've used their fabric for cheap and cheerful shirts for unconventionally sized DH.

If I remember right, FibreMood don't include seams allowance in their patterns so you'll have to add it on yourself after you've traced your size. Have fun! Lovely dress.

I use loads of Fibremood patterns (I'm a subscriber to their magazine with a digital subscription and I get loads of pattern credits with every magazine).

Therefore I 'buy' direct from the Fibremood website rather than the Foldline - in the zip file you get when you buy the digital version of the pattern from them you get a range of printing options including the pattern with or without seam allowances marked on, A0 size for professional printing or A4 size for home printing.

I then get them printed with CLC printing (online) where there is the option to get them printed on A0 size (massive) transparent sewing paper. .

Or you can just buy/print via the foldline who are also great.

Their pdf patterns do have them but they're all different, depending on the type of seam.

OMG I love that fabric! But the squares, they’ll show every not-quite-perfect seam, and my seams are generally not-quite-perfect.

Maybe I’ll get some for patchworking…

I must admit I didn't consider the way they would show up every seam, until last night! And imagine the pattern matching, if I really did it properly - trying to ensure that the sums add up for each Sudoku square... 🤯😲

In case no one has mentioned this before: tracing paper on a roll from an art store is way cheaper than pattern paper from the sewing store (at least where I am).

It's often not printed straight, either, so if your grain is straight, you grid won't match!

I've set myself quite a challenge here 🤯🫣🤣🤡

Not printed onto A4, but this may be relevant or useful to OP or someone anyway.

I have had success when wanting to replicate something I already own, using wallpaper lining roll, pinning the original garment and drawing round.

Also tracing patterns onto clear swing bin liners. (Cut the bottom seam off and open up to make a single large sheet). These can be folded up and used again.

The “big four” commercial pattern firms are still producing patterns! I tend only to buy the Vogue designer ones as their size 12 pretty much fits me without too many adjustments. And I like the interesting and complex bits of tailoring.

Their distributor in this country has gone bust, though, so supplies of their paper patterns are dwindling

I have been trying to find a home for all my paper patterns (including a lot of vogue designer patterns ) for a long time, along with my stash of quality fabrics. No-one seems interested around here. Perhaps if you put out a call locally you might find someone like me!

Awww. Would you consider selling them (and the fabrics) on eBay? they might all be worth a few bob, if you're sure you're not going to use them.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=dress+patterns&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4624852.m570.l1313

We have tried eBay . But no response a t all