Custom Sewing Patterns

[VataRaven]

Would there be a market?

I was looking into this for myself. I came across a program that drafts to be the perfect fir for your own body. Meaning it's a custom pattern to your own body and not the market standard.

You put in like 30+ measurements (60+ if working on the Pro system), but it's for your own body (maybe even a client)

Would it be something people would be interested in? I think I would offer them for not more then $5 (was thinking $2 before, but after reading on the fees Esty and Paypal take, I took it up a little)

[TheGeekySewcialite]

I like the idea. You might want to test out a pattern on a couple of different body types and photograph the results as part of your listing so buyers see what they're getting custom made and how the customizations work visually.

[VataRaven]

Sorry, didn't see this reply

I in fact, went a different way on custom patterns. I got a drafting system and did some reading up on making custom made slopers. Slopers are better for people to design their own clothes, giving them more freedom.

[AGypsyRed]

It's an interesting idea to sell slopers. I know I've had people ask if I'd be willing to sell any of my patterns, I always have to tell them no, because I don't ever work from full patterns that someone else could understand how to put them together or size them correctly.

I'm not sure the best way to market these, perhaps under supplies?

Do you mind if I ask what software you mentioned in your other post for pattern design? I've looked at the Wild Ginger programs, but they're a little out of my price range right now since I'd also have to get a new computer for my workroom to run it.

[VataRaven]

Well, I didn't get the software, like I was planning. After looking into it, you can only sell the clothes you make, not the patterns. But it was called My Pattern Designer.

While I wanted it differently, slopers used to make any sort of clothes you want. Even fashion designs have to use them, so programs are not needed to make your own clothes.

And you don't have to keep buying new software patterns for the program, you can just easily buy a cheap commercial pattern and size it to your sloper. Which a lot of people can trace, it's simpler and cheaper.

[VataRaven]

@AGypsyRed If you're want to sell patterns, what I would suggest, make the sizes standard, like they do with commercial patterns. And then if someone had a their own sloper, they could easily fit your pattern without having to worry about alternations.

It's just easier to change a pattern if it's closer to your size, but you can work off them being an off size, just means some extra work would have to be applied.

Instead of investing into a program, I would say...just worry about making clothing designs. You can tell people, "hey, you can size these using a sloper" or whatever. You can look at pictures and be like, "oh, I can design that," and draw it out or people to use.

[AGypsyRed]

I don't work from patterns that could be sold, so "standard sizing" doesn't really apply. For example one of my princess dresses I only have sized for a size 4 and a size 8 in children's, then adjust those up or down to fit what people order, and then I don't have pattern pieces for each piece it takes, I just know what shape and size to cut out those pieces so I hand draw them on the fabric each time. I looked into the Wild Ginger program mostly to save me time when I'm super busy and having to size and cut out 10 costumes a day, not to make patterns to sell.

[VataRaven]

I got sure-fit designs...that's a hand drafting system that cost me $250, and the lady that owns the company is very helpful. You get the master pattern and it's very flexible in sizes,

You figure out the sizes, you design off them after you got them down

[VataRaven]

because...you do know you can design any piece of clothing with the 4 basic slopers.

[Former_Member]

Actually patterns sell very well and I know someone suggest make standard sizes but I actually think you should make plus sizes. You could also do standard but I think doing plus. It would let people know that the custom that fits the skinny girl really can be sized up to fit her large size.