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Are they finally listening?

Tuesday, June 19

Ok, so its past midnight, and I should be sleeping, BUT, I could not help myself. I checked my email just before going to bed, and what did I see? An email from McCall's, announcing their Autumn patterns. As usual, you love some, and have WTF moments with some of them. What caught my eye this time though, were extra pictures on one pattern, giving "creative guide options".....that sounds suspiciously like the type of information you would get from an indie company like Colette Patterns or Sewaholic.

So this pattern : M6599

Line Art



has the following fashion options.
M6599

M6599

M6599

Mccall's pattern and its sister publications like Butterick and Vogue have never really ( if they have, I don't know about it) bothered to help us mere mortals by showing us how to extend the lives of our precious patterns. I know Simplicity, with the Project Runway line of patterns, have a separate sheet which has  information on changing the design elements of the pattern, using the Croquis, so they might be copying them. I don't like that possibility though. Its not fun. I insist on thinking that they are copying the indie pattern companies.

Is it possible, I ask myself, that they have started taking notice of the interactive relationship that exists between the independent pattern companies and us?

Do they look on, with wonderment, at the excitement generated throughout the blogosphere by the mere mention of an imminent release of a new Sewaholic or Colette Pattern?

Is this the beginning of a more interactive experience with the Big 4 pattern companies?

I am aware I might be leaping to huge conclusions here, but I just thought it would be more fun to entertain the thought that there is possibly more to this sudden desire by McCall's  to help me be more creative with my pattern.....hmmm
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13 comments:

  1. Crystal19 June 2012 at 06:56

    I only think its the Fashion Star patterns, mimicking the layout of the Project Runway patterns for Simplicity.

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  2. Sants20 June 2012 at 09:12

    I truly wish that our beloved indies have the Big 4 quaking in their boots. Mwahahahhaa!

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    1. Dibs22 June 2012 at 20:41

      exactly. Unfortunately they are making too much money to bother

      Delete
  3. Anonymous21 June 2012 at 01:56

    Interesting. Perhaps its the pattern making company getting on board with savvy home sewists who want to do more than just reproduce the garment on the cover of the pattern. Which, I think, is something that Indie pattern designers have been hip to all along. Busty babes such as myself can only hope that McCalls, Butterick, and Vogue take a cue from Simplicity's Amazing Fit patterns as well so we don't have to keep doing FBAs!

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    1. Dibs28 June 2012 at 23:07

      I think they will catch up soon enough. Simplicity are quite down with the bloggers I think.

      Delete
  4. Red Kitty21 June 2012 at 23:01

    I think McCalls esp needed to do something with their sizing. I recently made McCalls 6319, no problems at all, fit like a glove - NICE! Then moved onto McCalls 6519, what a shocker! Cut same size but material barely stretched over my rump. If indie's like Colette make the Big 4 adjust the sizes, particularly in the laughable B-cups they draft as standard, I'm all for it!

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    1. Dibs28 June 2012 at 22:57

      tell me about it. I have recently gone from a B-cup to a D. All of a sudden I have complications with every single pattern. Needless to say, I am not amused.

      Delete
  5. Camelia Crinoline22 June 2012 at 06:18

    I have no doubt that the Big Four take notice of the success of indie pattern companies especially in the blogosphere. Remember a little while ago when one of the Big Four (I can't remember which one) did some sort of sew-a-long with a few sewing bloggers where they sent them a pattern and had them make it up and reveal it on different days? At the time I wondered if they were trying to copy the sew-a-longs that the indies do.

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    1. Dibs28 June 2012 at 22:56

      hahahahhahahaha. I think they were definitely copying the indies.

      Delete
  6. Unknown24 June 2012 at 12:05

    I think blogging has really empowered sewers. So there is no doubt in my mind that the Big 4 are realizing they need to change it up to remain relevant. I hope they make patterns that reflect different sizes - not just provide one dress pattern in all the sizes that only looks good in the smaller sizes...Then again, who cares? Colette and Sewaholic look good on a wider range of women, and I prefer to give my money to indie pattern makers.

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    1. Dibs28 June 2012 at 22:55

      So true. I think the Indie pattern makers put more effort with their patterns because they can't afford to alienate us.

      Delete
  7. prttynpnk28 June 2012 at 12:37

    Perhaps they have realized that sewing is self expression for a lot of people and they should court it better. They should let a lot of sewists do their covers for them, too. They are never as inspiring as real peoples versions!

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    1. Dibs28 June 2012 at 22:54

      Now that is a million dollar suggestion. I think more people will buy the patterns if they sew them on their fave bloggers.

      Delete

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