Patterns: Where do you get yours?

[mossbackmom]

Just beginning sewing and have made this for DD:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cornp...wirlyskirt.htm

Looking for some cute summer dress patterns for little girls and women's skirts, dresses, pants. I googled a couple things but have not come up with anything good.

Where do you get your patterns?
Is it worthwhile to go to Joann's and browse their selection?

[mama_daba]

i am a beginner as well and so far i prefer to get books that come with lots of patterns than buying patterns separately. my library has a lot of these books so i check them out first and if i think i will want to make a lot of things from them i buy the book so i don't need to keep checking it out over and over. right now i have the sew everything workshop and it has a lot of neat patterns i have also read sew u and sew u home stretch and for kids clothes i bought the kwik sew for toddlers book (my library doesnt carry it but it is a good book with good patterns)

[Gin1999g]

I go to a site... just type in sewing patterns and there's a site has patterns from every company available! it's awesome. If you dont buy online then least you get the pattern number to buy from a pattern from your local store.

[MittensKittens]

Ottobre . Depending on what you want to sew, I also like Bernina Inspiration. I am just making a wrap skirt with one of their patterns. Bernina's patterns are nice 'n cheap, probably because they are really made to advertise their products - still, some very nice stuff.

[scrapadoozer]

Another vote for Ottobre & KSFT. Studio Tantrum/Farbenmix also has really great girlie patterns. They are a little too $$$ for my current budget but I do have the Olivia pattern and love it!

[leximom]

check out craftster.org There are a ton of tutorials on how to make items that really crafty people shared so that yo can try too.

kids clothes:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=182788.0

adult clothes:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=76112.0

Free patterns:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=159624.0

hth!

[KristyDi]

If you want patterns (like tissue paper and instructions) Joann's puts theirs on sale for $1.99 every few months. Usually it's just one pattern company at a time on sale. You can sign up for their sales papers to be alerted when it happens. You also get the 40% off anything not already on sale coupon in each mailer. I rarely buy fabric with out that coupon.

The folks at craftster also pointed out You can make this. I haven't bought anything from there yet, but others seem to like it.

[2M's Mom]

That skirt is cute!

I usually just google "free X pattern" and I'll find a few of what I am looking for.

[sewcool]

blogs are great sources

[Annikate]

I love your skirt! And the instructions on how to do it. I think I might actually be able to do that!

[sewchris2642]

It depends.

For kid's clothes, I use Folkwear Patterns (http://folkwear.com/children.html) and KwikSew pattern books (http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Baby.cfm http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Toddler.cfm). I also use Sunrise Designs, a pattern company that is now out of business. I bought them when the girls were babies.

For me, I use Folkwear Patterns or make my own.

[mossbackmom]

Wow, thanks so much for all the replies. Craftster was a resource I had never heard of, the tutorials on there are great, especially for re-constructing clothes. Love the ottobre design also. Now I feel like I don't even need patterns, just templates that I can make myself!

[Magelet]

I go to joann's, browse, and keep a running list of the patterns I want, organized by brand and number. Then, when there is a sale (every couple months there is a sale for say.... McCall Patterns $1.99 each, limit 10 or Simplicity 5 for 5 dollars), and I have the money, I'll go pick up the ones I want for a dollar or two. Or I'll think up an idea in my head, look at pics to try to figure out how to make it, then draft it first on newspaper (freehand) then cut that out, rough pin it on me, (I so want to make one of those diy dressforms but I haven't got the space atm), use those peices to draw the pattern peices on muslin, cut it out, stitch it up, check the fit, and use those as a pattern. Though I've heard that because muslin stretches on the diagonal and shifts some you should copy your changes to paper first.

[churndash]

I buy old and vintage patterns at yard sales and thrift stores. I love the vintage styles, especially in kids' clothes.

[jillmamma]

I have the coolest mom ever who used to sew for me and my siblings, and has recently passed down to me all her old patterns and even a huge stash of knit fabrics that she has had for years! I also just got a $1.99 Simplicity pattern at Hobby Lobby to make myself a dress.

[leximom]

there is also www.burdastyle.com for more patterns. There are some free ones too.

[~D~]

:Subbing, need all the tips and info I can get... Simple but pretty beginner dress patterns, textile sources and all... :

[Roxy2007]

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?cat=19 has a TON of tutorial.

[Think of Winter]

I like Kwik Sew, Amy Butler, Simplicity, and McCalls. Simplicity and McCall's go on sale for $1 regularly, so I wait until a sale, then choose patterns from the website before going to the store. I bought this dress pattern, McCalls M5416, for dd yesterday.

[Timmie]

I noticed that someone did mention www.burdastyle.com, I like them & have downloaded several free patterns & they worked well.
However for the largest selection, I suggest www. sewingpatterns.com. They have patterns from companies that you just can't find in stores, things you haven't heard of before. It is fun to link to them & see what is out there & get inspiration.