Give me your best tips for selecting commercial patterns for the first time... please

[allnaturalmom]

Hello,
I am in need of some guidance in selecting a pattern. I want to make some baby clothes. I can already make pants w/o a pattern, but now I want to try to make a shirt. Maybe something with buttons down the front... like a cardigan, but not knitted (I'm thinking flannel or fleece). Oh, and I'm a sucker for a peter pan collar... Are they hard?

Also, any tips for reading/using a pattern. I've seen that some of them say they require tracing paper... Whatever for and how/why would you need that? Don't you just cut out the tissue paper pattern, pin it to the fabric and cut away?

Total pattern newbie/virgin here so any tips are greatly appreciated!

TIA

[frogger]

the big three patterns you don't need tracing paper. It's kwik sew, farbenmix, ottobre patterns that I can think of off the top of my head that you need tracing paper for. You also need to include seam allowances.

For the big three (mccalls, butterick, simplicity) I cut it out on the biggest size, and then fold to where I need the size. That way I still have the biggest size available as the kids grow.

[sabrinat]

I've never used it myself, but I've heard New Conceptions has a great baby wardrober pattern.

[KariM]

Originally Posted by allnaturalmom

Hello,
I am in need of some guidance in selecting a pattern. I want to make some baby clothes. I can already make pants w/o a pattern, but now I want to try to make a shirt. Maybe something with buttons down the front... like a cardigan, but not knitted (I'm thinking flannel or fleece). Oh, and I'm a sucker for a peter pan collar... Are they hard?

Also, any tips for reading/using a pattern. I've seen that some of them say they require tracing paper... Whatever for and how/why would you need that? Don't you just cut out the tissue paper pattern, pin it to the fabric and cut away?

Total pattern newbie/virgin here so any tips are greatly appreciated!

TIA

Of the big three (Butterick, Simplicity, McCalls) I like using Butterick patterns the best. I can't recall off the top of my head exactly why - probably has to do with the pattern markings, cuz I hate dealing with some of them.

I find peter pan collars really easy to sew up! The rounded edges are easier for me to deal with and if I do make minor mistakes the design kinda hides them.

I watch the JoAnn's sales and never pay more than $1.99/pattern new. I also hoard old patterns that I can usually find for a dime or a quarter at garage sales.

[mgilleran@earth-co]

I'm sure everyone is different, but I like McCalls patterns best. The instructions seem easier to understand. When you are new sometimes there are things in patterns that get really confusing. I also try to get patterns on sale for $1 each. I only buy at regular price if it is for a special occasion, I need it right then & I didn't plan ahead & buy it the last time they were on sale. New Look patterns are always only $3.24 I think. I will splurge on one of those sometimes. But I wouldn't recommend them for someone new to sewing. They are hard to follow sometimes.

[angelamclamb]

I would say look for the "Easy" sew ones. I use thin interfacing to trace my pattern. I never cut my patterns. I have have traced what I want I can then sell the uncut pattern on Ebay. I like Butterick myself, but it has to do more really with what I am looking for, not whom put out the pattern. Shirts are fairly easy to make for a newbie. The first time I made PJ's for my 5yr old the pants were super easy, but the top took me a bit longer as I studied it more to see the when's and how's on putting the pieces together. After the first couple I was then flying through them and was altering them with ease and making larger sizes to even fit my DH without any problems.