We are all different in the way we learn. Our learning styles can be visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc. These are the ways we assimilate information into our thinking. Taken a step further we present our knowledge in these ways too. When it comes to sewing, we share our creative ideas using patterns.
In the past, my friend, piratecrochetninja, seemed to me to be rebellious about following a pattern, saying it’s more of an outline than an authority. To hear her say this challenged my brain. My young thinking was referential to the *expert* who had written the pattern. I gave the ultimate respect to each word this *expert* had written. I didn’t sew much at the time and was considered a beginner.
A few years ago, I found a Singer Rocketeer, and my passion for sewing was reborn. Since I am a little bit of a bag junkie, I started thinking about the bags I’d bought and what features I really wanted from a bag. I didn’t have the confidence in my skills to design yet and found some of the modern designers who presented their patterns in pretty, spiral-bound books with glossy pages. So I set out to make pencil cases, cute bags for my nieces, and a diaper bag for my sister. I was so excited to learn all these great techniques. What I didn’t expect was the large bald spots on my head from where I had ripped my hair out.
Following these patterns was like reading a quantum physics textbook. The writing was confusing, there were few images or diagrams to show me how to make these ultra-cool items. And the diagrams that were presented were not labeled. I gave up and threw unfinished projects onto the large, growing heap in the corner of my sewing room. I went to a place where I knew I could find acceptance and camaraderie with my frustrations, the WEB.
In searching for new ideas, I found Oh Fransson! and Craft Apple. These sites offered me patterns with clear, concise, short sentences and detailed diagrams like this: great diagram from Craft Apple (many thanks).
Over the last two years, my sewing skills have grown. I found I was able to look at a sewn item and deconstruct and rebuild it in my head. So, I gave the spiral-bound books another chance, when a friend wanted something ruffly for her business cards. Here I had a chance to look at these patterns from a different perspective. My conclusion is that these patterns cater to someone who learns by reading, rather than through visual means. The diagrams are good additions but are poorly labeled. The beauty of Craft Apple’s diagram is that it shows actual measurements.
Pattern writing is challenging. Translating three dimensions into two is like speaking a different language. A well written pattern deserves great respect for the designer. I have yet to take the challenge of writing a pattern and have respect for those who have made attempts and those who have succeeded. Now I partially concede to piratecrochetninja, and agree that some patterns are outlines and not authority.
