I agree that many people prefer quality clothing, but far too many do not. I made a living as a seamstress for several years before retiring and most of my work was home dec or alterations (I HATE alterations). I have taught several people to sew, but they don't seem to ever have time to do it. And at the weekly auction I attend sewing machines (good ones) go for almost nothing. I learned to sew as a child and most of my clothes have always been made by my mother (when I was young) or by myself. But I am 5'9" and 71 years old. Until girls started growing taller these last few years, I couldn't get anything that came close to fitting in the stores.
Anyhow, I am glad there are people designing patterns for period garb that most people who sew at all can use. I usually just make my patterns up as I go along or sort of copy them from Janet Arnold or something. Lalah, Never give up, Never surrender --- Lavolta Press <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Lavolta Press <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:26:53 -0800 To: Historical Costume <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Re:patterns What I'm interested in knowing, is how Simplicity chooses patterns--aside from market surveys, don't they do those?--and the people who design them. Is it all freelance? I know someone via the net--or used to, she's not posting any more--who had a small line of reenactment patterns. She approached Simplicity with an idea for a pattern she thought would work well in their historic line. Simplicity told her to work it out and submit it to them on a freelance basis. I don't know what happened with her idea. But is that how all Simplicity's historic patterns are designed, by freelancers? I hate to say this but, the market for general sewing still seems to be much larger than the market for reenactment sewing. Yes, reenactors have to make their own clothes far more than most people. Yes, most women have jobs outside the home that limit their time for sewing. But there are still a lot more mainstream sewers than reenactors. Notice Simplicity hedged their bets on that bustle dress by marketing it as a wedding dress--many people get married, some more than once. Sewing is a hobby these days, not a need, for most people. Many people who could buy an $8 blouse at Wal-Mart, just want something much better quality and more stylish--and they enjoy sewing. Fran Lavolta Press Books of Historic Patterns http://www.lavoltapress.com Lalah wrote: > Just to add to your observations. It is cheaper to buy clothing at WalMart > than it is to make it yourself. When you have to pay ten bucks for a pattern > and you can buy a blouse for eight dollars guess which most people will do. > At a place in time when so many people are so busy and "multi tasking" is the > norm, too many people don't have the time (nor sadly, the ability) to sew. > > People new to SCA or Ren Faires or re-enacting are the exception. They are > not going to get their garb off the rack in a discount store and most of them > are not accomplished at making up their own patterns. People like Martha are > a godsend to them because they can purchase a pattern that will pass > inspection (to all but the really critical) and that they can understand. It > takes a bit of experience to deal with some of the period patterns or to work > from a charted pattern on a book page. > > To cut this rambling short, I just want to add my "Bravo Martha" and hope > that Simplicity has sense enough to know what a gem they have! > > Lalah, Never give up, Never surrender > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. just the net you need _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
