Sure! I am asked to make up 7-8 custom pairs of 19th highland military trews. As per their practice, once they approved the pattern I draft (they have already) they ask for a copy to have on file. Yes I know someday someone else may make trews for the Park, but then I will not live forever. The reasoning is fair, it allows for consistency in the patterning of the garment in the future and my pattern will likely become the Federal Standard.
I plan to charge them for this, I just don't know how much. So far I have chased down reproduction costs as they will have copies of the patterns and I shall retain the originals. But I already appreciate your feedback. I just do not think I can get around the selling of the patterns as well, so I want to get a fair market value. Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: Elizabeth Clark <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, December 20, 2007 8:02 pm Subject: [h-cost] Pattern Pricing > Sarah wrote: > >>I have been asked to do some cutting & sewing for a National > Historic Site,> which I have done before, but this time they are > asking for a copy of my> patterns for the archives. This one is a > new one on me.<< > > I'd want more information, but I doubt I'd give away my pattern > set. The costuming I've done for historic sites has been for > specific figures, which means an "archive" copy is useless to them-- > it would fit *only* the figure it was drafted for or draped on, so > it wouldn't be useful for handing off to another (cheaper) sewist > to make up for others, nor for sending off to have patterns > bootlegged/published, nor for making up generic costume shop items. > Before pricing the work, I'd want to know more about the > "archives." Is it a file drawer of documentation on each piece? > If so, I'd be willing to do a documentation packet for each > garment, noting specific sources consulted, techniques used, any > compromises with historic accuracy and the justification/thought > process behind them, etc. That would add a few hours labor to the > cost of the work. > I might also be willing to put together a list of currently > published patterns out there that would give *similar* ending > garments, if such exists. Again, at my normal hourly rate. > > If they're wanting to use the patterns for future sewing work (done > by me or by others), then it's a different ballgame. I'm not being > hired as a sewist--I'm being asked to design patterns, and give > them a license to reproduce them as they wish. That sort of > license would come at a Very High Price from me, as I'd have very > little control over the finished items after the patterns left my > hands, and the potential for abuse of my work is huge. Pattern > making is a different specialty than sewing. As someone "buying" a > pattern set from a drafter (the site is the buyer), I'd be wanting > multi-size, fully graded things that would work for multiple > people. Pretty different project from making a few one-off pieces > for unique figures! > > If I *was* okay with turning over my proprietary work (regardless > of price), I'd want to know what's expected... the base shapes > alone are not going to do someone much good without instructions, > illustrations, construction sequencing, pattern markings, seam > allowances, notes on the pieces that aren't on oaktag (such as > skirts, bias bindings, most facings, etc)... > > There are So Many Variables here. Would it be possible to ask for > more specifics on what they're wanting "archived?" That might make > all the difference in the decision process. > > Regards, > Elizabeth Clark > http://www.elizabethstewartclark.com > _________________________________________________________________ > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
