I need to look up when you wouldn't use them. Otherwise I'll be tempted to use them everywhere.

any time the seam isn't straight, I think

so like sleeves and hems

but it's been a while since I looked that up, so don't quote me

That's funny. That makes sense to me, but the pattern I'm using now specifies setting the sleeves in with a French seam.

man, really? XD what's the pattern, I hate finishing sleeve seams

Also, made the mistake of putting my needle in backwards yesterday. I was going nuts trying to figure out why the machine was running and thread was unspooling but no stitching was happening lol.

oh nooooooooo XD

It's a free one from Mood Fabrics, the Clover Crop Top.

But I've found a few mistakes in the pattern so idk, maybe they're wrong about that. >3> This is the second Mood free one I've tried with a mistake in the pattern or instructions.

unfortunately, you'd think errors in patterns would be uncommon

The last one fucked me and I ended up just finishing the sleeves with a slap dash double folded hem instead of the correct method for an all-in-one facing.

Because the pattern said to finish the side seams on the bodice before the facing (French seamed so they weren't as easy to pick apart).

It was my first time with that kind of facing so I didn't realize how wrong it was until I was already screwed.

that sounds weird right off the bat, yeah

Yeah, multiple comments were like "ummm unsure of how you're supposed to finish the sleeves???" since the pattern basically just says "finish the sleeves".

you're not alone. I've had a years-long grudge against McCall's 6701 because the pattern has such a major error that if you follow it, you end up making an infinity strip between the dress and the lining

And they linked to that burrito method thingy, but you couldn't do that because the side seams were already done.

Fffffff wtf?

I'm glad it wasn't just me misunderstanding things, at least. I found the correct way and I know to be more careful in the future!

yeah, I forget exactly how I fixed it, but it involved essentially turning half the dress inside out and sewing through the middle, it was not fun

Hence why I already picked out several mistakes in this next pattern.

Yikes.

A free pattern with mistakes is bad enough but that's really harsh.

so yeah, super not you. sewing patterns are basically crap shoots, even the professionally published big houses

I mean, I get it. making patterns for other people to follow is hard. and probably everyone who doublechecks is also an expert so they just do the "right" thing without thinking about how it's actually written

I've gotten lucky with Gertie's book then. There were a couple of spots in the instructions I think could have been clearer, but I'm pretty sure all the patterns I used so far were spot on.

maybe they need to hire a few novie sewists to try out patterns XD

That would probably solve a lot of problems actually. XD

also all the times when I've stared at the pattern for a half hour before going to see if anyone has made a youtube of them putting it together just to parse the directions

Yesssssss. That's been me a few times already. But mostly I can't find any examples when I do that. :T

What's your favorite source for patterns? Free or otherwise. I'm not averse to paying for a really unique pattern, but I'd hate to do that then get something super confusing.

depends on what I'm making. if it's a skirt, I just hit up the internet and see where google takes me. most of the time, though, I wait for the monthly sales at Joann (or whatever your preferred store is). there's a set way they go on sale, never buy a pattern full price, and when I was buying lots of patterns, I usually kind of knew what was due on sale

I haven't bought many patterns the last year due to financial stuff meaning I can't do as much costuming in general, but I also have a large collection of patterns that I can pull from to mix and match pieces which I do a lot now

checking the add... looks like Simplicity just came off $1.99 this last weekend and then Butterick/McCall's will be going on $1.99 next weekend

Vogue hardly eeeeeeeeeeever goes on sale and when they do they're still like $5-6 and I hate that because they have such freaking unique stuff

This is all really good advice! I'll have to keep an eye out for patterns at Joann's. We usually go there at least once every few months because our hairstylist is next door.

I'm spending most of my money on fabric while I've got lots of free patterns to make, but 1.99 is hard to pass up.