I saw a really good question on Tilly and the Buttons that is a question I have been asking myself recently. In a nutshell, when are you no longer a beginner?
I just love patterns that have "easy" or "beginner" written on them (even better: very easy). But recently I bought a couple of "average" or "less easy" Vintage Vogue patterns. I haven't got the guts to try them though.
Of course, proper vintage patterns often have no "level" on them at all. So, my questions are:
What level sewer are you?
How do you know? What skills do you think constitute intermediate / beginner / advanced?
Does the level of a pattern influence you?
Do you think having a level on patterns is actually discouraging (ie you might have tried a pattern until you "knew" it was above your level)?
Do you think this sort of labelling is helpful?
Thanks for your thoughts xx
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I soooooooooo agree.. I run off the horricks dress. and it scared the stew out of me.. I called it the "horrow" dress.hahhahha.. and it is still sitting in my sewing room in sheets of paper.. and I just know,it is headed for the garbage..
Anyone who could make that beautiful dress................can do anything.. Now who is kidding who?????
I think we are ALL in the same boat... we can if we want to and we can find the time to...[wow ..that was a mouthful,ha]
Charolette..this has been a fun topic...enjoying...
Thanks Judy and Charlotte, I would love to take the credit but I did mostly make that dress at my dress-making class with a proper person to supervise!
I agree though, when I take my time my success rate improves. I need a combination of a target to meet and enough time to do it!
I think you have made some lovely lovely things this year Charlotte, trousers as well, AND sleeves! You are not as easy as you think ;0)
This is something I've been thinking about myself lately and I still don't really know the answer to it. Not sure if I ever will... One thing is for sure, I'm not a beginner any more.
I never ever pay attention to the pattern label, if I like the actual garment I'll have a crack at it (The pattern lies anyway!!) I guess I'm adventurous when it comes to sewing, because I'll jump into something without thinking how difficult it will be because I want the end result, Henry VIII style tunic for example! Horrid thing and probably a gizzilion times out of my actual level at the time but I took the challenge and learned something from it. I tend to just go for it since failing is better than not even trying, and you learn from that too.
I'm sad there is no codpiece but that is a fine looking tunic and no mistake, that hat is very impressive too ;0)
I am super impressed, you are definitely not easy! xx
I am often rather put off by patterns that say "easy". Not because I'm the bee's knees or anything, but it seems like stuff labelled "easy" is often a code-word for "shapeless and not well-drafted". Maybe this isn't always the case, but it's happened to me often enough to put me off. For example I recently made a vest for my daughter from a "very easy" pattern. It was definitely easy---two pieces, using the same pieces for exterior and lining. No facings, no lining pieces. Yes, it was simple, but a garment from a pattern like that is always going to look a little crude, with the lining peeping out (no matter how you understitch or topstitch). I'd rather have a few more, properly adjusted, pattern pieces to keep track of, and get a much better result (with much less fiddling---which to me is the hard part).
At this point I'd label myself an intermediate (or advanced intermediate ;) ) stitcher, but I got here only by fearlessly (and sometimes foolishly ;) ) tackling things that weren't labelled easy.
Obviously some patterns will always be easy---it doesn't get much simpler than a knit tee-shirt pattern. And I have nothing against those. But I'd rather make a garment whose pattern matches the sophistication required for the style, regardless of whether that makes it easy or "advanced".
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