I want to buy them, but all the stores have them around here for ridiculously expensive prices. Like $15.99 for a patttern for a hat, or something. Plus they are predominantly for things I wouldn’t be caught dead in - fluffy annoying pink and purple little things. I like fluffy but not in my clothes.
I want patterns for skirts and blouses, but I don’t want to have to pay $19.99 for one pattern…or am I SOL? One disclaimer: I don’t particularly like online shopping, so unless I have no choice, I’d really prefer to know about shops that people know of or maybe other little secrets of where to get patterns.
But by all means give me online places, too! I may end up having no other recourse.
Every so often the Joann’s Fabrics and Crafts here has sales of certain brands of patterns, sometimes for a $1 each. I stock up on them when they do. They do have an online site but I don’t know if they sell patterns that cheap there. There are a few places that sell them for 50% off but I can’t remember where, maybe Wal-Mart?
I have never paid full price for a pattern. I didn’t think anyone had ever paid full price for a pattern.
When I go to the fabric stores there’s always the “all patterns 50% off” sign, and usually some deal where this week Simplicity patterns are an extra 50% off and Buttericks are $5 off and hey, it’s Magic Tuesday so there’s an additional 75% off of patterns with even numbers - or some bizarre collection of deals, sales, and pricing so the price on the pattern is just there for decoration.
You do have to comb through pattern books to find stuff, but there’s usually basic skirts, shirts, pants, and dresses, and also usually the patterns for this season’s “in” looks. (But pattern books are fun, especially the Vogue retro dress patterns that are way too hard for me to ever make, but would look stunning if done right.)
Once you have your patterns, here is a money saving tip. Rather than just using the tissue paper patterns, use the tissue paper ones to make copies on newsprint. These will be much more durable. Once you have patterns that fit you well, you can make lots of stuff with the same pattern. Most patterns come with a few variations and with different fabrics and trim it won’t be obvious that stuff is from the same pattern.
Yeah, patterns go on sale (from 50% off to 99cents) frequently at places like Jo-Ann. Get on their mailing list, they send a weekly flyer. I think they also post current sale info on their website.
Simplicity New Look patterns are rarely over five dollars a pattern, and they’re usually for more trendy, stylish items. I like them quite a bit. Very straightforward and consistently nice results.
I am dumb as a rock. Someone shoot me now.
I never, ever, ever, noticed the drawers in JoAnne’s. Yes, the **big giant ** drawers that hold hundreds of patterns, some of them quite cheap, and lots of variety.
In my defense, I only picked up sewing this January, and am still getting accustomed to it. And have never seen the drawers open so assumed they were just furniture. Someone had them open today and I finally noticed that there were like a million patterns in there.
Jeez. I’m going to go hide under the desk now. :o :o :o
Hee. Keep an eye out now that you know because as mentioned they are often $1. Are you on the mailing list?* Frequent customers would often come up with 15 patterns in a stack when they were that low.
*Eeek, flashbacks to working there where there were quotas for the mailing list sign-ups. Seriously, corporate, we’re a small town and everyone who is interested has already signed up for the flyers.
And somewhere close to the big drawers full of zillions of patterns, they have big books with pictures of everything, and numbers so you can look them up in the drawers. Also, they probably have spinny racks of patterns that aren’t in the big books.
Vogue patterns are my favorite, because they have a bit more style than the others. I love their designer patterns.
I think patterns are always on sale at Joann, and most of the other chain stores. Sign up for the mailing list and they’ll send you coupons (40% off one item–good deal if you’re buying a big piece of fabric).
While I am no expert sewer, I’ve noticed that the Salvation Army and similar thrift stores often have boxes of unused patterns. Most are from the '70s and '80s, but I have definitely spied some cute dresses.
Seriously, sign up for Joanne’s mailing list. They send you “50% off a regular price item” coupons every week. That way, if there’s a full price pattern you simply must have, it’s suddenly 50% off.
Making your own patterns is not all that difficult. Once you have a few, it is easy to extrapolate others. There are classes that can help. The only time I pay full price is when I see a detail that I don’t know how to do and I want it now! I suggest investing a large roll of wide craft paper and make the patters from that. I bought a roll years ago and still have most of it left. The patterns are sturdier, easier to use and last much, much longer.
Thanks. Now I can return to regular worries of going on a shopping spree and not having money to cover the bills, and that the woman of my dreams will see me shopping in Joann’s, assume I’m gay and that we’ll both die lonely.
