Anatomy of a PDF SEWING PATTERN

Doesn't it look so easy. Create a pattern, make it a PDF and sell it. Well let me tell you, the process is very very lengthy. First I come up with a unique design. I test it myself by using the item and having friends use it. I get feedback from them. The next step is how popular will this pattern be. I rely on my online community to get feedback in this area. Between my ETSY http://www.aggieray.etsy.com/ shop and my FLICKR www.flickr.com/photos/aggieray and FACEBOOK postings what kind of feedback are you getting on this new creation. I usually get questions on FLICKR where did you get this pattern? Are you selling it? and when will it be available?

The next step is to make the item, take a picture of every step of the process and decribe what you are doing and how to do it in simple terms. This takes me about 2 months to make sure I have a perfect pattern from creating the actual pattern, making the pattern pieces, testing the pattern and remaking it again to make sure the pattern pieces are acturate. The final step is to convert it to PDF format and making a good presentation page to get you interested in the pattern. It's a relief when they start selling and you get some positive feedback. I am working on my 5th pattern now.... it's going to be 3 patterns in one PDF. .... here is a sneek peak

Mara Bag Pattern Now Available

After selling this bag for quite awhile and having many requests for the pattern, I finally was able to create a beautiful pattern and now am selling it with the right for the purchaser to sell the completed handbag in their shop or craft show. The pattern comes with two different style handles to design for the bag. I have had many compliments on this bag and hope you will too!

View an Etsy Front Page Treasury List - The Vault on Craft Cult

View an Etsy Front Page Treasury List - The Vault on Craft Cult

First Craft Fair preparation!

About three weeks of work/part-time: Handbags, cut, pinned, sewn, ready to assemble... just need to finish lining, pockets and zipper and snap closures... it can be overwhelming if you think of it...

Completed Ziplets and a few handbags>>>>>>>>>

My husband's
display>>>>>
just needs

corner

molding

and a little

paint>>>>>>

Okay this is my first craft fair. I have no idea what to expect...

Location and time: Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island: July 3rd, 2010... 11 to 5

http://www.indiebythesea.com/

My husband built me a lovely display in addition to the craft table that I will have... At first I thought I would just have a triangular peg board display that I would place on the table... So off to Home Depot to buy a piece of peg board. A 4 x 8' piece is $14.00. With scrap wood around the house and three wheels, this beautiful display was born.. My husband is adding molding to the corners and in addition, there is room to put items on the top too! He has not finished it yet... HE WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT lol..., he has to finish the molding and he will paint the top molding white match the pegboard. A few hooks here and there and I am ready to go. It's a great space saver too.. if you only have a small area to display your items... I have just about 4 weeks to go... I am pacing myself...

I made 60 Ziplets (pattern and fabrics available in both my shops http://www.aggieray.etsy.com/ and http://www.fabricplace.etsy.com/) already and about 20 handbags..... As sewers know... you have to do everything in stages... 1 day I spend a few hours cutting the fabric and interfacing. ....if I have time... I pin everything... then walk away..... you get too tired to do anything else at this point....The Ziplets took about a week and half to make.... (remember, I have a full time job too)... Weekend cutting and night sewing.... I had this week off for vacation and thought I would get a lot done... not the case... life gets in the way sometime...... I probably will be able to make about 10 handbags this week... in between friends and family asking for summer orders....and a few curtain jobs too! Where does the time go...

FINISHED HEADBOARD go to first post to follow directions titled HOW TO MAKE upolstered covered headboard

I apologize for the reverse order of these instructions. SCROLL DOWN TO THE FIRST ENTRY... HOW TO MAKE A COVERED HEADBOARD AND GO BACKWARDS...

Here is the completed headboard. I did add a nice RIBBON on the inside edge between the polka dot and the turquoise fabric. I will post a picture when I have one from the completed bedroom design...

Enjoy

Another View. You can see how I folded the right edge and tucked it under. This gave the corner a nice mitered edge. Continue this technique around the entire headboard.

Depending where you place the headboard, you may want to cover the back with a matching piece of fabric. Since this one was placed against a wall, I did not have to worry about that...

Position Fabric and Upholstery Strip

Now place the outside contrast fabric face down and the edge of the fabric next to the noodle edge as shown in the previous picture. Place the upholstery cardboard strip on top of the contrast fabric. Staple through the cardboard. The next steps is almost like wrapping a package. Flip the contrast fabric towards the outside edge of your headboard. Neatly fold, tuck and staple the contrast fabric to the underside of the headboard...

Cut Edge Strips of Fabric

Cut the contrast edge strips of fabric so that they will cover the noodle edge with enough to wrap around the underside of the headboard. Piece lengths of fabric together if necessary..

Upolster Edging Tape Picture...

You can find this at your local fabric store in the upholstery section. This will give and hold the edge fabric in place. It is the finishing touch needed for a clean, crisp edge.

Trim Fabric

After stapling the entire decorator fabric in the edge of your headboard next to the noodles, trim, trim trim.

Prepare Outside Fabric for placement

If your fabric is not large enough, cut and sew pieces of fabric together so that the fabric is larger than the entire headboard. Lay the entire piece of decorator fabric over your headboard and smooth for stapling. Staple in the edges next to your noodle piece...

Cover Batting and Noodles with Lining Fabric

For a smooth transition to the completed headboard, cover the entire headboard with lining fabric.... Pull the fabric tight, staple in the edges to hold. Pull the fabric over the noodles allowing excess fabric to overhand your headboard as shown:

More view of the Headboard

More Views...

View of prepared headborad... Ready to Cover

Here is the ready to cover headboard....

Cut Pool Noodles in half and size for gluing on headboard

Then next step is to border the headboard with the pool noodles. Take a serrated knife and cut them in half. Be careful not to cut yourself, they are very easy to cut. Position the noodles around the headboard, cut to the desired length and glue them on with a HOT GLUE GUN. If you want, you can place a few staples on the edges of the noodle.

HOW TO MAKE upolstered covered headboard

A friend asked me to cover a headboard for her 18 year old daughter. They picked the fabric! Fun bright turquoise and black and white polka dot accent fabric.... Supplies need... 3/4 inch plywood cut to the headboard design.. fabric, staple gun (electric if possible), upholstery cardboard strips, batting.. Believe it or not. I used POOL NOODLES the kind you float with.. for the half round edging around the headboard.

Step 1: Cut the Headboard to the desired design.

Step 2: I then covered and stapled the inside area with batting. Use enough to satisfy a nice loft.

Love this new Bag...Fancy Fancy Fun to Create

EASY LIGHT BOX

LIGHT BOX MATERIAL LIST:

1. Frame for the light box. I used a clothing frame used to store clothing. These can be purchased at Walmart, Target, etc. Put the frame together and do not use the cloth cover. Look around to see what other clever objects can be used.

2. 3 two" x six foot pine boards.

3. Three clamp lights purchased at local home improvement store.

4. Quick Cement!

5. 2 empty paint cans. New empty ones can be purchased at home improvement store.

6. Post Board for base and background.

7. Tracing paper, as large as you can find. Tape.

8. Two saw horses, box or small table for your base.Follow the steps below. First I made the sticks in the can with the cement, let dry overnight. I had my frame already put together. Place in your permanent location. Place the stick in the cans to the right and left of the frame.

Attach the 6 foot pine to the two sticks in a can.

Place the saw horses or box inside the frame. Place the foam core on top of saw horses or box.

Clamp work lights to the frame.

Tape tracing paper to the frame with the lights on. Avoid placing any tape in the light line to avoid lines and shadows.

Fun and Easy Light Box

Making Stick in a Can

Using a paint can new or used cleaned out, take your quick cement and mix it with water according to the package directions. Place the stick in the can on the side, pour or shovel the cement into the can. Place in a location to dry overnight!

Clamp 2 x 6's together

Clamp 2 x 6 to across the top to the two sticks in a can! This is to clamp lighting on top!

Base of Light BOX

Place saw horses or box between frame. Place foam board or poster board on top of saw horses. Place one piece of foam board on background.

Tape the tracing paper to the frame. Place your work lights in the desired position

Completed Light Box

This is the completed light box. The lights can be clamped in any position or more lights can be added!

Easy Light Box

Steps for an easy light box.



Materials


2 Paint Cans (new or old can be purchased at local hardware store)

3 2" x 6' pine (local hardage cheap a couple of dollors)

3 Clamp Work Lights (approxmate local hardware store)

1 package of quick cement

large tracing paper to fit your frame

2 saw horses or a stand or object to put your poster board on

2 to 3 sheets of foam board for your background or whatever you choose.

Plastic Cloths Frame (purchase at walmart to keep cloths in) remove cover and there is your frame



First Step: Make a stick in a can: Mix the cement in a separate container using the direction on package (just adding water). Place 2" x 6' piece of pine in the can and pour cement into the can. Place stick on the side of the inside of the can not in the middle. Let harden overnight. These are great to use for many projects that you need to clamp items to.. they don't fall over.



Second Step: Believe it or not. You may look around your home and find many things to use as a frame. I used a plastic frame that was used for hanging clothes. The frame had a zipper dust free cloth over it. I removed the cloth... and there is my frame. Be creative and look around to see what you can use.



Third Step: Place your stick in the can to the left and right of your frame. Take 1 2" x 6' piece of pine and clamp to the tops of both the stick in the cans. See photo.



Fourth Step: Place saw horses between the frame and place poster board on the frame. Clamp the work lights to the left, right and top of the frame on the 2" x 6' pine as shown.



Fifth Step: Attach tracing paper to the outside of the frame WITH THE LIGHTS ON so that you can see shadows, etc.



Sixth Step: Adjust the lighting to suit your needs. The clamps can be adjusted and moved to the desired spot.

New for 2010

I have been busy. I go to sleep every night with all of these crazy designs in my head and it will not turn off! So this is what I came up with.

Not only that, I redesigned my light box, added more lighting, trying to come in with a new look for 2010. Here are the results!