dianec42

Someone on Reddit was complaining about PDF patterns, specifically what a pain it is to print them out and tape them together. One of the commenters made the mistake of saying "I don't get the devotion to online downloading patterns" and I went off into full 'splaining mode. :D

The comment that set me off:

I buy patterns at JoAnns when they are on sale, usually for $1.99, sometimes $3.99. Vogue is more but I don't usually buy them. I've taped patterns together, and I find it to be a real pain. I don't get the devotion to online downloading patterns. Sure, if it's a unique design, something special. But usually I can find something I like from the big pattern companies.

Someone else called them out on their Jo-Ann privilege, so I didn't even touch that part.

Here's my reply:

> I don't get the devotion to online downloading patterns

I find there's more to it than getting a unique design. Honestly sometimes I don't even want a unique design, I just want a basic t-shirt with no weird "unique" stuff added, and do the Big 4 even have that right now?! But I digress....

There's also inclusive sizing, and supporting a smaller business. Most of all though, I'm paying for the instructions. The PDF patterns I've downloaded have all had very thorough instructions. Some have blog posts or videos or sew-alongs to help.

Having seen all that, I've started noticing how utterly terrible the instructions are on a lot of the paper patterns I already own. Some are okay, they just assume I know a lot more than I do. Others are flat-out wrong.

If it makes a difference (however small) where I spend my dollars - and I have to believe it does - then the companies I want to reward are the ones that actually care enough about the people sewing and wearing their stuff to be supportive and set us up for success.

So umm apparently I'm pretty passionate about this? Who knew...