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| Do patterns have
seam allowance (SA) already marked? |
Yes, on ALL garments.
On some with optional strip-piecing, SA needs to be added ONLY
where areas are split up for strip-piecing. You pick how many
strips will be used & add SA to these joins only. The pattern
shows SA around ALL outside pattern edges. |
| Are all sizes
included in the one pattern? |
Yes. You pick the size,
usually by bust size closest to your own and start from there.
If you like a smaller fit, do the next size down. It is all
explained in the pattern. |
| How much sewing
experience do I need? |
Okay, I am assuming
you know how to run your machine & this is not your very
first project. We include lots of extra help, sewing tips &
try as hard as we can to ensure that you achieve success with
the pattern. You need only general sewing skills. Please bear
in mind that every project builds confidence, on technique &
even on fabric selection. Over the years, not every item from
your workshop will be a masterpiece. We all have a few that
were later cut up into pillows or quilts or used to line the
puppy's bed. |
| Where do you
get so many different fabrics? |
This is obvious- I am
a fabric magpie & have
built up my "fabric wall" over many years. I buy good
quality quilting cottons but also just about anything else;
rayon, silk, swimwear, corduroy, velour, etc. I keep reasonable
scraps & offcuts, buy things at thrift stores of fabric
that grabs me & sometimes friends give me stuff. I wash
it ALL before it sits on my shelf. |
| How do you store
& organize your fabrics & where do you get them? |
As I use mainly smaller
pieces of many fabrics, I keep them in open
wire organizing baskets on 12" open shelves. They
are sorted by color family as most are cottons or by fiber content
like silk, velour, velvet, metallic. Big garment pieces lie
flat on shelves above so I can see the whole wall of color at
once... just about. I buy at independant quilting stores for
best selection of beautiful harmonious cotton prints, regular
fabric stores for rayons, jersey, etc and often at thrift stores
for leather or oddball prints. My fabric wall has grown over
many years, some pieces waiting more than 10 years to find a
place in a piece. |
| I lack confidence
to choose 5 or 6 fabrics to work together. What can I do? |
Get help from a fabric
store assistant who looks like they know how to put colors together.
Buy fabrics within the same print family. Stick to only 1 or
2 highlights and make the rest about the same value level. Too
many diverse colors will be jarring and jumpy while 1 or 2 add
just the right punchy note to a general harmony. |
| Will it fit me? |
We take you through general fitting
tips, stages to try it on & check certain things. As usual,
if you do no measuring or checking along the way, it may not
fit perfectly. Good news is that these are casual style lines
that look pretty good just about any size except too small. |
| I got the wrong tissue inside! |
Yikes! This has happened once or
twice. PLEASE take a look at tissue shapes & instructions.
Make sure they look like the same thing! We will gladly replace
your tissue with the correct one but sorry, not the fabric once
it is cut out wrongly. |
| What does copyright
mean? Can I make jackets for my friends? Can I sell the finished
garments? |
These patterns are meant for
your own use. You may make up several items to sell personally
to the public (like at craft fairs). You may not
sell them wholesale or sell in higher
quantities. If you intend to make something similar in large
resale numbers, go & style up something of your own. Why
would I hand the pattern lines to you for free? Vogue, Butterick,
etc all say the same thing in their patterns. Would a songwriter
let you record their song & resell it without a royalty?
I would be glad to work with a company on a royalty or design
fee basis but please do not just steal them. Thanks. |
| How can I improve my sewing
skills? |
Join a good class, read Threads magazine
& Sew News, join a fabric guild of some kind. Practice with
cheap fabric. Pjama shirt & elastic waist pants are great
starter project out of inexpensive stuff. Leave difficult &
expensive fabric for later! Get an alterations specialist do
the buttonholes if yours are pathetic. This is a weak point
on my machine, too but reading the manual & practice, practice
practice sure help. |
| My old pattern now includes
more styles. Can I update it? |
Yes, for 3 styles only. If you have
an old PV40, NY Swing, PV44 Quartet, or PV39 Treasure, send
in instructions only. They
will be exchanged for full instructions of PV41, PV26 or PV37. |
| What fusible webbing do you
use for applique? |
My favorite is Handler's Trans-Web.
It has the slightest, supplest hand & is very easy to use.
Buy more than you need of this & interfacings & get
straight to projects next time without thinking about buying
new interfacings. |
| Do you sell wholesale? |
Yes, Pavelka Design patterns are available at independant
fabric stores throughout North America. Shops, please see
wholesale
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