Is there a company that will print you a custom pattern?

[KVF_Designs]

Hi everyone,
I am at my wits end.  I cannot seem to find the type of pattern I want, it doesn't seem like it would be a difficult thing, but apparently it is.  So I was wondering if anyone knows of someplace where you can just pick out a pattern, give them measurements and have them print you out the pattern you requested and then mail it to you?

I custom design horseshow clothing and every time I have to change a pattern it ends with me in tears.  I eventually always manage it, but its so stressful that I dread trying something new.  I know there is pattern making software out there, but I don't have a couple hundred dollars to spend on it right now, and don't really have the time to master it.  isn't there just a really easy to use option?

I am so frazzled right now that I can hardly put two thoughts together!  Here is an image of what i want the end result to look like, after all the appliques are added.  Funny... those are the easy part.  I have drawn this using paint software.  Its just a simple princess seamed jacket with stand up collar and zip up the front.  It will have a keyhole opening in the front as well.

[Liz in PA]

Have you seen this Kwik Sew pattern?



etc: name of link to clickable image 

[KVF_Designs]

Thank you Liz for replying so quickly!  I will check that pattern.  I think I will probably need one that is designed to be more fitted than that one though, but I may be able to alter it.... the side panels need to be larger, and the front /back panels smaller... The jacket also must be very tight fitting, but with room in the shoulders and arms to move! lol  I have one that is similar... I guess I am just hoping for a miracle I guess! It would be so fantastic just to be able to send the pic and the measurements to someone, have them print my pattern for me and mail it!  LOL  I wouldn't have so much time wasted!

[vtmartha]

Are you familiar with the Click & Sew patterns from Wild Ginger?  It is pattern making software with a limited number of designs to keep the price low.  I didn't see an armhole princess design but I suppose you could modify their shoulder princess drafts.  Also, if you already have a jacket you like, it is fairly easy to trace the pieces without undoing the jacket to make your own pattern.

[Yknot]

Have you looked at Suitability #5300 Womens & Girls Zippered Showmanship Jacket Pattern
 http://www.suitability.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=28

It looks a lot like your jacket with a couple of tweaks.



eta: image as clickable link to pattern 

[KVF_Designs]

Thanks guys!!! I appreciate all the thoughts!    I do have the suitability pattern... that is the one I am struggling to modify now.  I think I may have finally gotten it right. It just took me all day.... and well... I have NO idea if the keyhole thing I ended up cutting out of the pattern will end up right, because I have never done one of them before!  I just left a 1/4 seam allowance there and will have to clip edges/corners and pray I guess!!!

Like I said, I do always somehow seem to get the new things accomplished... it just takes me forever and is very stressful!  LOL it doesn't help that I am a perfectionist, and get way too worried that its gonna turn out all wrong!

I was just hoping for Some miracle company out there to do all the hard stuff for me!!!  The sewing together, and the appliques are FUN compared to the horrid pattern tweaking.... 

Thank you for all the suggestions!!! 

[KVF_Designs]

Have you guys ever taken any of these online classes before??? I would be interested to know if they are worth the money!

http://www.fashiondesignonline.com/classes/classes.asp

They are off the wild ginger site

[DebraMartin]

unique patterns will mail you a custom pattern.  You can have a body scan done for your measurements or fill out a sheet and send it to them.

[KVF_Designs]

Thanks for the info!!! :-) I will have to check it out!!!

[nancy2001]

KVF, I actualy have sewn a very similar jacket to the one you're trying to make. I used Burda 7890http://www.burdafashion.com/ChangePriceInfo.do but had to modify the pattern to add princess seams in back. I'm afraid there's just no quick and easy substitute for the hardwork involved in designing or modifying patterns. It can take me half a dozen tries to get the right design and fit.  By the way, I tried Wild Ginger pattern making software but found it was maddeningly cumbersome and did not offer me any advantages over drafting patterns manually.

[KVF_Designs]

Thank you Nancy!

You did a wonderful job on that jacket!  It looks very nice!  I really appreciate all the help everyone is trying to give me.  I am just looking for any way to speed up the process!  I need to be able to knock out outfits faster, and all the pattern fitting is so tedious that it takes up a large portion of the time I have allotted each garment.

I checked out that body scanner thing, and that would be really great, except for that there is no scanners within a 24 hour drive from here!  Now, if I had a portable scanner that I could take to horse shows with me, so that when I get a customer in my booth, I could just have them "step into my office" LOL.  Wouldn't that be great!!!!  *sighs and dreams of winning the lottery* lol but then, If I won the lottery I could afford to hire someone to help me sew! LOL  

I think if I won the lottery I would set up a website/company to do exactly what I am wanting now.  Where you could go online... design the outfit you want... input the measurements... and request a pattern printed, cut out and sent to you.  Now, who can deny how fabulous this would be? ? ? ? ? 

*sigh*... Someday....

[vtmartha]

KVF, I think if there were a less tedious way, we'd all be on board.  Unfortunately, commonly taken measurements don't always tell the whole story.   If your clients are mainly people who shop at your show booth, I can think of a couple of possibilities.  You could have a range of sizes already made up for them to try on.  Then make a quick note of what needs to be altered to improve the fit.  You might also try a saran wrap block - and I'm not speaking from experience here.    Wrap them in several layers of saran wrap, mark the CF, CB, princess and side seams and then cut it apart at CF and CB to release them.  Take the block to your sewing area and work from that.  The more fitting you do, the better and faster you'll get.  Also, I would try to use fabric with plenty of lycra and perhaps incorporate wide elastic into your design, maybe along the side seams or next to the zipper, to facilitate the fit.

[KVF_Designs]

These are great Ideas!!!!  You guys are awesome!  Sigh... sometimes being a self taught seamstress has its disadvantages!!!  I could make the mock-ups with muslin..... I will definitely keep all these ideas in mind!!! Thank you!!!  I do use a lot of lycra, but the more complicated shirts are not stretch and ofton have leather wrapping around the body ect, so it prohibits a lot of stretch.

Thanks!!!

[JuneBug]

Do you live near a school or university that has a design program?  When I started looking for wedding dress patterns, the one I wanted for my dress had been discontinued.  My mother was able to purchase the pattern back home, but it was a few sizes too small.  I took the pattern and myself to the university.  A student in the design program measured me and remade the pattern to my measurements.  I had it back within a week and the fee was very reasonable.

[KVF_Designs]

Another good Idea :-) but unfortunately no. 

[Kathleen Fasanella]

KVF, just an FYI. People who make patterns for a living will also spend an entire day fiddling with the thing to get it just right so it's not just you. The other difference is that pattern makers don't have the expectation it'll be perfect on the first try, they expect to do further refinements. Iow, be nicer to you. I know it's frustrating but if professionals don't expect perfection on the first attempt, you can let yourself off the hook too. Not that this solves your problem obviously.

[KVF_Designs]

Hi again everyone     I thought I would give you an update on how my project turned out 

I changed it a little bit from the original drawing I did, but I think it turned out really great!  And best of all, the girl LOVED IT!

--------------

Custom One of a Kind Horsemanship Shirt~ There are 200 Tiffany and Rim set Rhinestones detailing this beautiful shirt! The tan is a fantastic, super-soft lightweight cowhide, the body of the shirt is a purple, slightly stretchy fabric for a comfortable fit.
The musical staff & treble clef is bronze metallic lambskin, embellished with purple metallic lambskin music notes!

[KVF_Designs]

Here is the back of the shirt

[KVF_Designs]

Here is a close up of the cuffs and collar.  The color is a bit off in these photo's... the shirt is actually a really pretty PURPLE not blue... lol

[Jacs]

Beautiful shirt KVF  It was good to see that you overcame the challenges to complete a wonderful garment.

[vtmartha]

Wow!  I'm impressed.  Where do you purchase your leather?

[DebraMartin]

Beautiful!

[fzxdoc]

You did a great job on the shirt, KVF Designs.  Thanks so much for posting the photos. It's always wonderful to see how a project turns out.

Kathryn