It's Important To Know The Differences Between Pattern Companies

If you're thinking about making a piece of clothing for yourself or someone else, it's important to know what to look for when selecting a pattern.

The four major pattern companies in the sewing world are:

As the name states, Simplicity Patterns are the easier ones to use and Vogue Patterns are more difficult.  If you're just starting out, it would probably be best to begin with a basic pattern in the Simplicity patternbook.  However, Vogue does have some very nice patterns that are relatively easy to use.

There are other pattern companies such as Burda and See 'n Sew that you can use as well.  Different fabric stores carry several different pattern companies along with the baics for.

Selecting the pattern you want depends on your sewing level.  The pattern company will tell you what the difficulty level is for each pattern.  They are usually classified as:

You will also see in a pattern book a section on outfits that can be made in 2 hours or so. These patterns are usually quite easy to use. So, if you're a beginning sewer, don't hesitate to consider using one of these.