Patterns by Flirt Brooklyn for Generation Next for McCall’s…I’m dying to make the purple blouse in the center!
I was browsing in Jo-Ann Fabrics the other day (“browsing”…ha, who am I kidding – it’s practically my second home and every time I go always check out EVERY aisle to see what’s new and what they’ve moved around)…and I happened to site down and start flipping through the McCall’s pattern catalog.
Normally I don’t look through the catalogs since I’m usually bored to tears with more of the styles on offer…the only ones of any interest I usually find to be Vogue patterns (but waaaaay too expensive for just a pattern…I mean $25?? Come on.) or Burda Patterns, which are more youthful but on the more pricey side than Simplicity or Butterick [perhaps because of this?]. (The patterns available for purchase online from BurdaStyle are a different story though – affordable and perfect for a quick project!)
10 different styles of fabric flowers?? Amazing!
So in any event I was surprised to see in McCall’s book a collection of patterns called Generation Next. These patterns, created by a number of contemporary designers, are amazingly youthful, fun, and on-trend – something that many pattern companies attempt but often miss the mark at. (Ever seen the Project Runway-branded patterns from Simplicity? Some are okay, but some make you wonder what they have to do with Project Runway, or anything contemporary at all.)
(Sorry for the crappy phone camera pics – it’s all I had at the time.)
Featuring patterns by designers such as Megan Nicolay from the Generation T
Epaulets?? When have you ever seen a pattern for removable epaulets??
I also spotted patterns for corsages (!), and patterns for jewelry. Now, I have NEVER seen jewelry patterns in a large-company pattern book at an established fabric retailer…NEVER. Just goes to show that the times, they are a-changing!
Removable shoe-jewelry, necklaces, belts, and a scarf. Those shoe “petals” at the bottom look strangely familiar…haven’t we seen this DIY tute on the Internet awhile ago???;-)
Have you seen the Generation Next collection of patterns at all? (There are a lot more patterns available at your local sewing store if it carries McCall’s – the McCall’s website only has a few.)
What do you think – should patterns just stick to being sewing patterns for fabrics – or would including DIY-style instructions for making accessories be something you’d like to see in commercially-available patterns? Innovative? Or just a sad marketing attempt at exploiting a current trend? Discuss!
xoxox
Carly
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straight thieves! …though I suppose if we get inspiration from a designer item and DIY it …it makes us thieves too 😉
This was my first EVER blog DIY http://www.lovemaegan.com/2009/05/diy-christian-louboutin-petal-sandal.html …and the one that got the most press via blogs & magazines 😉 May 2009, I’ll never forget it, lol
…love Maegan recently posted…Vintage & Antique Sunday Funday Finds
I love that they have added the embellishments–I think it is great! pattern companies should definitely branch out!! I so want to make those petal front shoes… need to get on it–have wanted them since I saw carrie on satc wearing the pale pink ones!!!!
Yes – I really like the fact that McCall’s is branching out too! And if you want to make those petal-front shoes…love, Meagan shared her tutorial online for doing that (almost 2 years ago now)…so you can check out her link above for free! Thanks, Maegan!
I have seen these patterns also and I think it is a great idea! I don’t know if I will buy any but the more patterns move towards current trends and fashion the better. I myself only buy patterns when JoAnns has a sale and they are super cheap (my favorite are the Cynthia Rowley Vogue patterns which are under $5 when on sale)
Btw, I love your blog!
Thanks, Bonnie – it’s nice to see you here! I’ve always had a problem with how basic and dated many patterns are – and I feel it’s often due to pattern companies believing that their primary market is made up of women who want to sew – but whose taste isn’t exactly fashion-forward. I think it belittles the consumer a bit and makes an assumption that isn’t exactly true, and I think if other pattern companies designed and offered patterns similar to what we see on the runways each season, there might be a whole lot more people buying. And I love the Cynthia Rowley patterns too – but like you, can’t justify the price unless they’re on sale!:-)