Flexible Pattern Designers


When I first started dollmaking I bought a lot of books on dollmaking and lots of patterns. Now I mostly make my own patterns and make up the clothing to go with the doll. But it's interesting to see how different pattern-makers view things. Pattern-makers seem to have a lot of rules!
  • Don't adapt the patterns.
  • Don't enlarge or reduce the patterns.
  • Don't make items for sale with the pattern
Huh? You mean I just spent my hard-earned $$ on a pattern that I can only use for personal pleasure? I wish it had said that on the website right next to the item description.

But not all pattern designers are so rigid. The doll you see pictured above is from a pattern by a gracious and flexible pattern designer - Annie Beez Folk Art. I e-mailed Annie and said, "I'd like to use your Belindy pattern, shrink it down, add rabbit ears and change the legs and arms to have rabbit's feet." Annie's response? "Sure Dixie! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it!". Now that's a flexible pattern designer! That's the kind of pattern designer that makes me want to buy more!

You might ask, "Why use patterns at all?" Well, the reality is - sometimes I see a shape of someone else's pattern and imagine it to be something with different colors. Why reinvent the wheel if someone else has put the work into the shape? Plus I'm honoring their design by buying and adapting their pattern. I like learning new skills, and I usually learn something from a well-designed pattern. I've learned an immense amount from making Annie Beez' patterns and from making Claire Pruitt's Pennywooden doll. They're both kind people, understand the hearts of artists and design exceptional patterns.

Anyway, rant is over. If you're a pattern designer, sorry!



1 comment:

Gollywobbles said...

I'm with you Dixie. I couldn't have said it better. I find inspiration in other designers all the time. I always give credit to the designer, and I think it's important to give our creations our own "flavor", else we have duplicates everywhere. Thanks for a great post!


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden