The Sewing Place

Price of PDF patterns

Tiggy

Price of PDF patterns
« on: August 14, 2019, 20:03:33 PM »
I've seen a couple of gorgeous patterns on a site called https://indiesew.com/.  It's similar to The Foldline, and I've seen a couple of patterns that I would really like to make.  You can get them as PDF's, but the 2 patterns, plus the 20% tax came to more than $30.
That is a similar price to Vogue patterns, which don't need printing.  I appreciate that Vogue can be more economic because of the quantities they produce, but the price of the printed version of an indie pattern is only a couple of dollars more than the PDF.  This does not encourage me to buy.

Does anybody else feel like this, or am I just a tightwad?
Pfaff Creative 4.5 ,  Babylock Gloria
Janome 3800QE

Vezelay

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2019, 20:48:17 PM »
I  mostly buy indie pdf patterns these days so I'm used to the price and yes, they're not cheap although you can sometimes get a discount when they first come out. I assume they need to charge more because they sell less and you cant really equate them with a global company like Vogue. $30 for the two is £25 which seems about standard.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2019, 20:54:17 PM by Vezelay »

Nevis5

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2019, 21:10:21 PM »
I understand the arguments but I agree with you @Tiggy  I hate PDFs and won't buy them however pretty the pattern is.  The cost of printing them plus the endless cutting, sticking and retracing just seems a huge time suck to me.  I did break down and download a couple of baby patterns from Brindille & Twig just to try, and that was more than enough for me.

For now, if I can't get a paper copy of a pattern, I don't buy.

Tiggy

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2019, 21:18:00 PM »
That is how I feel as well.  If I could get a paper pattern with all of the lovely instructions, then I would feel that I had an artisan created product, but PDFs don't feel like value for money in terms of materials, my labour to create it and my time.
Pfaff Creative 4.5 ,  Babylock Gloria
Janome 3800QE

Vezelay

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2019, 22:15:27 PM »
PDFs do have their compensations. I like being able to print only the size(s) I want. Plus some of the indie pattern makers have sewalongs on their websites and I've found them quick to respond to email queries about construction. I know many of you don't need that kind of help but I find having the option useful. Of course some of the indies do print versions as well but most don't and anyway the postage cost rules them out for me.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2019, 22:18:28 PM by Vezelay »

Sewbusy

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2019, 03:30:21 AM »
I have printed quite a few sewing patterns and find the whole process time consuming and sometimes, particularly with large ones the repetitive movements of my arthritic hands takes days to recover!

Sometime ago a friend sent me a couple of patterns her husband printed in A0 size, this a much better option for me.

I looked for a local print/copy shop to do this, Staples used to do them. I've found a few online sites where you upload your files and they post the printed patterns out. There are options for black and white or colour. Here's one

https://www.netprinter.co.uk/plan-printing/

This site gives other options.https://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/sewing-pattern-printers/




Nevis5

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2019, 06:34:18 AM »
I've thought about sending the PDFs to a copy shop too, @Sewbusy but that adds to the cost of buying the pattern too.  Usually negating the difference between a PDF and a paper version in my eyes. 

I'm sure eventually I'll break down and creak into the 21st century if I want to carry on trying out new patterns and designs but for now it's a no-no for me.   I'm already beginning to panic about the amount of fabric I own along with the boxes of patterns so I'm pretty sure I could manage for a while without investing in anything new. 

Acorn

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2019, 08:06:24 AM »
@Tiggy PDF patterns usually come with extremely detailed instructions, often including pictures, which only need to be printed, not assembled in any way!

(Style Arc and Lekala/Bootstrap are the exceptions to this.)

I am delighted to be able to have patterns on proper paper rather than tissue, that I can print out as many times as I like.  I would rather stick together twenty patterns than trace one from tissue paper (or use it directly).  I've got to the point where I don't buy Big 4 patterns unless they are downloadable, apart from occasionally baby patterns, which are a manageable size.

Not all Indie patterns are expensive, either.  With most of them you could certainly buy the pattern and have it printed onto A0 by one of the online services for less than the cost of many tissue patterns.  You can generally get two A0 sheets printed and delivered for around £6.50, and that might even be two patterns (depending on the pattern and your size!)

Style Arc, of course, do offer nice, printed patterns (onto proper paper).  I still tend to print them myself though.
I might look as though I'm talking to you, but inside my head I'm sewing.

Efemera

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2019, 09:25:11 AM »
I’ve just bought a PDF from Ellie and Mac, the Be mine Cardigan, worked out about £3.50. I’ve made a few of their patterns, the 90s dress is a favourite
https://www.ellieandmac.com/collections/wacky-free-patterns

charlotte

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2019, 09:44:55 AM »
I used net printer for the first time recently and I was really pleased with it. It's not cheap though when you add it to the cost of the pattern.

b15erk

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2019, 09:52:05 AM »
Hmmm @Efemera , thanks for that link.  I've just bought some patterns, some were free, and some were $1!!

Have bookmarked it.

Jessie
Jessie, who is very happy to be here!!  :),  but who has far too many sewing machines to be healthy, and a fabric stash which is becoming embarrassing.

Acorn

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2019, 10:04:16 AM »
I have quite a stash of Ellie and Mac patterns, bought on Wednesdays when a selection of their patterns are just $1 - a different selection each week.  The ones I've made have been excellent.  The Be Graceful dress is the one that springs to mind.
I might look as though I'm talking to you, but inside my head I'm sewing.

b15erk

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2019, 10:06:30 AM »
@Acorn , thanks for the information, there are some very nice patterns there.

I will definitely check on Wednesdays.

Jessie
Jessie, who is very happy to be here!!  :),  but who has far too many sewing machines to be healthy, and a fabric stash which is becoming embarrassing.

sewmuchmore

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #13 on: August 18, 2019, 18:17:44 PM »
@Tiggy which patterns are you looking at? Someone may be able to suggest a cheaper alternative.
It's not easy being this perfekt

Janet

Surest1tch

Re: Price of PDF patterns
« Reply #14 on: August 18, 2019, 18:49:45 PM »
I understand the arguments but I agree with you @Tiggy  I hate PDFs and won't buy them however pretty the pattern is.  The cost of printing them plus the endless cutting, sticking and retracing just seems a huge time suck to me.  I did break down and download a couple of baby patterns from Brindille & Twig just to try, and that was more than enough for me.

For now, if I can't get a paper copy of a pattern, I don't buy.

You and me both