The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: Sewbee on December 04, 2017, 14:22:59 PM
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I had a terrific set of French curves and rulers for pattern drafting in the USA. Most were by Fairgate and were metal. What is a good brand to buy here and where can you buy them? I know it pays to buy good quality rulers. I don't mean the substance they are made of so much as the curves themselves.
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Mine aren't metal, but I have this
(https://morplan.scene7.com/is/image/Morplan/PatternMasters?id=phFqh2&fmt=jpg&fit=constrain,1&wid=410&hei=410)
patternmaster from Morplan (https://www.morplan.com/shop/en/morplan/patternmaster) and this
(https://i.imgur.com/78I3mYs.jpg)
also bought from Morplan, but it is no longer on the stock list. Morplan has bricks and mortar (https://www.morplan.com/shop/MorplanContentPage?pageName=MorplanContentPage&storeId=10053&eSpotName=our_stores) shops and maybe there is one that you can visit.
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Mine aren't metal, but I have this
(https://morplan.scene7.com/is/image/Morplan/PatternMasters?id=phFqh2&fmt=jpg&fit=constrain,1&wid=410&hei=410)
patternmaster from Morplan (https://www.morplan.com/shop/en/morplan/patternmaster) and this
(https://i.imgur.com/78I3mYs.jpg)
also bought from Morplan, but it is no longer on the stock list. Morplan has bricks and mortar (https://www.morplan.com/shop/MorplanContentPage?pageName=MorplanContentPage&storeId=10053&eSpotName=our_stores) shops and maybe there is one that you can visit.
Thanks, Utta. Should I buy metric or imperial measurements for the UK?
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Thanks, Utta. Should I buy metric or imperial measurements for the UK?
If you usually measure in inches buy imperial, if you measure in cm buy metric.
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I did find this on Amazon UK but I think the Patternmaster one looks more useful. Also I can't tell for sure but I think this one is metric.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IQ6ZOLE/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A1Z76ETO4Q9H8Z&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IQ6ZOLE/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A1Z76ETO4Q9H8Z&psc=1)
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If you usually measure in inches buy imperial, if you measure in cm buy metric.
This will be tough because I have - so far - a mixture of Liesl & Co., StyleArc and Cashmerette patterns. Liesl is from USA, StyleArc from Australia (but purchased on Amazon UK) and I think Cashmerette is American but I purchased it here. :\
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Also I can't tell for sure but I think this one is metric.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IQ6ZOLE/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A1Z76ETO4Q9H8Z&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IQ6ZOLE/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A1Z76ETO4Q9H8Z&psc=1)
It says "1/8" calibrations on one edge and two sides " so it's imperial.
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I have - so far - a mixture of Liesl & Co., StyleArc and Cashmerette patterns.
A pattern is a pattern and it doesn't really matter whether the designer used metric or imperial. You use/start with whatever length the pattern happens to be. Seam allowances are typically 5/8" or 16mm. Actually 5/8" = 0.625" = 15.875mm. The difference of 0.125mm is barely the thickness of a thread and would be swallowed up by the thickness of the cutting line - not to mention your ability to cut fabric that accurately.
If you are used to using imperial measurements go for one marked in inches, eigths of an inch etc. If you are used to working with metric measurements go for a metric one with cm and mm. If you are bi-lingual with measuring (bi-measural? -<) then it really doesn't matter. Just be sure to use the same system if you are trying to match two different curves for length.
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It says "1/8" calibrations on one edge and two sides " so it's imperial.
Thanks, Brenda. I didn't see that. Not having a very good day today, am I! ;)
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Bi-measural, nice one Brenda P. :)
I personally find drafting and altering much easier in metric. But I have rulers with both.
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There is this one:
http://www.sewdirect.com/acatalog/French-Curve-with-Grading-Rule-1349.html
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I got mine from Fred Aldous - the Pattern Maker. Was a lot cheaper than elsewhere but I don't use it that much.
https://www.fredaldous.co.uk/collections/textile-craft/products/pattern-maker-metric
I'm sure mine's Imperial but can't find that one??
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BTW if any of you are coming into Manchester for the Christmas markets it is definitely worth a visit to the craft emporium that is Fred Aldous on the corner of Stevenson Square. It's also very near Abakhan. :devil: In fact I would just come into Manchester for Fred Aldous and Abakhan and not bother with the Christmas markets. :D :D
Brenda, I'm loving all those decimal places!
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I`ve got the Sew Easy french curve but haven`t got a clue how to use it and am not sure why I bought it! I sometimes plonk it down if I am trying to change a seamline but suspect I could do it by eye just as well.
I need a Dummies Guide to Using a French Curve ("everything you need to know about a french curve but were afraid to ask")
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This video by Peggy Sagers should help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUG3P31BqNw
Peggy uses her French curve all the time, and is a very useful bit of kit.
Hope it helps you SJ.
Jessie
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BTW if any of you are coming into Manchester for the Christmas markets it is definitely worth a visit to the craft emporium that is Fred Aldous on the corner of Stevenson Square. It's also very near Abakhan. :devil: In fact I would just come into Manchester for Fred Aldous and Abakhan and not bother with the Christmas markets. :D :D
Brenda, I'm loving all those decimal places!
Oohhh!! What a good idea! When do they start and exactly where in Manchester do they have them? Hopefully, close to the main railway station down town.
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Well the markets are on now - started two or three weeks back - and they finish a few days before Christmas They are in Market Street, St Anne's Square, Cross Street and thereabouts. One would take a tram to Market Street from Manchester Piccadilly (or walk - about 10 minutes) but they are nearer Manchester Victoria. They will probably be pretty similar to the Christmas markets in Edinburgh, which I guess is a lot nearer for you, Sewbee.
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Well the markets are on now - started two or three weeks back - and they finish a few days before Christmas They are in Market Street, St Anne's Square, Cross Street and thereabouts. One would take a tram to Market Street from Manchester Piccadilly (or walk - about 10 minutes) but they are nearer Manchester Victoria. They will probably be pretty similar to the Christmas markets in Edinburgh, which I guess is a lot nearer for you, Sewbee.
They have a farmers market through the year in Edinburgh and they do have a Christmas Market that used to be on Princes St but it seems to have moved to George St. I doubt they have anything craft related, though. Plus you still have to get a bus - and then walk a ways - to any fabric shop. I might plan a trip to Glasgow, though.
I'm feeling a bit housebound or local-community bound so it's time to plan a trip but every time I think about it, I remember the cold weather. :(
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Jessie - thanks so much for the link to that video - it`s really helpful. I hadn`t come across fit2stitch before but there are several other videos which I want to watch now
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Sewbee, you should visit Mandors in Glasgow.
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I too would recommend the Fred Aldous Pattermaker, via Amazon.
I can remember going with my Mum to Fred Aldous’s for basket weaving cane and lampshade frames. I seem to recall it was under the railway arches in Manchester.
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This video by Peggy Sagers should help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUG3P31BqNw
Jessie
Thanks for that link, Jessie. I have bumbled around with the french curve for a while now, thinking it useful, but the video shows how it should be done and is very helpful.
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Holly Berry. Ahem :D that must have been a long time ago as I discovered it about 25 years ago when I was looking for plastic beans to make fake beanie babies (the things my kids had me do) and it has been in its present location on the corner of Stevenson Square all that time.
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Holly Berry. Ahem :D that must have been a long time ago as I discovered it about 25 years ago when I was looking for plastic beans to make fake beanie babies (the things my kids had me do) and it has been in its present location on the corner of Stevenson Square all that time.
It was, I’ve lived in Kent since 1983. Manchester is now very alien to me, it’s changed so much. I’m still very proud to be a Mancunian though.