Technical Information Matters

Now I don't rant on something too often but sometimes, it is deserving. So is the case with the Tina Given's patterns. Would it take away from the ruffle and free form style to actually do a technical drawing to show back and front? If there had been that, heck if there had even been a few clear shots of the garments, I might not have bought literally two of the same pattern.



The top bodice portion is for all due purposes EXACTLY the same. The difference; one gives the facing as a pattern piece, the other tells you to cut a strip on the bias.



 One has a short ruffled lower section, the other long.



Sleeves, exact, side panels, exact, back exact.



 On come on now! If I am going to pay $15.00 (thank heavens I bought these on sale!), for a printed pattern don't you think I should get all the pieces actually PRINTED in the pattern?  Not a set of instructions telling me to cut two rectangles, cut one in half and pleat? Pleat where? And even that wouldn't be a problem if there was a clear picture of where the pleats go, how much pleating etc.
There are little drawings that accompany the "instructions", but gosh, lining up pleats and ruffles evenly with no clear markings is a tough task. I could have bought one pattern and made the lower portion any length/width I want or both versions, long and short could have been included in one pattern!!!!. It seems to me to be a great big old rip off to avoid giving any technical data at all. Oh and let's not forget finished garment measurements! There are none. Such trivial things I guess as knowing the finished size should be of no concern........

In all fairness, Tina Givens isn't alone (and likely is a very nice person), in her lack of technical information, (and I knew going into her patterns there is an appalling lack of information). A discussion on Ravelry about looms sent me looking for technical information on Louet looms, I wanted dimensions and measures, mostly breast beam height. Couldn't find it anywhere. Now Macomber puts it on their website, hard to read (way over to the right), but at least it's there. And it is important stuff as anyone who has bought,and then sold, a loom because it wasn't comfortable. Even for creative endeavors, technical information is important and often, sadly, forgotten. Reminds me of schools putting all the emphasis on "creative writing" and forgetting that sentence structure and spelling are just as important as content. If it makes no sense, who's going to bother to read it?

Weaving is a place where the technical and creative meet, often times in wonderful ways. However you set up a loom, the end result should be a well beamed warp, even of tension, mistake free on threading and sleying and treadles tied up to offer the best shed.





 Beyond that what your warp is,



 the threading order,



 the spacing of the reed and the treadle tie ups



 offer endless creative possibilities. It is not a fast process, but enjoyable all the same. In this immediate society it is nice to sit down, slow down and have time to reflect. Much in weaving offers that.

I promised a give-away of some patterns. You may need to bigify for the pattern numbers.
I assure you, these most likely have finished measurements! ;-)





 If you want one (or more) let me know in the comments section and please make sure I can contact you for a mailing address. If two or more people want a pattern I will draw the winner from the pool of names out of a hat, or maybe Stella will. These all start at size 14 I believe and are uncut and ready to go. I will end this give-away next Wednesday, the 20th of January.

Parting shots: Bring in the Tom's!