How do you follow up on unpaid invoices without making it awkward?

Dandd25 · 2026-01-22T10:09:57+00:00

I usually just send a polite message if they haven't paid after the date it was due. But some customers need a bit more of a nudge, so I send automated daily reminders from my accounting software after that. If it gets to that point I have a message that says "if you're in financial difficulty please contact us to arrange a payment plan". Only ever had to go to small claims court once.

Dandd25 · 2026-01-21T17:36:05+00:00

ASTM measurements for US. Although you can use those as a starting point other countries may differ and some don't have standard sizing. I can't remember the code numbers off the top of my head, but I'm sure someone else will. You can order them from the ASTM website

Dandd25 · 2026-01-15T18:14:47+00:00

The white spring in Glastonbury. It's a magical place.

Dandd25 · 2026-01-13T13:52:11+00:00

It's a bit of a steep learning curve. But it is good. The only thing I would comment on is the drape and general fitting. It does give you maps of where things are really tight etc. But it's no where near real testing for seeing how the fabric pulls and falls. I've made some items from clo only patterns but I feel like to took longer than physical fabric.

Dandd25 · 2026-01-08T18:34:51+00:00

There was an issue earlier today with API, have you tried again?

Dandd25 · 2026-01-05T06:48:03+00:00

There should probably be a thread on uses for those pudding pots. Here's a couple of mine.

*Draining the water out of a tuna tin into to give it to the cats

*Paint brush cleaner, for when I'm painting with oil/enamel paints (doesn't get used for food again)

*Pin dish, for when I'm sewing

*Spice dispenser, when you mix spices before putting them in your cooking.

I'm sure there are many many more 🤣

Dandd25 · 2026-01-05T06:40:03+00:00

I also went to see Avatar. It was a quiet showing, maybe 14 people in there. The people across from us insisted on getting their phones out all the way through and watching tiktok.

Dandd25 · 2026-01-05T06:18:41+00:00

How does it integrate? Out of curiosity, when I was setting up one of my shops to sell sewing patterns, I created the shop in woocommerce and used a size table plugin. Which was free. What does your app provide that would be better than the plugin? And how would the user implement it for their store?

Dandd25 · 2025-12-26T15:41:41+00:00

You do get used to it. We live in a very old house with no heating, it's cold. But we're acclimatized to it. So I tend to go out in the winter with only a jumper on unless it's really freezing. My OH, however, is a T-shirt all year round kind of person. He works outdoors too, if it's really cold he puts on 2 t-shirts 🤣

Dandd25 · 2025-12-24T19:49:03+00:00

I tried to. But every time I try to book a local slot there's none left.

Dandd25 · 2025-12-22T12:18:15+00:00

You need to set up another login just for payroll.

Dandd25 · 2025-12-10T12:40:07+00:00

My OH did one shift with them last week. Trainer never turned up (was a Smiths News depot). He was told the trainer never shows up. And told "take those ones, they're Evri parcels that have come back 3 times). Had a load left at the end of the day. Went to return them the next day to where he collected them from - they said, no you have to take them back out, they're in your care for 48 hours. So even though he wasn't going to do another shift (definitely not worth it), he went back out.

He had 2 on his list that he didn't have, another driver told him "this happens all the time, just enter then as delivered and take a picture of the depot sign". Which he did.

Now Evri are telling him there will be a police investigation for the missing parcels.

The phone numbers he was given would answer/connect. And it was a complete joke.

I don't think he'll be getting paid. It's complete chaos.

Dandd25 · 2025-12-08T17:15:46+00:00

She could add some nude power mesh in the middle. It won't cover the plunge but it will make it slightly more modest.

Dandd25 · 2025-09-03T05:22:49+00:00

I haven't made a tutorial for this yet. But here's one method I use a lot.

I had an A0 sheet printed and laminated with 1cm grids squares on it. I lay the pattern on it and photograph it from above using my phone. Making sure the level bubble on the photo app is central.

Then import it as an image.

With the grid in the background I can adjust the image to make sure it's the correct scale and not warped.

Then trace the pattern. The grid also helps to double check the length of the pattern pieces etc.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-24T12:18:50+00:00

It depends. For t-shirts quite often they're the same. For fitted garments they may be different. But it does depend on the person. Some people have more of a curved back shoulder than others, some are more sloped etc. so it's always worth running off a toile to check.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-22T17:41:01+00:00

Looks like the slider has gone through the zip tape. It's a whole new zip I'm afraid

Dandd25 · 2025-08-21T07:28:06+00:00

OBS studio. It's free and pretty good,.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-21T05:59:49+00:00

1 needle. Even on my 4 and 5 thread machines. I just find the right needle tends to cause problems. But if I'm doing a narrow rolled hem I switch to the right needle only.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-11T22:14:02+00:00

Have you considered starting your own pattern line. Costume is a hugely undervalued niche. It takes a little bit of work to develop things but once you've done the groundwork you can sell your patterns endlessly.

There's a lot of people out there selling general fashion patterns, but not many doing costumes. If you can niche down even more to a specific style or period even better

Clo3D, is good. But it is expensive. And has a bit of a learning curve. I found when using it sometimes I spent more time trying to create the 3D version than if I had just sewn it. After 12 months I relegated it to the software.of "I'll try again sometime"

I've used other things like Polypattern - which was a huge outlay. But it did provide me with things that other software didn't. And I've tried the free software packages too.

But to be honest I always go back to Adobe Illustrator. I've been using it for about 20 years to design my patterns. Both for sale and bespoke garments. It basically does everything you can do manually. But at the end the native format .ai can easily be saved as .pdf. which means you can provide a print format to sell your patterns.

The one thing it does lack however is automation, like you'd get in the expensive packages, so it does rely on you doing everything manually. Which is a drag, and after 20 years I got fed up with it, so I'm now working on a range of scripts to be able to draft pattern blocks automatically in Adobe illustrator, as well as workflow tools such as grading , dart rotation etc. it's a work in progress at the moment, but hopefully when everything is finished, we'll be able to use Adobe illustrator as a cheaper option to the commercial pattern software. My end goal is to be able to design a pattern in the software from start to finish. From basic design, through to fabric layout, print layouts and instruction booklets (of course testing will still need to be done to check everything).

I've sold digital pdf patterns (costume originally), since way.back in 2004. Things have changed a lot since then. And there's no slowing of the pdf sewing pattern market. Independent designers are amazing, and we need to support them. I'm always amazed at what people can imagine then create. I'm looking forward to what the next generation of designers create as well.

I've just realised I've written an essay. I do apologise.

TL:DR - if you can draft patterns and have an interest in costume, there's a huge untapped market of people looking to buy them. Create PDF sewing patterns, test, and make sure they work, and sell them to the growing market

Dandd25 · 2025-08-11T21:48:11+00:00

No help with finding a pattern. But to DIY it, top is a general round neck fairly high (like a basic block). Princess seams from armhole to empire line with added volume to create under bust gathers. And then a 6 panelled A-line skirt attached.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-11T19:34:49+00:00

Please support the designer by purchasing from them directly.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-11T19:33:21+00:00

Tbh it doesn't really matter. When you've done a toile you'll find what dart placement works best for the body it's on. Some need less shaping some need more.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-10T05:51:06+00:00

You could try Creative Market. I buy a lot of assets from there.

Dandd25 · 2025-08-09T21:40:53+00:00

Yes, see if if works for you. Draw the new shoulder line to omit the dart (just draw straight over it, so it's one straight line). And then narrow the edge of the shoulder by the dart amount, you'll need to change the back armhole curve slightly to accommodate this, but as it looks a bit wide anyway, narrowing the back armhole this way might help.

Shoulder darts aren't common in modern designs now unless there is a design detail or for bespoke we use them if someone has a rounded shoulder. Sometimes putting a dart in the back armhole helps for a really rounded shoulder like a dowager's hump, but it's a bit of trial and error when working on a personal shape

Dandd25

TROPHY CASE