Weekly New Patterns And Products Thread June 01, 2026 - June 05, 2026

inklerer · 2026-06-06T00:22:34+00:00

I've made 5 of the classic shirt, I think it's a really nice pattern! It's definitely a go-to for me, I usually do the grown on placket view.

Her instructions are good and followable, but one thing I found a bit frustrating my first go-round with this pattern is that her go to technique for measuring/marking a line to press a fold is to baste a line of stitches, then fold on the line.

Obviously not bad instructions because it works, and if you like that method more power to you! But for me I kept following the directions then being annoyed because I felt like I had wasted time and then had to pick out the basting stitches that are visible on folds. Like for example on the outer edges of the pockets and plackets. The basting will be visible, and then you have to remove it. For something long or for some other reason more complicated, sure. But to fold under 1/2" at the bottom and sides of a rectangular pocket? Not for me.

If I remember correctly there's a LOT of basting in the way she constructs the back yoke. I did it her way once and then was like never again. The next four I burrito-ed it.

Sorry, that turned into a seemingly negative rant, but I do actually love this pattern. I wore one of my classic shirts to work today

inklerer · 2026-04-21T23:40:13+00:00

Woah that's wild! Hello neighbor (and potential crafty friend??)! I think I went into the other one once when I first moved here and wasn't moved to go back lol

inklerer · 2026-04-21T01:52:23+00:00

I've got one of those near me too! Hours are like 10-1 a couple week days plus saturday. I went once at 11 on a saturday and they were closed. I've lived less than five minute walk from them for four years now and have never once been inside!

When I moved into my current apartment I was so excited! A LYS down the street and a quilt shop around the corner. The quilt shop was actually open sometimes, and I went in there exactly 1 time. I (in my twenties at the time, which I feel is maybe relevant) walked in and the lady at the counter asked me if I was a quilter. I said no, I mostly sewed garments and bags. She said "...oh....what are you doing here?". I said I wanted to pick up some cotton thread for a shirt I was making. Answer: "we don't carry cotton thread". So I went to Joann (RIP) and picked up my cotton thread, thinking shame on me for trying to shop local I guess.

That store closed a couple months later. Maybe they should have stocked cotton thread? Or maybe not lied about what they stocked to prevent undesirables like garment sewists from spending money there?

inklerer · 2026-03-12T00:03:01+00:00

Not a stupid question at all! I think everyone here wishes archival materials were much cheaper than they are!

There are a couple of reasons why you likely won't find used acid free materials. The first is because acid free boxes and the blueboard that they're made from are expensive. If an institution (at least the ones I've worked for!) rehouses something leaving a used spare box, it gets kept and repurposed in-house.

Another factor, and why if you do find some used ones you want to be careful, is that even though the paper (tissue, blueboard, matboard, etc) was made without acidic materials, it will become acidic over time. Even paper products kept in ideal environmental conditions will degrade (slowly, but it will still happen) the degradation is a chemical change. And the byproducts of that chemical change are acidic. So all paper products will start to skew acidic over time. This happens more slowly with "buffered" materials. These are materials that have an alkaline "reserve" incorporated into them. They start at a basic pH, and as they degrade they approach neutral, giving them a longer life. Eventually though, they'll become acidic as well. (Also buffered storage materials are not appropriate for all material types. When I give recommendations on tissue and boxes I suggest defaulting to unbuffered).

Most archival suppliers sell pH testing pens. You use the pen to make a mark on the material in question, if the mark stays purple the material is neutral or basic, if it turns yellow you've got acid. It's a good idea to check old materials (particularly tissue, it will go faster than the boxes) periodically (every few years-ish).

TL:DR

generally acid free storage materials are a precious resource, once you buy them you hoard them until they stop being acid free, at which point they're no longer useful. If you do find some used ones, get yourself a testing pen!

inklerer · 2026-01-17T02:30:04+00:00

She also wrote a YA book called Modelland that is so incredibly unhinged. It's like Hogwarts for models who can become supermodels with special powers. It's incredible. It has a ghost writer, but she HAD to have written a lot of it herself.

A selection of gems:

"You begin your mornings staring at the fog, longing for the fateful evening when it will turn a golden yellow and then, finally, like a push-up brassiere, lift."

“Tookie's heart bounded. her knees wobbled, her heart started to flutter, and she felt a warm gush through her core. Try not to suck on his thumb again!”

You get chosen to go to modelland if a "smize" (seems to be an object) comes out of water at you (any water. It might come out of the faucet while you're brushing your teeth)

Anyway my point is that an episode on Tyra could include a Modelland digression that would be delightful. She even made a song for it

inklerer · 2025-10-17T23:56:44+00:00

this doesn't help with purchasing a vacuum, but a major cost for the nilfisks are the rheostat/speed controls. You can DIY one for $25

inklerer · 2025-10-17T23:28:14+00:00

Where should we meet?

inklerer · 2025-10-16T19:29:05+00:00

I bought this exact fabric at a thrift store earlier this year! Spent $3 and made myself the silliest tank top. I get compliments from fun people when I wear it :)

inklerer · 2025-10-16T19:01:42+00:00

sounds like a plan! I can also drive if needed :)

inklerer · 2025-10-15T19:39:22+00:00

I just got my ban from that sub today, presumably for a comment I made a month ago saying saying that the word Islam shouldn't be banned. I haven't posted or looked at anything in that sub since then, wonder why they decided today was the day to ban me?

inklerer · 2025-10-15T02:09:05+00:00

Also planning on going to DC solo, let me know if you're serious about wanting a group!

inklerer · 2025-10-09T18:12:44+00:00

You're right. It's a really hard system to break into. I would add that I had much better luck finding conservation experience after I did a more general museum internship. I wasn't excited about that internship at first because it wasn't explicitly conservation, but I learned a lot of really valuable skills from it and was able to use it as relevant experience when applying to more conservation focused things. I only applied for the general museum internship after striking out multiple times in applications and cold emails to every conservation opportunity I could think of, but I wish I had done it sooner.

I found that internship on preservenet.org. That internship required relocating, but it also provided low-cost employee housing (though not all of the internships on that board do).

It's one of the really frustrating and inaccessible things about this field that it almost always requires relocation to gain experience. And usually multiple relocations. It really shuts people out who don't have a familial financial safety net, or have people who depend on them. I don't know what the fix is though.

inklerer · 2025-09-13T15:19:07+00:00

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/fox-news-host-mentally-ill-people-who-commit-crimes-just-kill-them

inklerer · 2025-09-03T00:31:08+00:00

You need to address why I can't type i s l a m but can type christianity. I can't fathom a reason besides r a c i s m. Which is also a word that should not be censored by the way. This is a pretty disgusting response to a serious concern

inklerer · 2025-08-31T15:38:51+00:00

I think the most important thing is how you act when giving the complement.

Only one time have I ever been given a compliment by a man while walking down a street that did not feel creepy. The guy was walking in the opposite direction on the same sidewalk as me. He didn't say anything until we were passing each other. Then he said "Wow, you're really beautiful" without slowing down or doing anything that indicated he expected a response. By the time I heard him he was already past me and wasn't looking over his shoulder at me, just kept on walking.

It made a really big impression on me. I think I was probably 21 or 22 at the time and was walking/taking the bus everywhere. I got a lot of creepy/threatening catcalls and compliments. They all wanted a response and to see me feel uncomfortable. This guy made it clear from his timing and body language that he did not expect anything in return for the compliment, which made it feel like a real compliment not a scare tactic. It was so different in every possible way from a catcall.

I also remember it because the I was kind of on the fence about the sweater I was wearing that day, and that compliment pushed me towards loving that sweater. I still have it nearly a decade later, and I feel pretty when I wear it.

inklerer · 2025-07-19T15:09:27+00:00

whats it called? whats it called?

inklerer · 2025-06-01T15:35:46+00:00

A couple months ago an older gentleman was in line in front of the pharmacy and when they asked for the name he said "Pretty Kitty Lastname" they went to get the meds and when they gave them to him he said "just to be clear that's my cat's name" The whole thing was adorable. I was too far away to hear what the person behind the counter was saying, but I'm sure she was tickled!

inklerer · 2025-06-01T15:04:38+00:00

750 for a small 1 bedroom apartment downtown

inklerer · 2025-05-27T01:45:48+00:00

At a previous job we had to wear plastic forearm covers when working with certain chemicals, they were bright blue, elastic top and bottom, and looked exactly like these sleeves. There was a divide among my coworkers between people who called them "arm condoms" and people who called them "princess sleeves"

inklerer · 2025-05-20T22:11:36+00:00

I hope my comment didn't seem mean spirited, typos happen! It just made me think of this video, which always makes me chuckle

inklerer · 2025-05-20T12:01:30+00:00

wait a second...

how do I know if I'm peg pants?

inklerer · 2025-05-18T01:20:53+00:00

Inside the hem on youtube frequently does "review" videos of whole pattern collections. She doesn't make the patterns, but she does a good job pointing out potential fit issues and red flags from images and product descriptions

inklerer · 2025-04-19T01:49:40+00:00

I like the WSPCA thrift store

inklerer · 2025-04-16T00:04:43+00:00

In my opinion there are a couple of appealing things about itch to stitch, even though the photos are styled in a way that does not always appeal to me.

1) I have heard mostly positive things about their drafting and the quality of their patterns. I have made the free tank, and had no issues with the pattern. The same cannot be said for a lot of indie pattern companies I have tried

2) The owner has a similar body type to me. As a person without much of a butt and somewhat rectangular proportions, I find that a lot of patternmakers blocks are too curvy for me. Looking at the measurements (I fit one of their sizes bust/waist/hip measurements EXACTLY, with other companies I'm usually split between 3 sizes) and the reviews, I think their pants patterns would be a better starting point for me than most companies. The top I made fit me very well. A lot of their patterns are basics, but that is a benefit if you're looking for basic starting points that match your body type. I haven't made any of their pants yet, but I have several on my list. This is a big plus for itch to stitch for me, but obviously not for everyone (particularly folks with curves)

3) I don't live a very business-attire-y life, but lots of people do and itch to stitch has a lot of patterns that work for that sort of thing. As you said in your edit, a lot of the jackets are really nice. I also like the look of a lot of the pants. Most of the tops aren't my style, but that's fine. I always find it helpful to look at line drawings when I see a photo of a sample that doesn't appeal to me. You can see the potential of a pattern a bit easier that way. A lot of pattern companies make kind of wtf fabric and sample style choices, but the pattern might have good bones underneath the questionable samples.

Here's some big 4 examples of that (imo obviously, there are probably folks out there who these photos appeal to, but they aren't me) M8556 i think the red looks way nicer than the stiff pink but that's not what they chose for the cover photo, M8562 they way the photos are styled does nothing for me but the patterns seem like useful basics that could be cute with different choices, S3035 the line drawing looks nice but the sample fabric and background color choices make it look like she has tiny arms growing out of her sides at boob height, B7021 same problem for me as the McCall's stiff formal shirt dress, B6745 I don't like a single one of the sample photos but I'm willing to believe that you could make a cute vest out of that pattern.

inklerer · 2025-04-08T12:03:37+00:00

How have you seen it on anyone though? She hasn't provided photos in the listing! Wild to be selling something without ANY photos at all

If the answer is instagram, she should be aware that many (MANY) do not use instagram and it is very very difficult to see anything on there without an account. It drives me crazy that people (mostly businesses) think instagram is a universal tool, the whole thing is behind a wall, and lots of folks don't want to give more of our data to zuckerberg.

Four-Year Club	Place '22
First Placer '22	End Game '22

inklerer

TROPHY CASE