Hi - does anyone know of any online pattern companies that are pretty good? I'm looking for more stylish, independent pattern companies, rather than your buttericks and vogues....

thanks!
~heather

Gee, Heather, from what I've seen, the independent companies are kind of..well, not matronly, but they do go for a consumer that is mostly concerned about figure problems. And the fashions are just kind of...well...not as stylish as Vouge, let me put it that way.

New Look patterns are great, but they aren't online, also Burda has a magazine with patterns inside which I've heard is very fashion forward, but I'm a little dubious. Depends on what you feel about the German sense of style.

I think your best bet is to get some cute New Look patterns (they have a great fit and are 2.99, for some reason) and adapt them to fit your vision. As you get more into it you can try your hand at pattern drafting.

Folkwear patterns aren't stylish per se, but I enjoy adapting them, because they are either authentic past reproductions, or very interesting ethnic costume. Ingenious closures and things like that.

Another thing I do is get my patterns on Ebay. 70's patterns go for nothing, and although the 70's are remembered as an ugly decade, they really are informing this one, and it's fun to have original source material to work from.

I don't think my 70's patterns are ugly. I think that they're kind of interesting. As long as I don't make them up in double-knit, I'll be okay. (: