PDF sewing patterns are no longer a trend. It’s a shift. One that’s been quietly taking hold for years, elevated by technology, community, and the changing needs of modern makers. And it’s a shift that recently led me to make a very intentional decision: I removed all of my patterns from Simplicity.com.
That choice wasn’t impulsive. It wasn’t emotional. And it certainly wasn’t about burning bridges. It was about alignment, knowing and understanding your worth.
Why I Selected to Leave Simplicity Behind
Working with a legacy pattern company carries weight. There’s history there. Visibility. Familiarity. And for a long time, that mattered.
But in certain phases, it was evident to me that the model of a pattern-house no longer fit the ways I designed, the ways I taught, or how I intended my work to exist in the world.
When your patterns are housed on a platform you don’t have control over financially or otherwise, managed by people you don't respect or trust, it is beyond frustrating and frankly exploitative.
As a designer with a background in business that values open and clear communication, transperancy, a point of view, style, intention and craftsmanship, that disconnect matters.
Removing my patterns wasn’t about rejecting the past—it was about honoring the present.
The Move From Mass Market To Powerful Design
Legacy platforms served volume. There is great potential for depth: Independent designers are working for it.
PDF patterns allow me to:
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Teach why, not just how
- Actually put a lining in a blazer lol
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Design for real bodies, not averages
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Not use a copy and paste method..... design for the fashion girls
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Include context, construction logic, and nuance
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Support sewists beyond the sale
And simply be proud of the work I put out there. They enable patterns to be living documents — not static products.
And that is important when sewing ceases to be a hobby and is transformed into a form of self-expression, resistance to fast fashion, and creative ownership.
PDF Patterns Aren’t the Future—They’re the Present.
For today’s sewist, PDF patterns offer something paper patterns simply can’t compete with at scale:
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Instant access
- Community input
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Updates and corrections in real time
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Direct connection to the designer
More importantly, PDF patterns allow designers to stay in conversation with the people actually making the garments. We can teach, clarify, update, and support in ways that were impossible even ten years ago.
This isn’t about convenience alone—it’s about community and control.
Where Do We Go From Here?
We go smaller.
We go slower.
We go more direct.
The future of sewing isn’t about shelves filled with tissue paper—it’s about connection. Designer to maker. Idea to execution. Skill to confidence.
It’s about:
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Designers owning their platforms
- The death of the kiss the ring mentality
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Sewists choosing intention over impulse
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Patterns that teach, not just instruct
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Communities built around learning, not speed
PDF patterns aren’t replacing tradition—they’re evolving it.
What This Means for My Work Going Forward
All of my designs will continue to live where I can:
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Update them responsibly
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Teach them thoroughly
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Support you directly
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Protect the integrity of the work
This isn’t a step back. It’s a step into ownership—of my designs, my voice, and the experience I want you to have when you make something with your hands.
Because my intellectual property is mine, I will be giving all my patterns the facelift they deserve and re-releasing them on my terms.
