Saturday 11 February 2012

Secret Project S revealed

Presenting to you the elusive and secret Project S I have occasionally alluded to in the last year or so.
Suzy Patterns are the result of a mishmash inspiration pool mainly from Victorian and Edwardian eras to the gorgeous 1940s and 1950s. They are developed with the petite women in mind however with some alterations, everyone can sew a Suzy!

That is right, I decided to design sewing patterns. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am. But it is also scary!
This little venture of mine (as it remains for now a small venture) has started pretty much around the same time I started sewing. When that happened I knew I wanted to do a bit more with all the design ideas floating in my head. Whilst the idea of launching a small line of clothing was briefly thought of, I wanted something that would allow me to stay involved with and connected to the fantastic sewing community. I have benefited in many more ways than I can possibly describe from this fantastic community and have met many wonderful people I call friends, both personally and online. 

Suzy Patterns is, like I have said, a small venture and I plan to take it slowly but steadily. Whilst I am taking this very seriously I'm also planning on relaxing and enjoying it. Coming to this stage has taken a long time researching, learning, practising, asking questions, etc. I fell out of my comfortable zone when I had to rely on someone else to do something (I am a control freak) and now need your help:
After I drafted and tested the current pattern I'm working on I had to research pattern grading companies that would digitise my pattern and grade it in different sizes. Pattern making and grading software is very, very expensive and grading by hand a true art which I do not fully have. I found a company and sent them my size chart and pattern pieces and they have done it for me, which is fantastic. However, I want to be sure that a) I have made my size charts right and b) the company that graded did it correctly with specified ease, etc. Initially I thought about sewing all sizes myself but then I decided to announce this and ask for your help!

If you would be interested in testing this pattern for me, please leave me a comment with your email address. I already have a few people who expressed interest on my Twitter account and plan to email everyone next week with some details.

Please do not feel obliged to do this, I can say now that a decision was made from the start to make this pattern available for free to mark the beginning of this venture, so if you don't want to risk sewing something that might have wrong sizing on, it's fine. 

That's it then, the cat is out of the bag!

69 comments:

  1. The Americans forced me to have a stash but now I've got fabric that I don't know what to do with. I'll try out your pattern for you - I love small independent designers - more originality. I'm a UK14. How exciting, isn't fascinating the twists and turns of life and opportunities? You forgot to say what the pattern is for........

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    1. Hi Ruth!! Details of this pattern will be on the email :)

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  2. Suzy how exciting!! What a fantastic wonderful challenge. I'm thrilled for you ( and the sewing community at large who will benefit from even more creative generosity ). I'd love to help out being a tester if you need someone 5'3 with lumps and bumps!
    Good luck with what you're working on now Xx

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  3. I love your style Suzy and would love to be a guinea pig for you.
    M
    mattbaz@tpg.com.au

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  4. I don't think my sewing is good enough to be a tester, but I can't wait to see your designs and hear more about the patterns. This is a great venture and I'm sure you'll be very successful and have lots of fun! xxx

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  5. I would love to test your patterns. Congratulations on your new business and I wish you every success. Best wishes Sarah :-)

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  6. Congratulations Suzy. Launching your own pattern line sounds so exciting. I'm petite as well so I would love to test a pattern.

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  7. Oh Suzy, I am so thrilled for you. That is amazing news!!!!! I wish you all the very best for your venture. I can't wait to see your designs and hopefully get to sew one, too.

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  8. Suzy this is so exciting. Congratulations. I am so happy for you, but more importantly, that you are based in the UK( yep, my own claim to fame now). I don't know about your timeline, but as I am currently bumped up, and due next month, I won't be able to test till April. Is that too late? I am 5'4 with a VERY generous backside, lol.

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    1. Not a problem Dibs, when it's tested you can download it for free and have a go at it, if you like it.

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  9. That sounds fantastic Suzy! I'd love to help! Petite patterns are always tricky to find so thats an awesome niche!
    my email is beebeesvintagedress[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  10. I am so thrilled for you! I would love to test a pattern. I'm a 36-38 in French size, I don't know if I qualify for petite... I am carmencitab at carmencitab dot com

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  11. Yayayayayayayayayay! That's so exciting and I'm so pleased for you! I can't wait to see the gorgeous designs that come out of your wonderful head as I'm sure they'll be as fabulous as you. Good luck with your new venture sweetie, I hope you have an absolute blast x

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  12. Suzy, this is very exciting, as I really like your style a lot! AND petite patterns...YAY!!!

    Well done for knowing what you want to do, and then doing something about it.

    I wish you all the good luck in the world with this.

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  13. Hey Suzy! As said before, I will help you out. 5ft3" and a size 6-8. Maybe a different slant? I'm very happy for you! Also, thrilled that this might be something big! Why not?!? Yay!

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  14. Woop this is so exciting I can't wait to find out what the pattern is! Also, I ADORE your logo :)

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  15. Hi Suzy - congratulations! I won't volunteer as a tester, because I have so much on right now, but I will certainly follow with interest!

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  16. This is so exciting... I will be need to interview you later as part of my MBA ... Xx

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  17. Wow! Go you for taking the leap and daring to dream! I am not going to volunteer, because my fabric budget is really tight and doesn't really allow for non-essential projects (plus my size is really common and you already have multiple volunteers for my size)... but I still wanted to comment and give my encouragement.

    That logo, by the way, is divine.

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  18. Oh my gosh I would love to give your pattern a go if you are still needing people :-)

    My measurements are 31-25-35 so I'm not sure what modern size that is. :-) My email is kittysdrawings at gmail dot com :-)

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  19. Congrats Suzy! This is the beginning of many great things to come.

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  20. Oh, the description of the style you're going for sounds so intriguing! I'd love to be a pattern tester, though at 5' 7" I do not qualify as petite. I am apound (at) gmail.com

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  21. Oh, Suzy! I'm so flipping excited for you!!!!!!

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  22. Woohoo! I'm sure you already know about this blog/resource but Fashion Incubator http://www.fashion-incubator.com/ might be very helpful to you...

    Congratulations on this wonderful adventure. Can't wait to make your patterns.

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  23. FABULOUS! What exciting news! I can't wait to see your designs!

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  24. Wow, what excellent news Suzy...congratulations! I really can't wait to follow your progress with this, it's so exciting. Your logo is genius by the way, I love it! I would volunteer to pattern test for you, but I don't think I'm skilled enough to give you useful feedback. If you get desperate though, you can contact me here: sklipikish[at]hotmail[dot]com ;o)

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  25. Congratulations on your new venture, it sounds brilliant! And yey to petite patterns, it's so difficult to get clothes that fit properly when you're small - and don't start me on shoes!! I don't think I'm good enough at sewing yet to pattern test, but I wanted to say congrats, and lots of luck with it. :)

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  26. Go for it Suzy! I'd love to test for you... I'm 5'4" if that's any help?

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  27. Me, me, me, me, me!! Oh, pick me!!!! I would LOVE to test your pattern!! I'd love to test them all, as they are developed!

    Congratulations, Suzy! I am so very thrilled for you!!! ((HUGS))

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  28. Wow that is so exciting! That is really brave and I bet they will be awesome. I would love to be a pattern tester for petite patterns, I am 5 foot even and I have tested for Tasia before and it was great! mollysewsblog (at) gmail {dot} com

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  29. I'd love to do a dry-run of your pattern! I'm a super-novice, so I'd be good at letting you know how a beginner/idiot sewist does with your pattern. :-)

    moogers1(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Thanks for the opportunity!

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  30. Congrats, Suzy!!!
    I'm so happy for you and excited to see what you came up with!
    I'd also be thrilled to test the patterns, really! After all, I'm a BIG lover of indie pattern designers!
    My email is paunnet@gmail.com

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  31. Hi, I'm a new subscriber, and have come to love your style (hmmm, leopard clovers and camo bombshell)! I am 5'2" and relatively slim, and would love to test for you! It's so difficult to find RTW with the petite woman in mind-it just doesn't happen.
    Congratulations on taking your skills to another level!

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  32. We already chatted on Twitter about this, but I just wanted to drop a note and say congrats here as well :) I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to test (will need to see what the garment is and if I can afford the supplies!) but I'd love the opportunity. I'm not petite but I'm sure I can provide some perspective as a person who alters-to-fit! (Don't we all, anyway?) Congrats again, excited to see what you've come up with.

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  33. Congratulations!!! How exciting! I would love to test out for you, I'm a size 16 in the Big Four Sizing, but I'm not sure what size that is in the UK? Does your sizing go up that high? I hope it does, we big girls love sewing too :) my email is lisakatec(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. I'd test for you

    stephc at 3hourspast dot com

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  35. If by petite, you actually mean pattern for the shorter gal I would love to test one! I'm 5'3", but most of that length seems to be in my legs, my waist lengths are always shorter by several inches than those on patterns. My email is taponmyback(at)cox(dot)net

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  36. I would test the patterns for you! I have been admiring your sewing and this would be such a fun way to participate. I'm too tall to be considered petite but I have a slim frame and wear usually a 36-38 European sizing.

    If you already have plenty of testers I will just look forward to when you start selling the patterns!

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    1. I realized I didn't leave me email! candace.steiger@gmail.com

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  37. Congratulations Suzy! What an exciting announcement. I just found your blog and am very excited to see what your designs look like – the 1940s and 50s are currently my favorite style decades, and I used to be in love with everything Victorian and Edwardian, so I am sure I am going to love them all!

    If you are looking for any pattern testers who do not qualify as petite, I would definitely be interested! I can be contacted at lauramae.p.s (at) gmail (dot) com.

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  38. I would test for you.
    stitch bliss(at)stitchbliss.com

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  39. I totally would be interested in pattern testing. I'm on the cusp of petiteness (petite on top and normal height on bottom). My email is nicoleatobin (at) gmail (dot) com

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  40. Congrats Suzy! I'm really excited for your news! I've tested for Sewaholic Patterns and would be very happy to test for you as well if you still need volunteers (though it seems like you've gotten a lot of positive response already!). I'm very intrigued by all the different styles that you've combined. I am tallish and thin but familiar with moving waistlines and such as appropriate. amy.ahearta at gmail dot com.

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  41. Oh wow, that is awesome! Good on you and your sense of adventure. I would love to test your patterns for you (I am petite and find that I have to shorten everything in all of the commercial patterns I buy so when I heard you were setting up a pattern company for petites I rushed here to see what it was all about.). I am an Eu 34 (with a lot of fitting and shortening added in). Let me know if you need any help. Best of luck with everything!

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  42. Woo! Am 5ft and looking for a new project :)
    duckiemonsterATgmailDOTcom

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  43. That's thrilling news Suzy!! Best of luck with the new venture, I'm sure it's going to take you onto marvellous adventures. I've labelled 2012 as The Year of Greatness (for many reasons) and I think that will truly apply to you too! :)

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  44. I love that your patterns have petite woman in mind! I have a hard to fit body type with being just a bit taller than the average petite woman (5'4"), but being built like a petite from the shoulders to the waist. I would love to test a pattern for you. ann(DOT)m(DOT)mcgrath(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

    (Found you from Debi's blog and ever so delighted I did)

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  45. So so so excited for you!!! Your logo is fantastic and I'm so intrigued to see what your first design will be. I contacted you on Twitter, but will say again that I would be more than happy to give you a had testing the pattern - what fun!!!

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    1. Hi again Suzy. Just realised that I volunteered before realising you were looking for Petite pattern testers. I'm 5'6'' and a UK 10-12, so perhaps I don't fit into that category!
      If you'd like some testers who aren't in the Petite range, perhaps to see how versatile the patterns are, then I'd ofcourse still be willing to help out!

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  46. Suzy, this is such exciting news!! I'd love to test a pattern for you, although it would depend on your deadline as I'm supposed to be committing all my energy to my research project at the moment (which is why I'm lying on the sofa reading blogs and watching a BBC Parliament debate on library closures)... xx

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  47. That's wonderful news Suzy. Wow, you're going to have a busy year! If you need a petite but curvy pattern tester I'd love to help. I'm so thrilled for you, well done. x

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  48. What exciting news for you!!! Throw my name in the hat... I'm petite and I loove playing guinea pig haha :)

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  49. Congratulations! I'm of the 4'11 curvy variety, if you still need testers. I love the logo and can't wait to see what you come up with. :)

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  50. I'd love to test! christina at flyingweasel dot com (also on the contact page on my site)

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  51. How exciting. Congrats on your new venture. I'd be up for testing! Though I'm not petite :(
    amy at bluemercury dot co dot uk

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  52. Suzy, how exciting! Count on me too, if you still need testers or any other help! It's an ultimate dream of mine too - but I am not there yet :-)

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  53. How fantastic is that!!! I wish you all the success in the world and more importantly I wish you enjoy every step of the way ;)

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  54. Suzy--Congratulations! What an awesome venture and adventure! If you're still looking for pattern testers, I'd like to toss my hat in the ring. I'm an intermediate sewist, if that helps.

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  55. Congratulations on your new pattern venture! If you're still looking for pattern testers, I'd be keen to help out as a 5'3" confident sewist. Looking forward to seeing what your first pattern will be...

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  56. Hi, I would love to test your pattern for you. I'm 5'10" and a US 14 or 16 depending on the style. My email is leslie(dot)worcester(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  57. Oh Suzy! Well done! congratulations!! and Good luck! xx

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  58. I'd love to help test your pattern, if you're still in the need for help! I'm a 5'4" advanced seamstress of the curvy persuasion.

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  59. well done Suzy what a fab venture and I wish you the best of luck with it.
    If you still need testers I would love to help you. I'm 5ft2 and a titch (gota get the titch in there haha!) slim build, short waist, long legs (well for my height haha)I'm a u.k size 8-10 but kinda curvy with a slight sway back. I also live in the u.k too if that helps.
    fashionbrickroad@hotmail.co.uk

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  60. How did I miss this post!!!?! Wow - that's great news Suzy, well done for all your hard work hun :)

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  61. Congrats on your first pattern!


    I would love to test the pattern! I'm about 5'8, curvy with a large bust (probably around a 16 or 18, if you need someone to test in that range).

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  62. I'm 5'4" and a size 8-10 (Canadian sizing) Generally petite sizing fits me best, though technically I'm not really petite. I'd love to try your pattern!

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  63. Hello, I'm a french seamstress and I'd love testing your pattern, as I'm found of vintage patterns. I hope it's not too late.
    My adress is veronique.rateau@gmail.com
    Bye

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  64. Wow! Congratulations. I'm a bit late to the party, but I'll be happy to test -- I love that you're specifically designing for petites! I'm just under 5'2". I'm not sure what size I'd wear in the UK, but I have a 34" bust and I'm very curvy in the hips and butt region. When I make commercial patterns I usually gradually grade up 1-2 sizes from just underneath the bust to the hips.

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