It took me so long to learn how to pattern cut, I do not actually remember when I finally got to the stage I could create a complete pattern on my own. I studied fashion for five years, with at least one pattern cutting class per week. I also made things for myself in my own time... some projects were more successful than others.

When I graduated and started my first job as a pattern cutter and design room assistant, I discovered that many of the pattern cutting processes I was taught in college were too slow for industry work. I heard time and time again, “Oh! I haven’t seen it done like that in years! We don’t do it like that…” (Usually accompanied by an “oh, bless..” smile.)

I guess learning to pattern cut in college is like learning to drive - I learnt the skills I needed to pass the courses, then I needed to learn how to pattern cut for day to day purposes.

Over the years (as I previously mentioned in my blog “Networking is no longer a dirty word”), I have been lucky enough to work with some really talented and skilled pattern cutters and machinists who were willing to pass on their knowledge to me. I used to be so unsure of what I was doing, working in fear that making a mistake could hinder my career progress. Once I gained confidence (Yes, Allyson confidence IS the key! I still have the card you gave me J), I realized that I learn from every mistake, so fear of making mistakes should not be my focus. I should simply ‘give it a go’ and see what happened.

It makes me smile now, when I am teaching and see pattern cutting and sewing students have similar struggles I had. I now hear myself giving the same advice I was given by all the people who have taught me. I have been pattern cutting for over 20 years and I am still learning! I have found teaching has really helped me see just how much I have learnt….so far.

Now that I have now moved in to leather work, I found I am more willing to make lots of mistakes, as I understand it is all part of the process of learning and mastering new skills. I also have a better understanding of how I learn. 

So, frustrated pattern cutters , new learners in general.. Just be patient with yourself. Things WILL go wrong, sometimes you will have to start again from the beginning. It will take a while to understand what works for you when learning new things.
But ”If at first you don’t succeed…”
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I can’t recall when I first started to make bags . I just remember not being able to find the bags that I wanted. Without coming to a real decision, I found myself manipulating patterns to make my own and occasionally making bags as gifts for relatives. People would often ask me where I got my bags but at that stage, I didn’t consider adding them to my product range.
I moved into Cockpit Arts in 2011 and, with my first open studio fast approaching I was still developing my coats. It was suggested that I could make some bags to test the market for my first open studios. I do believe I did an excellent job at hiding my surprise when I sold my first bag!
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So I began to design and make cloth bags as well as coats. By about 2013/2014 I began to experiment with leather to incorporate harder wearing straps and bases to some of the bags.  I was not completed happy with the results and decided I needed to learn more about leather.

 The first course left me feeling I had not learnt enough skills to apply to my products. I still tried making a machine stitched cloth/leather piece but I was dissatisfied with the result. It was a “Meh!” Bag in my opinion…
During this time I was also collaborating with other designer makers with a pop up shop for a month, while working part time  as a course co-ordinator for Fashion and Textiles at City Lit. The role included introducing new courses to the curriculum (this is relevant stay with me..!)

 We all took turns to working in the pop-up shop in pairs. On one occasion I was paired with Katherine Pogson who specialised at the time in …wait for it… Leather craft and was teaching leathercraft skills to small classes of students! I told Katherine about my “Meh!” bag and my disappointment in my progress with leather up to that point. Katherine  mentioned that she had been trying unsuccessfully to contact someone at City Lit about delivering classes!!
Sooooooo guess who started TEACHING handstitched leather courses at City Lit?! And guess who ATTENDED three of the classes?!!!!
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• Not having enough coats for my first open studio weekend, led to me developing a brand-new product line.
• Wanting to refine my bags lead me to trying an intro to leather course that did not meet my needs.
• Making the “Meh!” bag, then sharing my story, led to forging a link with a skilled leather craft designer maker who was also a good teacher.