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Pt 2. Screen to seam: PDF sewing patterns

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Avoiding dodgy or AI Slop Sewing Patterns

Sadly, Artificial Intelligence slop sewing patterns are becoming a real problem. Buying directly from indie designers, or from reputable aggregated stores like the ones we covered in Part 1, is one of the best ways to avoid them. AI may eventually handle the heavy lifting of drafting patterns and grading size sets, but we’re not there yet.

This is the second article of Screen to seam: PDF sewing patterns, in it we’ll look at tips to avoid AI Slop.

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Pt 1. Screen to seam: PDF sewing patterns

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Where to Buy PDF Sewing Patterns

In early 2026 Simplicity McCalls announced a global restructure that will close their Sydney warehouse and stop shipping to Australia – read the Guardian Article here. If you have been sewing for years, the move to getting your patterns online might be new and totally unfamiliar.

In our first article of Screen to seam: PDF sewing patterns we’ll discuss where to buy your sewing patterns.

If you’re in Melbourne and like learning in person, check out the booking page for How to buy & print sewing patterns online. If it’s not currently scheduled, join our waitlist.

Once we would head into a fabric store and sit down to browse through the huge catalogues of sewing patterns from Simplicity, McCalls, Butterick, Vogue and Burda. Finding one you liked, you then went to the filing cabinets to find your desired pattern…

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Simple steps to sewing straight

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One common question from our students is: “How do I get better at sewing straight?” It sounds simple, but it’s one of those foundation skills that makes a huge difference to the finish of your garment seams and hems.

Sewing straight isn’t about perfection, it’s about a few key habits and techniques that make everything feel more controlled and consistent. In this post we go through our tips to help you stay straight on your seam allowance.

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Danielle – Art Hub Ballarat Residency

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This year Danielle is undertaking a residency at Ballarat’s Art Hub for 3 months commencing in March 2026. “In my own dressmaking practice, I am very pragmatic; producing garments for a functional need. Through the time in the residency, I want to experiment and explore creativity in clothing that is not confined to functionality – to produce art for art’s sake.

Additionally, a variety of workshops will be run in the space for various skill levels to enable participants learn and get hands on. People interested in starting from the beginning or growing their skills can book in Private Lessons, come by the Gathering – Drop In sessions, or book into the Sunday Sewing School Workshops.

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Prevent your fabric from fraying

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The edges of woven fabrics will fray unless they are finished or covered by a lining. Fraying is the ravelling of fabric edges that occurs. Some fabrics will fray more than others.

Some of the most common methods you can use to finish the edge of your fabrics to prevent this fraying include: trimming with pinking shears, overlocking, binding, constructing French seams and overcasting.

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