Come Stitch With Me

Don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to put 2019 behind me!!  This year will go down as the first year everyone in the family met the deductible and out-of-pocket maximums under our health insurance policy.  Yes, we had some serious stuff going on.  Our new normal means we now must budget $6,000 annually to cover our portion of the costs associated with hubby’s follow-up care at MD Anderson in Houston.

There were a few bright spots this year – my FW retreat in Idaho, summer travel with my parents to Canada, ESOL endorsement requirements met and a shift at the day job back to full-time librarian.

2020 will be the year for my biz to BLOOM. 

Teaching
Starting in January, I’ll be teaching both adult and kid’s sewing classes at Stitch N Quilt. Kid’s Club projects have already been selected for January – June. Garment Sewing 101 and T-Shirt Quilt 101 classes will be on the books very soon.

Technical Editing
Tech-editing services will be marketed more aggressively. (No more being afraid to raise my hand and say that I provide this service to pattern designers.)

Supplies
Etsy Shop will be re-opened to sell surplus notions and fabric, plus a few seasonal items whenever my Maker urge strikes.

Bonus
Turkey placemat pattern (based on grandma’s vintage ones from the 1970’s) will finally get to market this year.

There are other ideas swirling around in my head…but this is a good start for a Tremendous Twenty-Twenty!

Curious as to how a tech editor fits into the pattern design process?

Note:  I normally receive a copy for editing once it is in the testing phase.

• I print the pattern and tape it together as instructed.
• I read through the directions to check the instructional flow & sequence.  (Does it make sense? Is there another technique that would work better? Does the designer need to add/delete certain things to make the instructions clear? Should the construction sequence be modified?)
• I compare listed cut pieces with any diagrams and again for inclusion in the sewing instructions.
• I check captions and labeling on diagrams.
• I check to see that photos and illustrations are in the correct places (or that there’s no placeholder awaiting a final photo/illustration).
• I check math calculations, including yardage requirements, cut dimensions and overall project size.
• I edit for grammar, clarity and consistency in writing style.
• Sometimes, I have to make a block. This is usually when I suspect a math/instructional error that I can’t pinpoint by simply reviewing it on paper.
• I set the edited pattern aside for a day or two.
• I markup the pdf copy in Adobe, confirm I transferred the edits from my paper copy to the electronic one and then send the marked up electronic file back to the designer.

Total time? 2-3 hours.  (Psst: I’ve also reviewed your pattern at least twice.)

Lead time:  2 weeks

All of my clients are repeat clients, if this gives any indication regarding the quality of my work.

The first quarter 2020 is starting to fill up, so if you need tech editing services early next year, please get on my schedule NOW.