Thursday, October 6, 2016

Pattern Review: Love My Lady Cloth

This is the pattern that I chose to use for my turn and topstitch tutorial. 

The Shop: I Heart To Sew
The Pattern: Love My Lady Cloth


This is a pattern that I found on crafty.com instead of Etsy, after doing a Google search. Etsy is my go-to, but I wanted to see what else was out there. Over the past few months, I got a little burned out on pad making and hadn't even cut this one out yet. But it turned out to be a great pattern for yesterday's turn and topstitch post, and I'm glad I got the motivation to give it a try.


One of the things that I liked about this pattern was that it came with a cutting line and a sewing line. Not all patterns do, and I think it's a great idea to include both, because different people use different methods for pad assembly. For example, I like cutting out on the sewing line, which I trace and follow on my fabric. Not some people prefer to cut on the cutting line and then stitch with a seam allowance. This pattern can accommodate both methods.


One thing that I did not like about this pattern was that when I cut out the core pattern and the main pattern piece, it was immediately clear that the core was too big to fit comfortably within the seam of the pad. This would have created a lot of extra bulk in the seam. You know, after you finish a pad and there's a lump running inside the topstitching?  This would especially be a problem in a pad where you want to use more layers, or thicker layers, such as with an overnight pad.

That issue was easy to fix by folding the core pattern in half lengthwise, and trimming away about 1/8" from the outside of the pattern piece. But if someone is a beginner at making pads, and was unfamiliar with the appropriate amount of space needed, they would probably just end up with a lumpy pad and be frustrated with their end result.


As I mentioned before, I prefer to trace the sewing line (sometimes labeled on the pattern as the seam allowance), and stitch along that line. So as you can see in the photo above, that's the line I chose to cut on. 


The instructions for this pattern included several color photos. However, the photos were of a different pattern - an angled pattern, instead of this curved pattern. While the instructions for making any pad are pretty universal, I don't know if this would cause confusion for someone who is just starting out. 

The instructions were brief, but included good suggestions for fabric choices, and some good tips like using a basting spray. They also included a separate sheet of printable instructions, so that you can print just one sheet, instead of several pages with pictures. I thought that was great, especially if you're trying to save paper, but want to print the directions for your files.


Overall, this pad really was simple to make. The curves were pretty easy to navigate, even though I ended up choosing a squirrelly fabric to work with. It has a really nice shape - even better than was demonstrated in the photos used to promote the pattern. 

The pad worked out to be exactly the size stated in the pattern - 12" x 3". It comes with seven sizes to choose from, ranging from a 6" thong to a 14" overnight pad. And let's be honest, even with a few issues that I mentioned, that is an astounding value at just $1 for the bundle.

Even with the issues, I would recommend this pattern for the shape, the variety of sizes, and the value. Just remember to trim away a bit of that core pattern piece if it's too close to the seams for your comfort, or if you need a bit more thickness in the core layers, and your finished product will lay more flat and low-profile, instead of diaper-y.



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