Pattern rant!

[Taffy Saltwater]

 It will be a cold day in Hades before I buy another pattern from Reconstructing History.  My first project - as a very green seamstress - was a frock coat.  I made it  in the largest men's size available, which should have had at least a couple of inches to spare in the chest & waist.  It was so small I ended up taking it apart, lining it w/a corset & laced it together.  It turned out really nice, but frankly it should have been  too big.  That was 3 years ago.   

This year I needed a great coat.   Again, purchased the pattern from Reconstructing History.  A men's pattern, double breasted, so there should be space to spare, right?  It's so small the lapel is almost non-existent and even though it's double breasted and  I'm corseted so there should be many inches to spare, it barely meets in the middle.  The pattern says it should come to knee length on 5'10 man; I'm 5'5, added 6" to the length & it barely reached mid calf.  WTH?

At the same time I got the frock coat pattern I bought a Spanish loose gown - think academic gown in style.  Last year I modded a Snape academic gown from a big 3 pattern (originally a wizard robe pattern) and it turned out great, but wanted a HA pattern for the ropa.  It's got an interior vest to help support the weight of the gown.  So today I cut out the vest and lining in the largest size - about 50" - which should be sufficient, and basted them together.  Guess what? - it's TOO SMALL!  I just measured it - it's 36"!  14" smaller than the pattern specs.

I know I should make a toile.  But the pattern should match the measurements provided.  One time, I could blame it on me, but 3 times?  NEVER AGAIN!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Yoiu must contact them and explain.  Send pix to back up the complaint.  Not just of the things not fitting, but also of the tape measure on the pattern r the 14" difference.  This is a major problem and they should fix it for you.

[gem]

I had absolutely TERRIBLE customer service from them (no, seriously--*beyond* terrible. Abusive would be more accurate.). They've been on my "Cold Day in Hell" list since 2008.

[Butch]

I've had good luck with their customer service.  I do agree, however, that their patterns are too small.  I just figured I'd gotten a screwed up pirated copy, since I didn't buy the pattern directly from RH.

Now that you mention it, however, the coif I made for my dau was small too.  Hmmm.

I wonder what's up with that?

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The RC patterns are okay. I have 3 of them.

It's the instructions that SUCK!!!!!!! I like having illustrations to see that I am putting things togetehr properly. Thank goodness for the TUDOR TAILOR book! Perhaps I have been spoiled by patterns that have instructions. Which is why I do love the Margo Anderson and JP Ryan patterns.

[Cilean]

Add your information to the Great Pattern Review!  I have, and I think others should be able to look at your information, I also say to give comments to Reconstructing History.  I think they up size their patterns but it is not beta checked, for I have had issues with my sizing and yet others have found them spot on under the size 14.  So I don't know, I made the English Jacket? And I had to add 12" all around it was horrendous!

http://www.gbacg.org/great-pattern-review/index.html

Cilean

[Kate XXXXXX]

The RC patterns are okay. I have 3 of them.

I have to disagree.  All three of the ones I have used so far have had major drafting flaws.  The women's patterns are NOT well graded for larger sizes, and the man's pattern was just badly shaped.  There will be the Full Story on LJ later...

It's the instructions that SUCK!!!!!!! I like having illustrations to see that I am putting things togetehr properly. Thank goodness for the TUDOR TAILOR book! Perhaps I have been spoiled by patterns that have instructions. Which is why I do love the Margo Anderson and JP Ryan patterns.

They are seriously bad.  Big chunks left out and things in the wrong order!  And that's BEFORE we get to the lack of illustrations - no good for a visual thinker!