Once I've finished a costume or craft item and it's all ready for photography, I have to prepare the paper work to send along with the samples to Simplicity's New York offices.
The first thing to do, is lay out all my working patterns, trace around them, true up the lines and put every marking I can think of that will help the pattern makers in New York understand my pattern.
I also make sheets up with swatches of the fabrics I used and a list of all notions and any instructions I think the writers in New York might find useful.
It usually takes about 6 to 8 months from the time I finish my work until the pattern is ready to go on sale in the store. These are the steps it takes through the Simplicity workroom.
The croquis artist puts my costume on a form and draws the croquis (the front and back line drawings that are on the back of the envelope and guidesheet.)
The pattern can then be printed out, checked and started on it's way through the workroom. Although most of the time it will travel electronically from computer to computer.
After the instructions are written, the technical illustrators get into the act.
Here are some sheets someone is working on in the Measuring department. They are the people who figure out how much of everything needed to make up the garment or craft project.
Here is the sewing room where most of the fashion patterns are made.
| 
My pattern is put into the Simplicity system by digitizing it on this special table, which has sensors in it that connect as the cursor is run around the edges of my pattern.
When the pattern is finished being corrected the instruction writers now get the information needed to do their job.
Most work is done on computer, so there isn't much to show for certain departments. Grading is one of those. Those are the people who take my sample size and make it into all the other sizes. And then there is are the people who plan the Layout, the diagram that shows you how to put the pattern pieces on the fabric. And the Pressplate department that figures out the best arrangement for the pattern pieces to be printed on the tissue in the envelope. 
The people in the translation department showed me one of their very cool picture dictionaries. They said sometimes they need to look up the correct name for a historic costume piece.
The Guide Sheet department puts together all the various elements onto the guide sheet for printing. There is also a Quality Control department that checks everything over before it goes out for printing. The printing is done in the United States on recycled paper, I'm happy to say. And there is a Costumer Service department to help and answer any question people might have. |
And into the store!
And I didn't even tell you about the Art Department or Shipping and order fulfillment!
RSS Feed