During a conversation yesterday, Tink made a few carefully worded comments on things she would have done differently with the set up of “What Wheat Wrote” and another blog-a-venture of a mutual client.

This time she explained a bit more and well, this morning’s project is rearranging of the furniture, notably Categories in the blog-a-venture and of course the living room so we can put up the tree this weekend. All the posts are still here – just a few have moved to a few categories. Fortunately for me, this blog is only a few weeks old and there are the huge number of blog entries that our friend will need to consider when she realizes that she has to bite the bullet and reorganize her entire blog.

Now to see how this “effects” the stats.

and to finally get the tree put up

Peace of the Season

I was asked to explain why a designer should consider joining a trade association in addition to the social/hobby organization of thier choice.

After struggling for several hours about how to say what I so passionately believe – it was clear that a single response would not “do it”

Without the necessary background and context there is no way to answer the questions, much less have the discussion or more likely based on past experience – suffer a crucifixion. God knows every time I try to be a Horse Whisperer it gets me in trouble.

So, I gave up and decided to just write what I feel, believe, or whatever with no malice intended but positive that some will assume there is and who knows, where that will end up this time no body knows

The first controversial statement? It is completely beyond my comprehension how anyone who lives in the real world today – where rapid changes in circumstances can as fast as the click of the enter key, can still base their business decisions on information or experiences even a few years old.

If you belong to a Social/Hobby organization, with rare exceptions, you need to realize that is it not in their charter to help you develop your professional career beyond the development of your techical skills.

These Social/Hobby organizations have two primary purposes,
to provide fellowship
to provide education opportunities in the craft they serve.

There is NOTHING wrong with the choices made by these organizations to limit their focus. This is not to say no opportunities exist within these wonderful groups for the professional; but, we need to be realistic and not be misled by what we would like vs what exists.

So, where “should” those who wish to pursue a formal (primary or secondary) career look for the kind of contacts that will further their career…

In ADDITION to joining the social/hobby organization(s) that support your area of Professional interest and expertise; you need to first identify your goals.

And, that needs its own blog-a-mentary of its own

Wheat
hope you will share your thoughts “on the subject” soon

P.S. To read more posts in this series, select the category

It Is All Just Business
from the side bar or Search for Designer Resources

Keeping in mind that we are talking about the tasks that support the designer, most people do not realize there is a huge difference between creating a design and writing the instructions.

In fact, often times the original designer does not make any more than a swatch or a block before the project is handed off to the Pattern Writer.

Who is the Pattern Writer? It can be the designer (and sometimes that is where the process starts) or it can be someone handed a finished item, and asked to “reverse engineer” the project. Or my personal favorite is to start with the Designer Notes & The Garment and “go from there”. Or it can be just the concept, crocquis and swatch/block.

What is the primary responsibility of the Pattern Writer? It is the job of the pattern writer to ensure that the list of steps, and the explanation of each step is written in a clear concise manner, using standard abbreviations where ever possible according to the format dictated by the publisher.

What are the requirements to be a pattern writer? That’s pretty simple, whatever the craft or type of needlework. you must:

• well grounded in the technique and tools,
• have the ability to pay extreme attention to detail.
• need to be something of a perfectionist
• be able to balance perfection with deadline orientation

For those writing for garments, you really need to know how to do sizing, because it is not just about adding inches.

And the Golden Rule?
The work you produce must enable the average consumer to complete the project without undue heartache.

Your comments and questions are welcomed.

Wheat

P.S. To read more posts in this series, select the category

It Is All Just Business
from the side bar or Search for Designer Resources

Whether it is a block or swatch and sketch, it all starts with the design concept created by the Designer.

Hardly a day goes by that someone in some “designer” group does not ask “What’s Selling”

Design is like art, those who sell best may have all the technical skills to do what’s popular, creating “on demand” and they are one type of designer.

In those same discussions there are also those who make the extremely valid point,
Long term success is when the Designer chooses to take the risk of making their own kind of music and first producing the design and then worrying about where to sell it.

Everything after that “might” be done by hired guns or by the Designer, but there are a number of separate tasks that “someone has to do” in order for a design to move from mind to the runway or pattern or chart.

Not necessarily in order, but here are a few of those tasks
• Pattern Writing
• Tech Editing
• Pattern Testing
• Model Maker
• Photography
• Illustrations
• Romance Language

and more.

The Goal of this series is to share my perspective and hopefully you will add your comments and ideas. But the place to start, well, perhaps some music will help Something LIke the Mama’s & Papa’s … Make Your Own Kind Of Music

Wheat

P.S. To read more posts in this series, select the category

It Is All Just Business
from the side bar or Search for Designer Resources

Designer Resources is about the functions that enable a designer to offer the consumer the best possible product.

These functions are often done by the Independent Designers themselves or as a service they “hire”

In some cases, the various functions might be done “by the same person” whether that is the designer or someone hired for the task.

What is important to the success of your product is that SOMEONE does each task and we recognize that they are very separate functions.

Not everyone is good at everything – but as my early telecom mentors taught me, Stare & Compare can be a very useful tool – maybe that’s why I have long been a fan of “web pages that suck.com”

You can learn a lot from studying what is “not good”

HTH

Wheat

P.S. To read more posts in this series, select the category

It Is All Just Business
from the side bar or Search for Designer Resources