A Look at What's Coming...

In only a few more months, Pollywoggles will have its 4th anniversary.  Four years has flown by, and I can see those years clearly when I look back at my patterns and the faces of my own children and those of the many little ones on my testing team that are not quite so little any more!  I have been continually learning new things over those years, both on the technical side of designing as well as with growing my vision for who I want to be in the pattern design world.  This year, 2018, I have big plans and today I'd like to share some of those plans with you!

Turning my design ideas into something others can create with has been something I find both challenging and rewarding.  It's exciting being a small part of what is truly a global sewing community.  While I sit at my desk and sewing table, the knowledge that people far from where I am will download and make one of my designs is amazing to me.  I often find myself checking where someone is from when a new order comes through and I love the idea that there are other kids out there wearing things that my own kids inspired. 

As poetic as that is though... what does it have to do with my "big plans"?

Well first of all, you might remember a cozy fleece favorite called Autumn Grace.  This pattern was released in 2015, followed by an Expansion Pack a few months later offering several new options. 

THIS pattern is the first of many that will be coming to you this year with all NEW features... including a new name!

Let's start with the new name... Muskoka! 

I know your next question... what is a "Muskoka"?  Well it isn't a thing, it is a place.  It is area in Ontario, Canada also known as "cottage country".   I know this area and it makes me think of campfires, kayaking on a misty lake, playing board games by the fireplace, and sitting at the end of a dock just enjoying being by the water.  Our family lives in an area very much like this, and that's what I feel is captured with this cozy and versatile pattern. 

Muskoka is only the first of the new names to come, as all my previously released patterns are going to be updated and re-released with a new size range, new features, and new names.  Through these names, I hope to share with you some special places in rural Canada that mean something to me.  Places I have visited or want to visit, and places that are special and unique. I hope that in this way you will also enjoy getting to know some of this country that I call home.

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Which brings us to the next of the exciting things that will be happening this year, the new features...

This past month, my testing team and I have been hard at work putting this pattern through a whole new round of checks to improve it in several ways.  This pattern will be the first to showcase several new features, and it will be re-releasing very soon!

• I have added SIZE 12 to the pattern, extending it to fit a little longer for those kids who just won't stop growing (mine certainly haven't!).
  
• I have adjusted the fit in a few places, to make it even better.  Little tweaks here that make something that was good, into something that is GREAT! 
• MANY new features to the instruction layout... new title page with important details found at a glance (and that would make a great thumbnail or cover page in your folders), Separate body and finished garment measurements for helping you choose the best size, Plus, the addition of a glossary of relevant sewing terms and a short summary of the steps for those who have sewn the pattern before and just need a refresher.
• New features have been added to the pattern pieces as well, including an all new Front Bodice Template (and clear instructions for how to use it).  New colored lines for optimal printing in black ink.  Clearly marked sizes on the pattern lines themselves to make following along even easier.  Seam allowance marked on relevant pattern pieces.  And the addition of a print assembly layout on the pattern pages themselves.

There will also still be many of the features that you've already come to know and love about my patterns, including easy assembly, careful line placement, clearly marked grain and/or stretch lines, printing guides so you know exactly which pages are needed for your size, clickable table of contents and links, line drawings and modeled photos, and crystal clear step-by-step instructions. 

The best thing about all of this, is that these are ALL going to be standard with my patterns moving forward!  I plan to update and re-release every one of my favorites, with improvements to the individual patterns as needed and also to add all the new features.

There is one thing that I'm going to be taking away from my patterns, and that is that I will no longer be designing for the 12-24month sizes.  As my own kids get older, I'm finding I am leaning more toward patterns better suited to the 2-12 age range, and I'd like to focus my attention there.  In the updates to come, those sizes will be removed from the pattern for consistency.

Each of my designs are inspired by my children.  The huge pockets on my pants patterns are because you never know what you are going to find in the pockets of my two youngest kids after a day of playing outdoors.  My flannel pajama pattern is designed for my oldest, who is sensitive to how things feel and just wants something comfortable to wear when he is playing with his Lego.  The dress patterns are for my daughter who believes there is no reason not to dress-up for just about anything... even if it is a tea party in the woods.  My patterns are for living in, no matter the season... and no matter where you live.

I'm looking forward to spending the time this year to really bring all my patterns to a new and even higher standard, and I hope that you absolutely LOVE what you see when you download a new 2018 Pollywoggles pattern.  Keep watching for the re-release of Muskoka in the very near future!

All who have purchased a specific pattern from me in the past, will be sent the update at no additional cost.  Please watch your emails and my Group for announcements when this first updated pattern (and those to come) are re-released!

I hope that I can continue to make quality patterns for real kids to wear for a number of years to come, and that everyone who purchases a Pollywoggles pattern will be pleased with what they receive and feel good about supporting this small indie designer living and creating in small-town Canada.

Heidi