Flora Patterns Blog

Since the new year, I have been working hard on Dilly the Duck.  As always, I started with the card pattern pieces from my mother's box.  

How do they go together?

This is my first task - always a puzzle.

Then when I get this sorted out, I start to play around with the style and make it my own. In Dilly's case, she started off looking like a seagull and after adjusting the proportions she started to look like a duck. One issue I had was just how to get the beak looking correct. So, I did some research and looked at real duck beaks.  It was a bit of a trial and error but eventually, I got it. The orange beak is a sleeve that is placed over an inner beak which is part of the white body and then hand-stitched on. That way I could get the curved edges, and the nostrils and feel correct.

Once I am happy, I then start to write the pattern. I use Adobe InDesign to set out the pages. I make samples, take photographs, remake samples and retake photographs. I write the instructions and type them into MS Word. One tip here is to use the Read Allowed function it is brilliant. You can hear the errors. I then cut and paste the text into the InDesign document.

Next, I print drafts, read them, and check that the instructions make sense. That can be easier from a paper copy.

Finally, I make a high-quality PDF and post it up to the Etsy shop. Along with some final photographs and a video.

I am delighted with Dilly, and I think I will convert the felt kit into a sewing pattern soon.