Hello readers!
We’re excited to announce that today is the start of Curvy Simplicity Week at the Curvy Sewing Collective! Simplicity approached us and asked if we’d like to sew and share a few of their plus-size patterns with our readers. In addition to a focus on Simplicity pattern reviews this week, we will also have a behind-the-scenes look at Simplicity as well as a pattern giveaway at the end of the week.
Simplicity has also provided our readers with a 20% off discount for their entire site. If you follow the link below, an automatic discount will be take a discount off on their site.
Simplicity 20% reader discount
Curvy Simplicity Week Posts
Kate says
Yay! I almost exclusively sew with big4 patterns because it’s more economical for me.
Simplicity and New Look are two of my favourites! (The last ten garments I’ve made have been from one of those two companies).
I’m excited to see behind the scenes and also which plus size patterns the Collective will be making this month!
fat_lady says
I am sorry to say that this is very disappointing timing, and if Simplicity has anything to do with the timing of this ‘week’, it is disingenuous, to say the least, on their part.
I am in the UK, as I am sure are a significant number of your readers, and there are readers elsewhere in Europe too..
Probably the US editors of CSC are unaware that there are just one or two specific short periods each year when all Simplicity patterns are on sale – on-line and in bricks-and-mortar shops, and from Simplicity UK – at 40 or 50% off the regular price in the UK. This is co-ordinated nationwide – and one of these periods ended just two days ago.
For the next 6 months we can only buy Simplicity patterns at full price. Elsewhere in Europe, Simplicity patterns are rarely, if ever, ever available at reduced prices, and are usually even more expensive than full UK price, so many European sewers who want Simplicity patterns will order them during sale periods from retailers in the UK, from where postage charges are reasonable and no further charges are incurred.
A 20% discount to a US site is worthless given exchange rates, postage costs, VAT and customs fees. How about Simplicity offering a discount on the Simplicity UK site so that those of us in Europe can take advantage of it? Otherwise we will all just stick with Burda, Knipmode, La Mia Boutique Taglie Forti, Lekala and other European pattern companies, which are cheaper, even at full price, and often more fashion-forward.
Jessica says
I just wanted to say Simplicity did not pick the timing of this week, so I’m sorry if it seems like poor timing for readers in the UK. Certainly not on purpose.
fat_lady says
Thanks for your response. The timing of the sales would be something to bear in mind if you ever do another ‘week’ involving one of the Big 4 in the future, and if you value your European readers/members/contributors.
Jessica says
I totally understand the frustration! Hopefully the editors will keep your comment in mind for future weeks. From what I understand CSC did not have a say in what was offered, but it is always good to remind them there is an international audience.
Autumn says
Any chance of seeing some pull on pants? I sincerely hope so. I’m very curious to see how their pants patterns compare to Indie patterns.
Arlian says
This is a really good idea and I’m looking forward to seeing the results. The big pattern company patterns are often more accessible for people than indie patterns that need printing at home.
It would have been even nicer had the link been international, buying from the USA is prohibitive thanks to import charges in the UK.
Lorraine says
I’m looking forward to this! Thank you CSC!