Why Is This Pattern Out Of Print? An explanation...

July 15, 2022 16 Comments

In a perfect world you could just click and purchase ANY Folkwear pattern anytime you want. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. We get questions all the time about older Folkwear patterns that are not currently in print. We have about 20 to 25 patterns that we don't offer in our shop and are no longer in print. 

We know many of our older patterns are hot items at estate sales and antique stores and eBay. If we could, we’d have every pattern available in every size and every version. We’d also have perfectly clean, well-stocked sewing studios where little elves brought us tea and cookies every afternoon, but that’s a whole different fantasy. 

So, why don’t we make every pattern that Folkwear has ever published available right now? The reason for each pattern is different, and some patterns have multiple reasons we are not yet bringing them back.  Here's a little bit about the current process and difficulties of printing because sometimes that is relevant also. Some reasons we don't have a pattern in print right now: 

1. We have to bring back patterns that will sell well now. Just because you love it for 25cents at an estate sale, does not  mean it would sell now, or even sold well back in the day. Telling us that you love a pattern you purchased for 75% off at a fabric store that was going out of business in 1993 is not a great selling point for that pattern today.  If a pattern is currently out of print, it probably did not get reprinted because it was a slow selling pattern and it has to make economic sense to re-print (printing patterns is expensive and they need to sell if the company is going to sink lots of money into it). 
2. We have to bring back patterns sized properly. Many of our older patterns have sizing issues that we are working to address before offering them again. Either they are sized in a very small range or the sizing is inconsistent with our other patterns. Patterns from the 1980s were sized with Folkwear's old grade numeric grade rule and often just went to size 16 (which is our current size Medium).  As we strive to make our patterns more size inclusive, this means patterns must be properly resized.
3. We have to bring back patterns we have the rights to sell. We may not still have the licensing or production rights to the patterns. Many years ago Folkwear collaborated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a series of patterns.  We cannot bring those patterns back exactly as they were because of licensing agreements.  Similar to this reasoning, but also very different, there are certain patterns we will not bring back because the cultural context is would make it a bit unethical to bring back (for instance the Seminole Jacket which those outside of the Seminole people are discouraged to wear). 
4. We have to bring back patterns as we can afford it. There is a cost to making older patterns available. Many of our patterns date from a time when PDF meant Pretty Darn Funny.  Most of our older patterns are not digitized and have to be re-created digitally if we are going to print them or re-size them or make them available for customers to print and use (as a PDF pattern).  Making those files available to you by digitizing them, formatting, re-sizing (as needed), etc. is expensive, and as a small business we have to prioritize. 

What should you do if there is an out-of-print Folkwear pattern that you would love for us to reissue? Well, the first thing is to let us know by adding the pattern number to our "Wish List". We are always looking for input and letting us know the patterns you are seeking can help us make decisions about which patterns to bring back!

Tell us which patterns you are looking for right here. We love hearing from you and learning what you want to sew (and how you sew).  

10 Responses

Leave a comment

Also in News