Introducing Digital Pattern Library

Launch the blog has been on my to-do list for weeks, alongside a catalogue of tasks that keep evading me. The irony is I’m currently reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and yet here I am struggling to get started on this corner of the internet and all it simply takes is a “Hello!”

Photo: Together and Sunspell | Wearing the Belted Sweater in size 8.

Hello!

I’m Alexandra, the founder of Digital Pattern Library and lover of bad jokes. I’m happy with a beer in my hand and a book in my bag with a sewing project on the table. That sounds like I endorse drunk creativity and of course I don’t, within the parameters of 9-5.

I originally launched Digital Pattern Library under my streetwear company Xandra Jane as a sustainable approach to running a fashion brand. Reconnecting my customer to their clothes has become a borderline obsession of mine since The True Cost enlightened my fuzzy fashion-graduate perspective to the reality of the industry I was jumping into.

Having used sewing patterns as a child and remembering the perplexed brow fixed to my forehead as I struggled to de-code the instructions, my internal compass has pointed me towards providing achievable designs for the modern sewist. Of course design is subjective, but I feel there’s a severe lack of contemporary fashion within the sewing pattern industry and combined with my passion to have the world understand the craft that goes into garment construction, I jumped feet first into launching this website you’re reading today.

Now, granted, the word library may initially be misleading given our debut Belted Sweater is the only star right now, but rest assured an array of contemporary clothing is coming your way. It would be a great time to insert a disclaimer here and just highlight that behind the scenes it’s me that does everything. From designing the garment, to pattern cutting it, toiling, sampling, digitising, grading, illustrating and copy writing the instructions; oh and did I mention I throw in a fashion file pack for every pattern?

So please sign up to our mailing list for first access to the many upcoming launches and content, I promise I won’t spam your inbox because I’ve got too much on my to-do list to even contend with endless newsletters. Therefore you know it’s only the important stuff that gets sent out!

I’ve already met an incredible community over on Instagram and must say the sewing industry is a friendly world apart from the fashion industry, but I love them both none-the-less and feel so fortunate to be able to share my journey through it all with you.

If you have any requests or design suggestions don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments below or just a friendly hello to introduce yourself. Thank you for stopping by and I can’t wait to see what you download next to create for your wardrobe!