Free beginner plushmaking guide
3 years ago
I made a 27 page beginner plushmaking guide. Feel free to check it out -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....it?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....it?usp=sharing
I always feel super embarrassed and ashamed when people ask me for sewing/pattern advice, or want to buy my patterns, as I don't really have any knowledge about it, and never learnt any techniques; I just f***up a lot and tweak it lol.
Could I share this on a journal please?
One thing I do want to say: as someone with a Master's degree in computer science, I encourage everyone I meet who's looking into getting into plush to NOT buy ANY of the proprietary commercial embroidery software! I don't like to use harsh words like "scam," but being totally frank here, it's a scam - and often a pretty egregious one, at the hundreds to thousands of dollars price point they like to slap on it. I've tried out the free trials of some of them, and they don't feel particularly well-written or high-effort, and while they're good, perfectly serviceable choices in terms of functionality, I don't see a thousand dollars plus of quality and features. Maybe they justify this price by reasoning that it's "productivity" software that pays for itself by returning your investment once you start selling embroidered products created with it, I don't know. If so, I don't feel that's very honest, since I think these companies know that the majority of copies of the software get sold to hobbyists, not commercial outfits. I also think they charge what they do simply because they realize they can - many people getting into embroidery aren't simultaneously computer savvy enough to even know to seek out and use freeware alternative options to commercial packages, so they think forking over the big $$$ is the only way to pursue embroidery, and I really can't support or condone charging people such ridiculous prices that essentially constitute nothing more than a greedy corporate "entry fee" to a hobby.
I use all open source software (specifically, the Inkscape vector art program, with the Inkstitch extension for embroidery) and while it has more stuff you have to learn a bit about how to control yourself and less stuff that's just done "automatically" than the commercial programs do, I've found it to be capable of doing everything I've needed to, without paying $1000+ just to get a foot in the door.
...Sorry, that was long and ranty. But I really feel like the software situation in machine embroidery is not great for people looking to get in. I encourage everyone to learn to use Inkstitch as a free, capable alternative, and to support the Inkstitch project and help it grow into an even better piece of embroidery software if you can. Everyone wins when good free software options are competitive with commercial offerings.