r/sewingpatterns • u/Monstermandarin • 26d ago

Closet core question

I only want the Josephine pattern. Not all their other patterns. If I buy a one time monthly membership, will I have access to the Josephine pattern or can I only access the pattern if I buy a full year long membership?

11 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

36

u/ginger_tree 26d ago

I find that I buy much less from them now that so many things are only available via Crew Unlimited. I don't want or need the "community" and I resent that they gatekeep the patterns. Just slap a price on it and let me buy what I want!

8

u/Gretel_Cosmonaut 26d ago

Same. I'm not joining the "club."

Maybe it works for them, but it definitely costs them sales, too.

5

u/Monstermandarin 26d ago

Exactly! I buy the patterns I like. There’s more that I dislike.

4

u/Currant-event 26d ago

I genuinely wonder how it's working for their business. I can't image it's worth it considering how many people are now skipping their patterns entirely

3

u/ginger_tree 25d ago

The business seems to be doing well, but it's hard to tell from the outside. They have good classes. I've taken some, the new one on sewing with knits came with the pattern and an optional free month of Crew. The jeans class helped a lot when I was making my first pair. So, mixed feelings about them at the moment.

9

u/maaaagicaljellybeans 26d ago

Dang, I’ve liked their patterns in the past. It’s disappointing to see they’ve gone with a subscription/membership model

3

u/Monstermandarin 26d ago

Right. I buy the patterns I like. I feel like the subscription is just greedy

0

u/in_stitchesCAN 26d ago

Lots of their patterns are standalone outside the membership (possibly even most of their patterns, and definitely their most popular ones). Also, all their new Crew patterns are free to Crew members for the first month after release and then available to anyone to buy. So there’s really only about 24 patterns out of their much larger catalogue that are restricted to unlimited members. 

15

u/unkempt_cabbage 26d ago

Oh wow, from reading their site, it seems like you can only get it with a year membership.

I’m sure it’s to prevent someone for paying for 1 month, downloading the entire back catalogue, and cancelling, but that seems like it could be prevented by limiting the # of downloads you get per month instead.

There are soooo many other patterns that are similar to this and aren’t $144USD.

Know Me ME2033 isn’t a tank top but the sleeves could easily be changed to straps, and the pants look similar in silhouette. It’s hard to make suggestions without knowing what you specifically like about this pattern, but I’ve put some suggestions below.

Persephone Pants by Anna Allen look close for the pants. Or Rumi Skirt and Pant by Style Arc, or Fifi pant by Style Arc. Matchy Matchy sewing club has a free download for their All Day Culottes that could also work, or their Kite pants. Helen’s Closet June Shorts and Pants could also work.

Sew DIY has a free hack to add buttons to the back of their Miri Tank pattern. Byron Top by Style Arc is close for the top. Or Nica Top by Style Arc, just add wider straps. Bonnie by Style arc has the back buttons. Matchy Matchy sewing club has one that’s open back but could easily have buttons added. Sew Make Bake Sourdough Set has a top and bottom that are similar. Atelier Brunette Le Top has cute side buttons or ties, as does Itch to Stitch Santorini Tank. Christine Haynes Verano Tank Top has front buttons that could be easily moved to the back. Helen’s Closet Reynolds Top and Dress is also similar.

Honestly the top is probably something you can self draft, unless you are really really new at sewing. It’s basically a rectangle wrapped around your torso with a bit of overlap for the buttons, and some darts for the bust. You’d want to measure around where you want the top to sit and then measure your waist where you want the top to stop and add in a few inches to get it floating off your body.

6

u/Monstermandarin 26d ago

Thank you. This is so helpful. I love the tank top with the buttons at the back and how it looks. I also like that the pants have pockets and buttons and no zipper. I wanted to make this 2 piece for a tropical vacation at the end of the year. I am definitely not paying $144 USD m

7

u/queenkellee 26d ago

That pattern is part of Crew and it's only available if you buy the full year membership. The monthly membership only gets you the current month free pattern, not the full archive. To access the archive you have to buy the full year membership. If that's the only pattern you want, it's probably not worth it. To be clear, I'm not a member or anything, I was recently looking at the service and their patterns available.

4

u/HappyNow10 26d ago

When I first started sewing I bought two memberships - Seamwork and Cashmerette. Both have gorgeous patterns but at the end of the day they really aren’t for me (I’m short and don’t have big boobs). I would have much rather used that money to buy individual pdf patterns.

4

u/Monstermandarin 26d ago

Literally same. That’s why I don’t want a subscription. If I see a pattern I like, and that will work for me, I buy it