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Introducing FREE Adobe CC Tutorials for Sewing Bloggers

By on October 31, 2013 in Adobe CC Tutorials

introducing-orange

Adobe Creative Cloud video tutorials on my blog! Specifically tailored to sewing bloggers! FREE!

Have you ever wondered how to resize a bunch of photos at once in Photoshop? Or how to set up a template in InDesign so you can quickly create PDF sewing patterns to sell? Or maybe how to create a grab-a-button banner to promote your blog? What about grading sewing patterns? Well, you’re in LUCK!

For the past few weeks (since Sewing Summit), I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what I can offer the sewing/crafting/knitting blogosphere that hasn’t been done before. I mean, who hasn’t already done an insert-an-invisible-zipper tutorial? (Right?!) The other night, it came to me. I realized that my greatest strength (and most original offering) is in the more technical side of things - that is, grading sewing patterns, tinkering with my site CSS, drawing schematics and diagrams - that sort of thing. And those just happen to be the things that most sewing bloggers seem to struggle with the most (but want to learn, nonetheless)!

So here I am. I have no idea where this is going to lead, but my first thought is to publish these weekly or maybe a couple times a week. Here are just a few of the topics I’ve brainstormed so far:

  • Setting up preferences in Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop
  • Batch editing photos in Photoshop
  • Setting up actions in Photoshop
  • Digitizing sewing patterns in Illustrator
  • Setting up master pages to make sewing pattern instructions in InDesign
  • Grading between sizes in Illustrator
  • YOUR IDEA HERE

See that last bullet point? I need your help! Please leave me a comment 1) cheering my new idea on - I don’t want to talk to an empty room! and 2) telling me what you’d like to learn. I’m going to try to start with the basics and get more advanced as I go.

With that, I created a sort of “teaser” tutorial today to show you the sort of things we’ll be learning. In this video, I show you a simplified version of how you can quickly and VERY EASILY grade a sewing pattern between sizes. So, if you have a size 2T and a size 7 drafted, Illustrator can fill in the sizes 3-6 for you with just a few clicks! I KNOW RIGHT?!!

Please enjoy the video, and leave ANY comments or ideas you have in the comments. And please subscribe via Bloglovin’ so you don’t miss any great tutorials!


Thoughts? Criticisms? Suggestions? Ideas? Speak up!

  • http://sewmakedo.com Kim Kruse

    You are such a genius! Seriously. The tech side of things is definitely your USP (to quote some of the lingo from Sewing Summit). Yes to all the topics you listed, and what about Lightroom? Isn’t it also supposed to be good for batch editing tasks? And is there an easy way to take a photograph of someone in a garment and turn it into a line drawing for the front of a pattern? Can’t wait for the next installment!

    • lauren

      Thank you, Kim! I am excited about it! Lightroom…ha, would you believe I have never used it?! I need to stop being so old school and get with the program. So I will definitely take a look. I usually just use actions. As far as the line drawing goes, the answer is yes, sort of, if you have some skills. I can teach those! :)

  • http://www.sewcountrychick.com justine

    Hi Lauren. I’m totally excited about this! I only know how to grade the old fashioned way and would love to learn how to do PDF patterns without asking my teenage son to help every 10 minutes! Checking to make sure I follow you on Bloglovin’

  • http://www.lbg-studio.com vanessa

    so looking forward to watching the video when i get some quite time!! thank you so much for the tips. btw, i use and love lightroom but acr works exactly the same way.

  • http://craftedbycarrie.com Carrie

    I LOVE this idea! I have Adobe CS from work and while I know how to use Illustrator pretty well to make new figures and whatnot…I’m not very proficient at Photoshop and am terrible at combining and editing pictures. I always tell myself I’ll learn but, lets be honest, I would rather spend that time sewing…so I’d love some lessons!

  • http://www.secondhanddinosaur.blogspot.com Jeifner

    yes please to all of this!

  • http://www.thestitchingscientist.com Remona Gopaul

    Lauren Thank you so much for taking the time to do these tutorials. I am now starting to learn illustrator and I cannot wait to join you. Thanks again.

  • http://www.thelifeofacompulsivecrafter.blogspot.com Mae

    I can’t wait to see the pattern grading tutorials! I have old school adobe illustrator cs3, is it a sufficient program to grade patterns in? I worry that the version is too old but am not very savvy with that sort of thing!
    Thanks!!

    Mae

    • lauren

      Mae - Absolutely. I used to do all my grading in CS2. You should be fine - the process is still pretty close to the same. :)

      • http://www.thelifeofacompulsivecrafter.blogspot.cm Mae

        YAY! I’m watching your first video now and couldn’t be more excited that I can use the programs I have. I actually have CS6 but my computer doesn’t have the OS needed to download it. Then once I went to upgrade my OS i found that I didn’t have the memory to upgrade. AGH!!! lol

        Mae

  • http://quiltypleasuresonline.net Leigh

    Wow what a great idea - and a huge gift to all of us! I’m in - in a big way!! Thanks Lauren!

    • lauren

      You are quite welcome!

  • http://Www.seamssewcool.com Seams Sew Cool

    I just found your website and am looking forward to all you have to offer. I am so excited for all these tutorials. A big Thank you!!!

    • lauren

      You’re welcome!

  • Aafke

    Wow, I’ve been searching for something like this for a long time. I’ve got bits and pieces from everywhere but never dreamed of seeing everything in such detail in one place. You’re a great teacher and a pleasure to listen at. I’m making a whole lot of notes (4 pages already and I’m just starting with 2 dec.) just to let it all sink in, don’t want to miss a thing. Thanks beyond infinity from the Netherlands.

  • Patternmakingfool

    Hi! When will the full grading tutorial be up? I’m anxiously awaiting this one as I do all my grading by hand right now and it’s time consuming!

    • http://www.laurendahl.com/ Lauren Dahl

      Hi there - I’ve actually decided to go full-steam with producing a full course on PDF pattern design! The course will be offered through CourseCraft, and I’m not sure yet on all the details (pricing, release date, etc.). You can sign up for the newsletter though at http://www.patternuniversity.com. The newsletter will be the first line of communication when everything’s done! Thanks for checking out my tutorials. :)

      • Patternmakingfool

        Cool! MellySews has a pattern grading e-course there, too. But hers doesn’t look like it shows you how to do it in illustrator. Can’t wait!

  • Melissa

    Bless you! I have been so wanting to learn all of this. I have been sewing my clothes for almost 30 years. I have so many hand-drawn patterns and I’ve been wanting to put them on some sort of program and grade them to use for my daughter, nieces and granddaughter. I’m excited you are starting with the basics as I’m not as computer savvy as I used to be as there are so many more program options out there now. I’ve wanted to know the best program to use and how to use it, so it sounds like you will show me. I’m so excited for these tutorials. You are so talented, thank you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us!!

  • Charles

    Hi! I just found your blog through your video series. Awesome stuff! But where did the actual tutorial on grading patterns go?
    Anyway, thanks a lot for making these video tutorials!

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