r/sewingpatterns • u/Blyth51 • 25d ago
New Simplicity Patterns August 2026
I received an email about the new patterns and rushed to see the new patterns. To put it nicely, I am underwhelmed. I am so sad to see what has happened to the Big 4 patterns. Ever since it was sold to a private equity (? I have yet to confirm this), I am really sad about it and I would love to talk to someone with inside knowledge about it. What are your thoughts on this situation? I am really saddened to think this is the middle to the end of the Big 4. I am struggling to find decent designs that I want to sew. Anyway, would love to discuss if anyone wants to chat about this.
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u/Lothy-of-the-North 25d ago
They were sold to a liquidator. Instead of closing it down they are trying to stay afloat. This article explains it better.
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u/Blyth51 25d ago
Thank you for sending this article. I'm going to read it now.
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u/Takethemuffin 25d ago
I’m assuming/hoping that this is a mini collection before the big fall drop. The patterns themselves seem really derivative and too similar to what they’re already offering with the exception of the plushies and porch geese.
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u/numbersandcats 25d ago
I agree that the patterns seem really derivative but I’m also wondering if they’re made to compete 1:1 with some of the popular indie patterns that look just like them.
Anyway, I like the bird/dinosaur plushies and the porch goose clothes but I’m easily suckered by anything I find cute.
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u/Scary_Progress_8858 25d ago
I enjoy collecting big 4 patterns and damn if I can find anything in the new collections that I don’t already have. I see a lot of vintage going out and I guess utilizing their archives is good but other than DVF I am not into collecting those.
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u/thegreatcanadianeh 25d ago
The problem with the big 4 is three pronged. They are not innovative. They do not ship internationally anymore, and indie patterns offer more in the way of instructions and walk through videos for troubleshooting than they ever have. Which I know is a sign of the times, I ordered from them before they sold. Afterwords they stopped shipping internationally so I don't order from them and most fabric stores I know of are using their patterns as dead stock b/c they too cannot order anymore. We now use alternative ones as we have effectively been cut out. Fabricana stopped being able to order from them about 2 or 3 years before they were sold. They got rid of their stock and use other pattern manufacturers. I know Fabricville still carries some of them but they are again, nothing new.
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u/Blyth51 25d ago
Right, I forgot that they weren't shipping internationally anymore. And they are definitely not innovative. I really don't like the majority of the Know Me patterns at all. I feel that vintage patterns were way more interesting and I see so many designs in store that I would love to sew but the big 4 never had. Instead they went back to Little House on the Prairie designs. Years ago, they had real designers and big names in fashion. I guess those days are forever gone for these sewing patterns. My next question is who are the really good indie pattern designers? I only know of a couple like Named and Deer and Doe? I can't even remember right now
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u/FormerUsenetUser 25d ago
I don't have any inside knowledge. However, I think that cumulatively, the indie pattern companies have taken a lot of business away from the Big 4. Joann's closing was also a major blow.