When Is the Best Time to Add Hem and Seam Allowance

[Denise]

We had a few people ask about when is the best time to add Hem and Seam Allowance (HSA).  Here is what one of our Seam Team Members (Gayle) has to say:


After you've opened your pattern you can do Hem & Seam Allowances (HSA) at any time, but I usually do it after I've finished my designing.

To apply HSA you want to go to Utilities on the tool bar and open the Hem/Seam Allowance Coordinator  (HSAC).  The HSAM - Hem and Seam Allowance Manager in the Windows menu is something different and I'm not going to confuse things by explaining it here.

The HSAC will show you only the HSA that apply to that particular pattern.

Once you've clicked the Apply HSA Values ... then open the print layout.

You should see HSA in both Print Layout and Print Preview now.

IF you open the print layout before doing the step in utilities, you won't see the HSA, even after going back and completing that step.  You'll need to close the Print Layout and reopen it after you've applied the HSA.

You'll want to save the pattern at some point but definitely before completely closing it.  The HSA will be there the next time you open the pattern and you will only use the HSAC if you want to make changes.