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| Decision field | Open accessHandweavers Guild of America ResourcesGlobalRemove | Free downloadAAFA Restricted Substance ListGlobalRemove | Free accountThreadloop Sewing Pattern DatabaseGlobalRemove | Open accessControlled Tech Pack OrientationGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Learn techniques | Check standards | Find patterns & fit | Source production |
| Area | Techniques & repair | Standards | Patterns & fit | Production |
| Best for | Finding a weaving, spinning, or dyeing community | Surveying finished-product chemical regulations | Searching current and out-of-print sewing patterns | Understanding what a tech pack must control before using a template or releasing work |
| Know before using | Coverage reflects affiliated guilds, submitted events, and participating professionals rather than every regional option. HGA states that its paid professional listings are supplied and updated by the professional and are not HGA endorsements. Confirm current contact details, teaching format, accessibility, price, skill level, and safeguarding or insurance needs directly. | AAFA provides the list for information only and says it is voluntary, may contain omissions or inaccuracies, and is not legal advice. A global most-restrictive value is not a complete market or product determination. Verify the current controlling law, jurisdiction, product and component scope, exemptions, effective dates, test method, sampling plan, brand requirements, manufacturing-input controls, and other safety rules. | Community members add and quality-control the records, so confirm sizing, measurements, fabric suggestions, format, availability, errata, license, and purchase terms with the designer or publisher. Adding an entry to a stash does not provide the pattern files. Saved searches and private PDF storage are paid Plus features, and a listing or review does not establish pattern accuracy or fit. | An orientation rather than a completed product record; it does not supply a universal format, licensed standard content, measurements, tolerances, construction settings, labels, approvals, compliance conclusion, or product-release authority. |
| Practical access | ||||
| For | Makers | Apparel brands | Makers | Apparel brands |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | Global | Global | Global |
| Access | Open access | Free download | Free account | Open access |
| Format | Directory | Reference | Community | Stitch Authority |
| Source type | Industry organization | Industry organization | Community database | Stitch Authority |
| Source and review | ||||
| What the source establishes | The Handweavers Guild of America's current resources page links a searchable affiliate-guild directory, a paid professional-member directory and fiber-art resource guide, book reviews, a public event calendar, scholarships, a quarterly member magazine, and program and store information for weaving, spinning, dyeing, and related fiber arts. | AAFA published RSL Version 26 on January 28, 2026 in searchable spreadsheet and PDF formats. The association describes it as a regularly updated reference to laws and regulations restricting chemicals in finished apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles. Its methodology records final-product or component limits, jurisdiction, test method, and comments, and excludes factory-process restrictions and non-chemical product-safety rules. | Threadloop's official guide describes an independent, fully crowdsourced database covering available and out-of-print sewing patterns. Its search supports pattern type, fabric type, age group, body type, cup size, level, format, file features, language, measurements, availability, and other filters; members can also track a stash, wishlist, projects, reviews, and discussions. | The guide cites current ISO sources for documented-information, garment-measurement, stitch, and seam boundaries plus current U.S. FTC textile and care-labeling guidance; it explicitly separates those authorities from product-specific technical and market decisions. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 17, 2027 | Oct 19, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | Jul 16, 2027 |
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