Blog Anniversary Giveway and another project preview

Where did February go? Flew past me and I am fine with that, it means we are that much closer to summer. But I did miss my blog anniversary. Three years of writing and reading, making new friends and learning so much from everyone in sewing cyberspace.

To celebrate this I am offering a small giveaway to readers. There have been slim pickings lately at garage sales and thrift shops but I did find this Simplicity sewing book which is dated 1965. Don't be put off by their insistence on the "Simplicity Unit System of Sewing". Which I can go on the record and say I don't agree with - and for the most part they are still doing it in today's patterns. Boiling it down to essentials, they sew the complete top half and bottom half, attach those 2 portions and put the zipper in last. So ignore that and use this book for all the other great information it holds. In less than 200 pages they cover fit, seam trimming (near and dear to my heart, you know) sleeves, collars, lapels, bound buttonholes, pattern alteration, special fabrics, zippers and on and on.

I don't know about you but I find books that have very simple black and white drawings to illustrate techniques are actually easier to comprehend. The current style of sewing books with lovely photography is beautiful but I can focus in on a small illustration and really see what they are showing. Here is an example for sleeves, on one page they show how to create ease, stitch inside the sleeve and how to press and trim. Although they do refer to this as a "regulation" sleeve which sounds very stern. This is not meant to be a critique of newer sewing books - they are all useful and I am a big fan of the Singer sewing series which is filled with photos.  I just got the BurdaStyle book from my local library and plan to make one of the items in that and I also recommend the Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques by Linda Maynard. 

Also included in this drawing are a yellow Chaco pen-style chalk liner and a metal seam gauge. Both are invaluable tools in my sewing inventory and I couldn't be without them. 

So leave a comment to be in the drawing on March 15 for this little collection of sewing toolbox treats. (international is OK)

After my incredibly productive streak last October through December I have been blogging less but sewing more. I did mention in a previous blog entry that I wanted to some posts on plus size sewing and I plan to get to that very soon. As it happens I have been doing a lot of custom sewing for the client that started me on this quest of flattering fit for any size. I am just about finished making a wool coat for her, somewhat based on the J.Crew Lady Day coat from this winter's catalog. Here is a look at the 60% finished coat.  I started with a Burda pattern but went very far afield from that design. The single sleeve is basted on right now, I am waiting for a fitting session this afternoon but I am pretty darn happy with how it is looking right now.  You can see all my tailor's tacks, and the many different color outlines of possible seam positions. I don't pull out all those threads until I get very near the finish line. By the way, the fabric is J.Crew wool that was a serendipitous find at Britex. 

So it is back to sewing, as you can imagine I am ready to finish this project and move on to something new. (I always feel that way while working on a big project, I get to the 70% mark and want it to be done!)  

Happy sewing and thanks for reading and all your great comments. They are appreciated.

Beth 

By the way, I changed my blog setting to eliminate anonymous coments, too many spam comments sneaking through. If you are not able to comment just send me an email (address available when you click on my profile)

Today's SunnyGal garden photo, not in my garden. Walking in my neighborhood I passed by this flowering tree, and the masses of pink blooms caught my eye. Spring is here!