Time for more blogging on things I sewed in this past year. Back in August I taught an online class called "The Fitted Dress". As I was making video content for this class I realized that a simple dress can have a lot more content than I had ever thought about. Creating even and crisp necklines, lining a sleeveless garment, invisible zippers, smooth princess seams etc. So this pattern gave me a lot of opportunity to show various techniques I use on lined dresses. Plus I have had this pattern for ages and always wanted to sew it. Don't be surprised if I make another version next summer, I think in a dark denim with topstitching to highlight the seaming it would look really interesting and be a summer wardrobe winner.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Vogue 8997 dress, two versions
Monday, November 11, 2024
Chore Jacket: Burda 03/2023 # 104
This week I have some time to catch up on the blog so here is the first of what I hope will be a few posts on things I made these last few months. Although not in the order that I sewed them. It was a great summer with a few detours for some life issues that are resolved and also a fantastic trip to Italy in October. Now it's fall, my absolute least favorite time of year (*reasons I will detail at the bottom of this post :) but I did make this cotton jacket in the summer and now it's finally time to wear it.
Also I'm teaching a class next weekend at Hello Stitch Studio to make a Chore Coat or Jacket so I think this pattern qualifies.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Sewn from Stash: Denim Skirt
Lately I have been trying to use up fabrics that are in my stash, so recently I noticed this remnant of dark denim that I bought at Stone Mountain Fabrics. They have a small remnant shelf and I often find something interesting there so I check first when I arrive at the store. This is a dark denim with gold sparkles, a 1 yard remnant, so initially I bought it with the thought to make a tank style dress. But I don't need any more summer dresses so a denim skirt is way more useful in my wardrobe.
By the way - putting it here at the top of this post. I have a new online class starting next week, on Tues. July 9, Fitted Dress Techniques. You can register at that link or see more details. I'll be talking about some bodice pattern adjustments, linings, invisible zippers, lots of ways that I sew in a different order than the pattern instructions, fitting as you sew, facings, necklines, sewing a clean finished sleeveless dress, and whatever else occurs to me as the weeks go.
OK back to denim skirts.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Remnants and Ruffles, a Summer Top
Recently I was rummaging through my fabric stash and came across a few small pieces that needed to get off the shelf and into my sewing machine. Whenever I go to Stone Mountain Fabrics in Berkeley my first stop is the remnant shelf. I found this rayon challis there last summer, I think it was labeled as 7/8 yard so I looked around my patterns to find something that didn't need much fabric.
Friday, March 29, 2024
Purple Pants - two patterns, Leisl + Co Peckham and VikiSews Edna
Did I need two pairs of purple pants? Or any purple pants at all? Not really, But I had some purple fabric in my stash and decided to work out a new pants pattern, the Leisl + Co. Peckham pants. With a number of changes I'm fairly satisfied with how they turned out - although the elastic waistband which is a feature of this pattern is what I actually eliminated in my version.
- Raised the waist all around about 3/4"
- eliminated the elastic waistband
- added a seam in the waistband at center back.
- shaved off about 1/2" on the upper side edge of each back piece
- took in the center back about 1" after waistband was attached.
- due to my uneven hips, lowered the waistband about 1/2" on the right side tapering back to center front and center back.
- 1/2" seam allowances. Just my personal preference but I hate these, I am so used to 5/8" so I have to concentrate when I sew any other seam allowance.
- Elastic insets in waistband. In theory it sounded good but when I sewed up a test version they were just very bunchy and the waist was too big and needed a lot of adjustment.
- Zipper fly method - I prefer to use a cut on fly for trousers, reinforced with interfacing, it just comes out much better than sewing on a lot of fly pieces that add bulk. I changed it to a cut on fly.
- this has a shaped waistband and I lie that better, but I did create a seam in the center back waistband so I can fit that area.
- added seams in the waistband at the side seams, for additional fitting.
- I might have raised the waist in the back about 1".I can't recall but I think so as most pants are dip down at the back waist on me.
- printed it as a copy shop size file which has the seam allowances as 3/8" and it is easy to change that to 5/8" which just makes it easier for me to sew.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Cloning Ready to wear, copying an interesting top
Last year my friend Heather bought a top from Universal Standard which was really perfect for office wear and fit well. I think it came in only two colors so she bought both. One day she showed it to me and said she wished it came in other colors, and actually in different fabric. I took a look and said I thought I could make a pattern from the existing top - without taking it apart. So I did!
Before I forget - we just scheduled a Garment Copy Class with Hello Stitch on Sat. April 13. I haven't done this class in a while and it was really popular back in the day so I'm glad we found a spot on the calendar.