Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Burda 01-2019-109 button front shirt and ultra suede skirt Vogue 1247

It's not often I find fabrics at one of my rummage sale treasure troves which are so well coordinated as these two. I bought these at a sewing guild sale for about $ 8 total and figured they went together so well that I had to give them a try, despite being a bit out of my usual color choices. The green ultra suede was a no-brainer. The minute I touched it I could envision some type of slim fit skirt, and Vogue 1247 leapt to mind. The best skirt pattern ever! Perhaps some exaggeration but it is a really good pattern that looks good in almost any fabric.

The shirt fabric was another story. I had a pattern in a recent Burda in mind and it seemed a good option. While this pattern doesn't have many details the ones that are there are obscured by the print. More photos below on the dress form so you can see the seaming.

Suede skirt and top 4

wool shirt front yoke on form

Wool shirt back yoke on form

If you look very closely at the shoulders you can see that it's a raglan shirt, with a dart at the top of the shoulder for shaping, and the raglan creates a yoke across the back.

I washed and dried the shirt fabric and decided that it might be a wool challis. A fabric I've not sewn with in ages, it's not something you come across in stores very often (ever). Slight editorial comment/rant here - the selection of wools at all stores other than Britex or Mood is really diminished. I suppose people don't as often wear the type of clothes that are usually made of wool and they are quite expensive so if you are making a coat or jacket in a nice wool the investment is pretty high. And then if you are not sure if it's going to turn out as a wearable, well-fitting item...I can see the hesitation. But I love wool in all forms, particularly wool crepe. It's an ideal fabric for dresses although I guess the wash and wear-ness of ponte knits has surpassed wool crepe.

Anyway, back to this pattern

wool shirt front on form

The colors in this print were enough to sell me even thought it's not as bright as things I usually like. There's a border print along one selvedge, which I didn't really know what to do with, not suitable for this pattern so I used it on the sleeves. You can just see the white stripes on each sleeve near the cuff.  I cut the whole thing out on the crossgrain both to use the border and for consistency of the print, which accidentally sort-of matches or at least flows across the front.

Burda shirt raglan yoke tech drawing

Here's the tech drawing so you can see the rounded yoke and raglan sleeve. This shirt has a cut-on facing which made it really quick to sew. And a 💖 for the fact that it was the black pattern lines to trace. I always like a pattern more when I see that it's not the red lines which I find the most difficult to trace.

One more look at the shirt, I'm not sure what the pattern said to do with the sleeve, I think it was elastic at the bottom but I just put in a bias strip cuff slit opening and then button cuffs. I pleated the extra into the cuff as would be on any shirt.


Wool shirt cuff

Onto the skirt - this fabric was really a lucky find. It was a big piece so I used about 1.25 yards on this skirt and then gave the rest to my friend who is @zigzagstitching on IG.

Suede skirt 3

This is maybe the 4th or 5th version of this skirt, I have one in denim which I wear all the time in the summer, and then a white version plus a couple more. On some of them I have omitted the waistband and changed that to a waist facing, but for this one I went back to a waistband as I thought it looked good with the shirt tucked in.


suede skirt on form front

I think this is real ultra suede - or at least a very nice version of faux suede, as it sewed up beautifully and it doesn't have the plastic-y feeling of some faux suedes or leathers. I feels like real suede. Treating it like real suede I didn't sew a hem, just cut it off at the length that I wanted. Which is about 5 inches longer than the Vogue pattern as originally designed. (everyone makes some adjustment on the length!)
Here's the skirt pattern, it's maybe from about 7 years ago? And it calls for you to put bias binding around the inner pocket bags, which I have never done :) and I generally piece them so they are mostly made from lining fabric which means I can cut the skirt out with much less fabric. I made the top once and hated it!

Vogue 1247 skirt and top pattern

Suede skirt back view

Back view on me, the seaming of the front pockets is continued on the back.  Here's the dress from view. I decided to use a regular (not invisible) zipper and put a skirt hook at the waistband for a closure.

suede skirt back on form

For the waistband I cut out a piece about 3 inches wide and then the skirt top measurement plus a few inches for overlap and then just sewed it on. I decided about 1" wide looked nice so I turned it under and then stitched in the ditch to finish it, and trimmed off the excess.

walking foot on suede skirt

Here's a news flash - I actually used my walking foot on this one. This fabric was very pinnable, no problems there. But it was a tiny bit sticky as I sewed and I had the walking foot out since I was making a Tamarack quilted jacket as preparation for teaching the class at Hello Stitch. So I tried it and it was helpful. But I am NOT a walking foot convert at all - only use in very select circumstances. It seems so clunky to me, I can't understand when people say they sew everything with it. and extra noise as compared to the regular foot. But it has some uses.


shirt close up

So that's the scoop on this project. It's kind of nice to make a whole outfit for a change, i.e. a top that goes with a skirt and looks intentional. I have a bad habit of making any separate that strikes my interest, a top, a jacket, a skirt, etc and then figuring out what the heck I will wear with it. I guess that's what makes sewing dresses rather satisfying. In that case you only have to figure out which shoes to wear with it, right?

Up next at Hello Stitch - the month of April is going to be a marathon, we have a LOT of classes scheduled and there are a few spots open in the next session of the Bondi dress class (April 7) and the Lander pants class (April 28). The first 3 Saturdays in April are our Level 1 Sewing (which is full) and then Level 2 Sewing which I think has a couple of spots open. Check the link for all the classes and register soon as they are filling up. I think we will be doing a culottes class sometime in the summer - have to figure out some pattern suggestions for that one. And I'm just about to start another pair of Ash jeans for myself (Jeans making class is June 1 and 8). This version will be the wide leg crop version in a black shimmer denim. It's a risk but I think they will be cute!

Up next on the blog, I have sewn two versions of the Grainline Tamarack jacket, one was a sample for the class and then another version for my mom in a lovely color combo. Currently I'm finished a wool jacket from a Burda magazine pattern that called to me, it needs to get done soon so I can wear it before our hot weather arrives. And then it will be summer dress time !!!

But we have more chilly rain forecast this week so perhaps I'll wear my suede skirt and shirt again soon.

suede skirt 2

Happy spring sewing, Beth

Today's garden photo - a lovely tulip. And suddenly they are all blooming, this morning I took so many photos. Even some striped ones which I forgot all about planting last fall. That's the fun thing about bulbs - they are the nicest surprise just when you need some garden cheer.



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Monday, March 18, 2019

Random Threads # 35: pattern names, backstitching and the search for novelty

Time for another Random Threads post as I have a number of things written down in my notebook, and this time I can read them all. I was careful when jotting things down and tried to make my notes legible to myself, mostly succeeding.

Are you ready for spring sewing? I thought that I could fit in another winter item (truth be told a Burda Easy coat that I've been wanting to make for ages, and I actually have wool coating remnants that are just enough to make a nice color blocked version). But the forecast is sun for the next week or so and spring is just about here, so I will have to put the coat idea away until next fall. That means when there is the first hint of frost I will have a project ready and waiting.

Which means I'm ready to sew for spring and summer. Which despite my love of making coats and jackets summer clothes are by far my favorite to wear. Bring on the warm weather, I ordered two pairs of sandals this morning!

New and Novel: I'm always looking for a new detail in sewing patterns. What do you look for in sewing patterns? My main focus for choosing to make a new sewing pattern is whether or not it has a new-to-me detail. Or some interesting combination of features. Sometimes it's the way the pattern pieces go together, like this jacket. Or a silhouette with an interesting funnel collar detail like this coat. Occasionally I force myself to try a new shape or style with wearable results. I think this is the reason I decided to subscribe to Burda Magazine, as I noticed in each issue along with plenty of repeats they had a good amount of really interesting items, and so far I've found something in each issue that was unique and made me want to trace it out. Granted that I have been sewing a long time and consequently crave something challenging, so complex patterns keep my interest and sew-jo going. Here's a look at a Burda jacket I'm currently making, I had to really puzzle to figure out the pocket construction and that was fun - with a little bit of frustration.

Burda jacket pocket

I can't wait to get the Burda April issue as I saw a dress in there that will be jumping to the top of my spring to-do list. I love the combo of ruffle and the twist at the waist. This one will have to be all about the fabric selection as I've made some wrong choices on things with ruffles in the past.

Burda April pattern

The flip side of this is boredom with a lot of pattern releases that I see around. It kind of amazes me how many knit t-shirt patterns get released by new pattern designers. Like any other product category where there are many of the same product but hundreds of brands, starting with a basic item is a way to develop a relationship with the customer and get them comfortable with your product. But how can you attract customers if your item is the same as so many that already exist? It baffles me. (don't get me started on woven tops. every week there is a new pattern that seems indistinguishable from the previous ones). In any event, I think there are lots of pattern designers that target people who are relatively new to sewing. I will give a shout out to Vogue designer patterns, they often have interesting details or else they include my other favorite feature which is more than one item in a pattern, such as a skirt and top, or dress, top and jacket etc. Pattern Value!

Backstitching  - do you do it?

When I'm teaching sewing classes at Hello Stitch we typically have people who are fairly new to sewing. Which means that in addition to learning about garment construction techniques, fabric and fit, they are also getting familiar with using a sewing machine. The machines at the studio are Janome and they default to a 2.4 stitch length, which is quite short and painful to unpick if necessary. Which is most always necessary when you are a beginner, right? So at the beginning of each class I tell them to bump that stitch length up to 2.8 or 3 and no backstitching. And then I prepare myself for the outcry "what?? no backstitching at the beginning and end?"  Nope. Not necessary in my opinion.

Backstitch example

Here are my reasons.
1) on modern machines with the zig-zag throat plate, that opening where the needle goes down is wider and it is so easy to have the fabric edge pulled in just enough to make a knotty mess or get stuck. It takes a while to get the feel of where to place the fabric edge to be able to backstitch without that happening. I think it is probably second nature for an experienced sewer but it takes a bit of practice and it is really frustrating for new sewers.
2) If you make a mistake (inevitable - we all do) then the backstitching at the beginning - especially if done enthusiastically is a nightmare to unpick. And sometimes shreds the fabric and causes all kinds of delay and frustration.
3) Most seams are crossed by another seam, which in effect locks down the stitching. And often the seam allowances where the backstitching took place is trimmed away. So to my mind it really is not needed. If you are reasonable gentle with the pieces you have sewn, as opposed to wildly tossing them around your sewing space, they will remain stitched together ready for the next step. Plus it makes your sewing just that little bit faster which is always rewarding.

Caveat on the whole backstitching issue - YES there are times when I do it. Certain seams on certain fabrics really do need it, I'm thinking on a lot of denim items, hard wearing fabrics, or things like shorts and pants. Bottoms of zippers, center seams with an opening, etc, all those spots definitely need some reinforcement. So it's useful but not needed on every seam.

Pattern names are perfect for the Instagram age: I mean pattern with a name as opposed to a pattern number. I think the combination of using a name which is hash-tag-able works perfectly in the Instagram age, it does make searching and sharing so easy. For example V9357 or Burda 12-2019-107 don't exactly have the same ring as Dawn Jeans (Megan Nielsen) or Magnolia dress (Deer and Doe). I noticed this especially as I'm always looking now for examples of items sewn from the recent issues of Burda, and rarely does anyone mention on IG what the exact pattern is. They might use the hashtag #Burdastyle but often don't mention the month/year. Which I realize is a minor problem in the scheme of things but it is annoying. In fact I see in comments people have asked what is the pattern. So hey there, sewists who post about their Burda items - mention the magazine issue!
Yeah, this is a futile request. And conversely have you found a pattern appealing except for the name? The word might have an association that does not attract you? Certainly naming of products is a whole field of study in marketing, I just read an article about paint colors and how the name can change the sales numbers if pitched at just the right customer segment (or deter sales if not considered interesting). I'm a pragmatist on this issue, pattern numbers are fine with me and pattern names sometimes are a bit annoying. Maybe that's why I drive a car that has a model number but not a name? Nah, I just chose it in the showroom because I loved the color! (don't get me started on car colors - why are they so drab? so...many...silver and grey...

Ties that show the wrong side of the fabric: I find this bothersome - do you have an opinion? And now I can't recall which pattern I saw recently that had this feature but it looks so unfinished. Some patterns have that warning in the find print "Wrong side will show" and I tend to avoid that as it just never looks quite right. This example below doesn't have that, the tie pattern piece is two pieces sewn together so the wrong side of the fabric doesn't show. I wish I could recall....

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Measuring suits:  Yes, KS_Sews, it was the Zozo suit that I was thinking of when I wrote "measuring suits" in my notebook. And she has a post where she used the suit to get her measurements. It seems like a lot of work in order to get measurements that you could get with just your measuring tape - and I wonder how accurate they really are, or how they compare to having another person measure you. Here's a really interesting article on the Economist website, the writer tried the Zozosuit and ordered clothes, which were a bit of a letdown. By the way he brings up the issue of all those photos of people in their zozosuits floating around and all the data you've provided to the company. Very interesting.

What's next on the calendar at Hello Stitch?  This upcoming weekend is my Sew a Wrap Dress class, a couple of spots still available in that. In April we have plenty on the schedule, including the Learn to Sew Level II which is a three Saturdays dressmaking class that includes a module on fitting a bodice. Still a few spots in that one but I'm sure it will fill up so if you are interested register soon. And we have a Lander pants class, a Bondi dress class (with new option for the Tesutti Coni dress that has sleeves) and many more.  All classes can be found here on the Garment Sewing page of the Hello Stitch website. All the classes have been filling up so if you are interested please register while there is still space available. By the way, we're doing the Ash jeans class again, starting June 1. I'm so impressed with that pattern.  I think I'll start a summer pair in the wide leg crop version.

What have I been working on? I'm actually making a Tamarack jacket for my mom, as she liked the sample I sewed for a recent class. That was fun and so much different than things I usually make. The  ones people made in the class were so cute! I just made a muslin for a blouse for Heather, to sew up in one of the silks we bought at Britex last fall. Here's a peek at the muslin, which I made in some mystery fabric I bought at a rummage sale which test sewing in mind. (grey Tamarack hiding in the photo). I added a bust dart which is a feature I taught the other day in my Adjust the Bust class - even if the pattern fits a bust dart is so useful on a full bust as it add the additional 3-dimensionality that is needed so that the front doesn't ride up. This pattern has shoulder gathers which are pretty but they are hiding a bust dart that is probably insufficient for anyone who is more full busted. I will show details when I blog about this blouse - which may be in the next month or so :)

Test version vogue shirtV1412 Vogue blouse pattern env

Next blog post will be my green ultra suede skirt and a wool challis shirt I made that coincided with St. Patrick's day. Good thing as I have now worn this outfit a few times but it will be put away until next fall - getting way too warm here for that.

Happy Spring sewing - bring it on!
Beth

Today's garden photo, these little grape hyacinths. I put the bulbs in years ago and they come up every year. But they are so tiny as to be hardly noticeable. But cute and such a pretty color.

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Friday, March 8, 2019

Silk charmeuse in pink for SewHappyColor week

Could pink be the happiest color? I saw a hashtag on Instagram for this month that I have no problem participating in, which is #SewHappyColor.  Just about my whole wardrobe is a bright color, as you probably know it's the rare item in a neutral shade that makes into rotation for me.

But this color is in another category. In all the photos it looks so saturated, and probably also due to the type of fabric it has a sheen as well. It was a bit tricky to get photos of the actual color and I'm not sure any of them are exactly how it looks in person. In any case - this shirt is very luxurious to wear and I'm so glad I finished it before our warmer weather arrives. The silk fabric is from Stone Mountain as well as the buttons which match perfectly. I always find fantastic buttons there.


Pink silk shirt 4
Because it is stretch silk charmeuse I decided to do my hidden buttonhole placket which I've done on a lot of silk shirts and blouses. Particularly on stretch silk - the buttonholes are a bit tricky and there's always one that misbehaves. It never fails that it's the top one that shows the most so to circumvent that issue I do the hidden buttonhole placket and hide them all :)


pink silk shirt and collar buttons

I don't put a button on the collar stand, and you may not even have noticed that it was missing.  My shirt my rules! I never button that one up and it's just kind of annoying to do the buttonhole in the silk there so I skip it.

By the way, most all the tutorials and how-to's that I wrote on the original Craftsy blog have been updated onto their new websites, so you can still read them. I have a page here on my blog menu at the top, you can see them all listed and click over to read any.


Hidden buttonhole placket example

This one on the hidden buttonhole placket is one of my best, if I do say so myself :) and here is the link. 

Here's a couple of views of the placket in progress on this silk version.

Pink silk shirt hidden buttonholes 1

pink silk shirt hidden buttonholes 2

For all my button front shirts I use the same pattern which is this dull looking Simplicity pattern. And I've never ever sewn it just as the pattern is designed. I have a couple of different placket variations, and have used it for a popover and a tunic. I think once you have a shirt pattern that fits as you want then it's really fun to change that into other variations. My most recent version using this same pattern is this one in Liberty cotton/silk.  Which I noted in that post was version no. 15 so I guess this silk charmeuse one is the 16th. I think based on how many shirt patterns I haven't bought I can purchase some new dress patterns!

Blue silk blouse pattern S2339

One of the changes I've made on this shirt pattern is to rotate the bust dart into shoulder gathers. I'm not sure that it worked as well on this fabric as it does on cotton but it does avoid the dreaded pointy dart which can happen on satiny fabrics.


Pink silk shirt yoke view


Pink silk shirt 3

Of the various silks I find that stretch silk charmeuse is the most difficult to sew, but the most wonderful to wear. I did machine baste the sleeves in, which I generally do, and found this little boo boo which is super easy to fix and then sew in the sleeves with a regular length stitch and no pins.

Pink silk shirt sleeve fix


Pink silk shirt cuff and buttons

Yeah those buttons could not match any better - and they were just a lucky find on the wall of buttons at Stone Mountain.
Pink silk shirt 2

grey saler jacket 1

And another look at this shirt along with the wool blazer which I wrote about in my previous post. These two items are a match made in wardrobe heaven.

So that's the latest on my silk shirt. Next up are a couple of pieces that I just sewed in a new-to-me color palette. Not as bright as this, I'll say they are jewel-tone adjacent. And just right for the next holiday on the calendar, St. Patrick's Day.

Sewing class updates at Hello Stitch Studio: next week we have a rare weekday class on the schedule, which is my Adjust the Bust class on Thursday Mar. 14.  There are a couple of spots still available and you can sign up for just the morning session, which is hands-on lessons where you will learn to do the various adjustments, or include the optional afternoon session is where we adjust the specific pattern of your choice.
Looking forward to the rest of March we have the Sew a Wrap Dress class on Mar. 23. Pick any wrap dress and I will help you with fitting before you cut out your fabric.
April is going to be really busy - we have our Level I: Learn to Sew series again as the last two sessions were sold out, so that starts on Sat. Apr 6. The Level II: Make a Dress class also starts on Sat. Apr 6. On Sunday April 7 is the Bondi Dress class - that was so popular last summer and we decided to get it on the calendar in time for spring. Then after that weekend on Monday I sleep in!
Finishing out April we have the Lander pants class on April 28.
In May we have the following classes scheduled: Knit T-shirt, Wiksten Haori Jacket, Jeans weekend workshop and Copy your Favorite Garment.
All the class info and registration can be found here.

There are lots of daffodils around and I see the roses starting to leaf out - so spring will be here in no time. With all this rain I'm planning for a great garden year. Sometimes just the planning is enjoyable - even if what I'm thinking of doing never materializes. And with some initial effort (well a lot of effort) you put the plants in, treat them right and then while you are sleeping they grow and grow. As opposed to those lazy fabrics that don't sew themselves, right?

Thus speaks a person who might or might not go to the garden center and succulent sale on Sunday whether or not there is a space to put any new plants in her garden.

Happy Sewing, Beth

Here's a camellia that lives near the front porch. A few years ago it was a big messy thing that was starting to obscure the view out of the front window. So I chopped it down to stumps and kind of hoped it would croak so I could replace it with something a little more interesting. But it sprouted and a couple of years later is again putting out these flowers. I can understand why so may camellias are planted here in the bay area, they are hardy, green all year, and while messy when the flowers drop they are so colorful in bloom.

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Monday, March 4, 2019

Blazer jacket with velvet collar, Pauline Alice Saler jacket in check wool

It seems like jackets are having a moment. Or at least a resurgence in popularity. Perhaps it was kicked off during the last two elections and the pantsuits worn by women candidates, or maybe we were due a return of 80's fashion, which means oversized jackets, suits and dare I say, shoulder pads. Either way I'm happy for this development as I've always loved sewing blazers (also wearing them) and feel like the sewing community is starting to feel the same way.

So during January when I had to wait on finishing the blazer I sewed for Heather, I sewed up this blazer jacket for myself. I have a older jacket in my closet that I can't part with, it's black and white houndstooth check I made using a Ann Klein Vogue pattern ages ago. It's slightly dated and I shortened it a while ago, not entirely successfully (you can see it worn here).

But I had so much use out of that jacket I decided I needed a new one in my wardrobe. This version is the Pauline Alice Saler Jacket pattern. This is my second version, as I tested this pattern for her in 2016. I think she is one of the few people that make outerwear with nice details and I always look forward to seeing what she comes up with. (other coats I've made from her patterns, neither one for me as it happens, the Quart Coat and Hemisferic Coat.

grey saler jacket 1

I was out for a glass of wine with a friend and figured I would take a few photos of this jacket but to my delight we happened to walk by this window display which seems perfect for a sewing obsessive like me.

The fabric for this jacket is something I ordered from Fabric Mart I think just after Christmas. On the website it looked more black/white to me and I was slightly disappointed when it arrived and it looks more like grey, the checks are smaller than I anticipated. But it is a really nice quality wool, perfect for this type of jacket.

check jacket front

I decided to make the collar as a contrast and used black velvet for the upper collar, and then black wool crepe for the under collar and the pocket welts. Both small remnants in my stash. I hoard all pieces of velvet and velveteen for uses just like this one because while I love to wear wool I have an aversion to anything itchy touching my neck. Problem solved!

Saler jacket velvet and wool collars

Pressing velvet is a very specific technique and also I have a needle board, or velvet board which I've had for a long long time. Every time I mention it I get asked about it, the brand it Dritz so it's not some exotic item but I think very few fabric stores carry them. I just did a search and they are between $ 70-140 on various places so if you see one at a garage or estate sale buy it!


needle board for pressing velvet


Collar details on Saler jacket

But using the needle board generally means no worries on pressing things like this velvet upper collar. I use it on other napped fabrics like corduroy and velveteen, even some wools.


Grey saler jacket 3

I rarely button up jackets like this but it was very chilly! OK chilly for us here in N. Cal.


Grey jacket in front of window display1

By the way - I will do a blog post next on the shirt I'm wearing - it's not quite that color in real live but almost. I just got the latest iPhone and am still figuring out the various photo settings. (and I miss the home button!)

Let's talk buttonholes. I wanted this jacket to have a traditional look so I opted for stitched buttonholes and used my ever trusty Singer and the best buttonhole attachment, and chose the keyhole buttonhole template.

check jacket button pocket


Singer with buttonhole attachments

That's my Singer (one of them) and the buttonhole attachment. It works on all the Singer Slant Needle machines.

Here is a sampling of buttonholes made using this attachment. It uses templates, the metal keyhole template is shown below. So you can't change the size of the buttonhole once you have chosen the template. I find the templates available cover all the sizes needed, and since I made this reference sample I've found more templates at sales (including a round one that is perfect for making the holes on a belt).

buttonhole samples

It's definitely the opposite of electronic - it makes quite a noise but I like it as you can go around as many times as you want, with the exact same pattern so you can make a good thick buttonhole which is ideal for a lot of fabrics. If you're super interested in all things buttonhole then I did a post about this ages ago, with a lot more photos and details plus video of the thing in action.  Here's the link.

Back view, and it fits me a lot better than on this dress form.

check jacket back on form

Saler jacket inside hand stitch

A little inside peek because everyone seems to like seeing that :)  I do a combo of hand stitching of seams and fusible interfacing.


grey saler jacket 2

Yeah I'm on a roll with the silk shirts lately and now have a few sizable scraps which I'm figuring out how to combine into one jewel toned extravaganza of silk top-ness. Stay tuned!

Note this jacket has shoulder princess seams which make it very easy to get the right fit at shoulders waist and hips. I use my measurements and veer between sizes and then adjust when I have it sewn together, with a bit of nipping in at the waist or hip as needed.

check jacket on form


check jacket hem lining

Purple satin lining because that's what I found in my box of linings. A slightly weightier lining but perfect to add a bit of heft to this jacket. I love a nice satin lining and while I don't usually go for any novelty lining a suitably jewel toned one is OK with me.

If you use the search box in the right hand column you can find all kinds of jacket and coat posts with lots of details. Also as I mentioned in my previous post you can look at the Highlight "Wool Jacket" on my Instagram profile page to see all the steps in the wool jacket I sewed recently for Heather.

Up next - I just finished another Burda magazine item, and an ultra suede version of skirt Vogue 1247 - that perennial favorite. Plus a Tamarack jacket as I taught that class over the weekend with lots of really fun jackets accomplished. Coming up a fitting class on Thursday 3/14, and then check the web page for Hello Stitch, classes are really filling up fast. There might be one or two spots open in the wrap dress class which is on Sat. March 23. Something new - I'm going to do a Culotte class as that seems such a great wardrobe item for spring/summer (or anytime). And Ash jeans again - in the beginning of June. Hope to see you there :)

In other news, should I mention that I saw the first tulip in my garden this morning? While we are still in the midst of a very rainy winter (which is great for our water needs!) I think spring is on it's way. At least here it is, I feel for you all in the polar vortex!


grey saler jacket on steps


Happy Sewing, Beth

today's garden photo, these pink camellias are so messy but such a pretty shade of pink.

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