well-suited blog - fashion design, illustration, pattern making.

Best Choices for Garment Pleating

Friday, January 29, 2016

For the Garment Pleating project I've settled on the fabric choices for the three designs I'll be testing. But I'm having trouble deciding on the style of pleating to use with each individual garment. Can you help me out?

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Garment Pleating - Homage to Issey Miyake

Friday, January 22, 2016

While I wait for the local pleating house to finish their summer vacation, I'm moving onto the second phase of the Permanent Pleating Series - Garment Pleating. In this series I'll be discussing whole garment pleating as originally inspired by the work of Issey Miyake (Pleats Please). Keep Reading...

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Pattern Insight - Circular Knit Twist

Saturday, November 28, 2015

This entire post is inspired by my fascination with circular knits. I've not had much experience with this particular cloth but have always been hooked by the possibilities. I found this piece (slight grey marl cotton) at the back of one of the local fabric shops and grabbed a couple of meters to play with. My first idea was to try the twist, especially with a fabric that's half way to dressing you without any side seams.

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Fit Rules - Personal Block Development

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

For over 20 years I've been teaching pattern making and I swear I can teach that subject blindfolded. However recent events have me delving into an entirely new area of expertise; personal fittings. Keep Reading...

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Pattern Insights - Loose Fit Shirt

Monday, May 04, 2015

This week I've showcased #PatternInsights, where I share the light bulb moments in my pattern making career. In this shirt pattern development I'm sharing two pattern making moves that early in my career caused me some anxiety. Anxiety caused by a lack of information and training. Thank heaven for my hero Natalie Bray! I am sharing the pattern moves needed to turn my basic fitted (dress) block into a loose-fit block and a basic set of moves to draft a gauntlet placket for a classic shirt sleeve.
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Pattern Insights - Twist Tee

Monday, March 30, 2015

The #PatternPuzzle was quite a hit with our Facebook fans on Saturday. In many ways a straightforward pattern that yields fab results. Use any loose-fit tee shirt pattern or alter my knit block to make this fashion-forward Twist Tee. If you'd like to learn my method for creating Twist Drape Patterns I have a detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.
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Pattern Insights - Jersey Twist Patterns

Monday, January 05, 2015

This is the first of a new series of pattern making posts called #PatternInsights, that's me sharing the lightbulb moments of my pattern making career. Not quite as 101 as my #PatternFundamentals and no where near as complex as some of#PatternPuzzles, it's another opportunity to share. :) Now available as a PDF download,detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns using My Knit Block. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.

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Pattern Puzzle - The Drape Shift Woven

Monday, November 24, 2014

The original Drape Shift #PatternPuzzle post has turned out to be the best performing of all our blog posts over the past two years. It has pattern making instructions for the knit version of this design which is admittedly far more straight forward than the woven fabric version featured in this post. So in response to many requests I have detailed here the pattern making instructions to make this design for woven fabrics.

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Pattern Puzzle - The Japan Skirt - no block required!

Monday, August 11, 2014

The Japan Skirt - Self-drafted Pattern. Rectangle skirts are nothing new. What maybe new is the way you work your rectangle. This particular pattern has been hanging on my pattern rail for at least 8 years. Originally developed for merino ponti, grading up and down in sizes allows you to cut this pattern in a variety of knit and woven fabrics. Keep Reading...