introductory Tag

25 Aug

Posted at 06:07h in Fitting Patterns, Pattern Fitting Tutorials, Sewing, Sewing Pattern Alterations by
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So often the greatest disappointments I hear about making your own clothes are about commercial sewing patterns not fitting how the maker imagined.  What's not always clear is the complexity of size charts and the idea that all garments and sewing patterns use the same sizing system.  Not so unfortunately.  My own approach is to always ignore the sizing system offered on the back of sewing patterns (size 14 or S M L) and to focus solely on body measurements and desired garment measurements and how the sewing pattern compares.  What follows is a description of the first steps, I use personally and teach to my students, to make sure they have the closest sewing pattern size before cutting a fitting toile.
 

01 Dec

Posted at 09:00h in Pattern Puzzle Sewing Patterns, Sewing patterns by
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It all started with this image I found on the interweb many years ago and resulted in a #PatternPuzzle post to unpack this fascinating idea.  And finally it's a digital sewing pattern for everyone to download.  Like many vintage sewing patterns they use fashion illustrations rather than photographs to promote the pattern.
And the cover suggests you can wear this wrap top wrapped to the front and to the back.  In my experience it didn't work out that way and worn with the wrap at the back it was far too tight across the throat to be comfortable.

03 Nov

Posted at 10:00h in Pattern Fitting Tutorials, Sewing Pattern Alterations by
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Imagine joining me in one of my many pattern making workshops and enjoying the new techniques and skills that'll up your creative game.  My Sewing and Learning Packages include a sewing pattern or block and a related set of detailed tutorials that are the very resources I use in my pattern making workshops.  So something a little different: The Sleeveless Shift Dress - A Dress with a Lesson.

06 Oct

Posted at 10:00h in Garment Construction, Pattern Puzzle Sewing Patterns, Sewing, Sewing patterns by
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For those of you that follow my 'well-suited' blog closely you will have realised that every month I've been releasing a new sewing pattern.  With each release I've also been offering my newsletter subscribers exclusive fabulous discounts.  For the month of October the focus is on my two #zero-waste sewing patterns: The Eura and The Elizabethan Shirt.

04 Jun

Posted at 10:00h in Pattern Puzzle Sewing Patterns, Sewing patterns by
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At long last I've finished the PDF Sewing Pattern for the Body Twist Pattern Puzzle.  It's a very large one piece pattern for the body of the garment with a double layer sleeve and ribbed neck trim.  It's a soft and generous twist without being too tight.  The construction is as simple as a tee-shirt without the need to finish any hems.  Body and sleeves are double layers turned back on themselves.  You'll find the history of this pattern development in these blog posts.

14 Apr

Posted at 14:45h in MeStyle, Opinion by
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The tug of war between our creative drive and our ethical aspirations can be so confusing.  How can we adjust our own consumption of fabric/fashion so that we can satisfy our creative needs, alongside supporting our social, ethical and environmental ideals?
To begin with we're so fortunate if we can sew.  Already we're able to side-step the ugly world of fast fashion when we have the skills and resources to make our own clothes.  So what are the key issues we need to consider if we are to grapple with our creativity and still hold some ethical views on consumption.

23 Sep

Posted at 11:00h in Opinion by
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What do you do when you're between workrooms?  When you're used to a large cutting table, a number of specialist sewing machines and all the materials and trims you could ever desire.  It’s quite devastating but not impossible to work around.  Just imagine you're a creative on a long journey, traveling the countryside with very little space to store creative materials or equipment, but still wanting to expressive your creative self.

14 Feb

Posted at 06:00h in Off-the-Rails Sewing Patterns, Stretch Patterns, Womens Knit Block by
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It all began when I came across this fabulous Dior Dress from 2012, and decided it was the perfect idea for a classic dress design.  Imagine a stretch bodice, that fits easily and is very comfortable to wear.  Then add a very special skirt, using signature fabric.  The simplicity of the idea was just so attractive to me.  And simplicity is something I really admire in both the design and construction of fashion clothing.  And now that classic simplicity is available to you with my new sewing pattern:  The Dior Dress, available in 6 sizes, including detailed cutting and sewing instructions.
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