I was reminded of an important step when cutting out your garment pieces and the more expensive your fabric is the more important the step. Before you cut any piece out of your fabric, lay out the pattern pieces on your fabric according to the pattern’s plan to be sure they fit. You don’t have […] Read more…
The Start of a New Project – A Wool Coat
I always say if I’m going to take the time to make a garment then I’m going to take the time to make it right. Trying my best to be efficient, by all means, but no short cuts. And now I sound like a complete hypocrite by challenging myself to get this coat done in […] Read more…
Sewing the Lining to the Bodice – Not How I Thought it Would Be.
Sewing my daughter’s Halloween costume, Simplicity #2757. I didn’t have the camera when I was sewing this part so I drew the steps out. Because the front and back pieces form a right angle with the side pieces at the neckline I couldn’t just sew one seam starting at the left side center front, around […] Read more…
Clipping the Princess Seam Allowance
That’s odd. They don’t look like they go together. (next time I’ll smile) You’re not flat and fabric is so unless you’re going for an ancient Greek look the fabric has to be manipulated to go over your curves. This is why we use darts and seams like the princess seam. However, sewing convex curves […] Read more…
The Sundress is Done!
It’s done! Did I finish it in a week? No but I came close. I lost momentum when my daughter was never home for a fitting (I needed to fit the straps on her for the correct length) and on the day before our trip she said it was no big deal if she packed […] Read more…
McCall’s Sun Dress Project Begins
Just a quick introduction to my one-week-until-she-needs-it sundress project. I’m using a commercial pattern, McCalls 5313. My teenage daughter picked out both the fabric and the pattern and I promised to have it done before summer was over and before she moved out of the house. That basically meant this was my last summer to […] Read more…
How to Lay a Pattern on Fabric for Easy Cutting
Alright, I just started the project and already I have a tip, two actually, to share. This little video shows you how to keep your pieces on grain when the directions request that you not line up your selvedges. The other tip just happens to be one of the best secrets ever; iron those wrinkly, […] Read more…