Next week is September’s Garment Sewing Group meetings-
September Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, September 10, Lakes Makerie, Mpls
Thursday, September 11, Creative Sewing, Apple Valley/Fabric Swap
Saturday, September 13, Ginny’s Fine Fabrics, Rochester
Can’t wait to see what our change in weather has inspired!!
I’ve been trying to finish some projects in my studio-
What do you have hiding away that you can bring out in the open?
Cinch Me I’m Dreaming from Forest and Thread (won the best pattern name :))
Last of summer sewing??? We’ll see…
Debbie’s Garments:
The only fit adjustment I needed to make on the vest was narrowing the shoulder.
The pattern calls for interfacing the entire front-I just interfaced the buttonhole area at center front due to the weight of my fabric.
I especially like the shaping of the vest and the faux welt pockets. I eliminated the back ties – too fussy for me.
Summer Coral Pants
Burda 7062, View A
This is a TNT pattern. Since I had plenty of fabric left from my vest I knew I had to follow up with matching pants.
I like the slits at leg hem and the contour faced waistband.
Pants can be boring but can feel pretty especially when bias binding is used on bottom edge of waistband.
The vest and pants were a fun and easy make.
I shortened the length of the tee 1” between the bust and waist and 1” from hem length.
The pattern comes with neck variations, long, 3/4 or short sleeves, cuffs and modesty panels.
Very easy and quick make.
Length adjustments included petiting between the shoulder and bust on fronts, back and sleeves. I chose to do the knee length and shortened that length 2 inches.
Due to the fabric, pattern and construction methods I chose this make became a bit of a challenge.
The fabric has no right or wrong side. It’s a plaid/check that needed matching and my machine needles did not enjoy stitching through fabric that wasn’t just one layer.
I cut the width of the band in half, gathered it, and serge finished that with self made bias – my needles/machine did not like the thickness of the seam. Also I didn’t have quite enough fabric to go around the robe opening.
Instead of patch pockets I made inseam pockets and used French seaming everywhere except for inserting sleeves into armhole. It got too confusing keeping track of right and wrong side. The sleeves were serged into armhole.
I gathered about 6 inches on the center back of robe. Then I attached the center of the tie to the back of the robe on the gathered stitching. The ties are secured with that stitching and with belt loops at side seams.
This was a good learning make for me, especially the french seam pockets – a new skill for me that I will try again.
Kristin’s Garments:
My go-to summer dress is a Vogue out of print/fussy pattern so tried this one to see if I can get the same effect with less fuss.
Shortened the waist by 1” and then ended up changing waist shaping even more.
Found a fun trim in my stash and when it wasn’t quite enough, I made do.
Decreased collar depth by 3/8”.
Too late for August but Closet Core just came out with the Edith Dress which is similar.
Cut out a size 12 going to 14 at hips. Another sewist had warned me that it was close fitting and she wasn’t wrong-I let out side seam allowances as far as 5/8” seam would let me.
Love the half facing for armholes and neck. Burrito roll is explained very well.
Pattern called for a 1.25” hem-I used a piece of bias facing to keep it longer.
Had to give this one a try as it’s a look I like. Cut out a size large and am happy with the fit.
Pattern includes three sleeve lengths and three necklines.
August Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, September 10, Lakes Makerie, Mpls.
Thursday, September 11, Creative Sewing, Apple Valley
Saturday, September 13, Ginny’s Fine Fabrics, Rochester
Sew Inviting hosted our meeting on Saturday and what a wonderful morning it was-looks like Sew House Seven and Love Notions won out for summer sewing!!
Great meetings and then the grand opening!!
We started the week at Sew Inviting in St. Paul-
And then Creative Sewing-
And then it was on to the grand opening of Open Studio Sewing!
Waiting in the embroidery line-
Next month’s dates and details-switching up our Saturday meeting-
July Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday July, 9, Sewing Inviting, St.Paul
Thursday, July 10, Creative Sewing, Apple Valley
***Saturday, July 12, Meet up at Open Studio Sewing, 4210 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park-grand opening!! Wear something you’ve sewn.
For just this meeting, we are going to head to the grand opening of Open Studio Sewing. Debbie and I will bring our garments and pattern review sheets for you to see but no formal meeting. Wear something you’ve made and think about what fabrics/notions you’d like to see at the new store in St. Louis Park!
Let us know if you are coming 🙂
Store opens at 11 am-maybe meet for coffee?? More details as date gets closer.
Also, The Stashery has opened at the Textile Center-a year round secondhand textile supplies store.
Fun to see the new options popping up with the closing of Joann!
Debbie’s Garments:
Style Arc Marley Shirt/Jewel Washed Linen
For fit I did my usual petiting as well as narrow shoulder adjustment and shortening body and sleeve length one inch.
Pattern does not call for interfacing the button placket but after testing a piece of scrap fabric I felt the interfacing would be a plus.
I needed to pay attention to the directions carefully since seam allowances go from 3/8” to 1/4”. I did change the order of construction to keep the garment flat as much as possible. I did get myself in trouble though – I did not hem the shirt when pattern directed and made that the last step. It was difficult to maneuver sewing in the round with such a deep hem.
This was a new pattern for me – I especially like the deep, split hem. This pattern is a keeper.
Grainline Studio Willow Tank/Rayon
This is a TNT pattern for me, especially since I have made my necessary fitting adjustments from previous makes. It is a quick and easy make.
I like the neck and armhole bias edge construction rather than facings. I use the serged bias edge method.
This pattern works well with a wide variety of fabric types, makes good use of small amounts of fabric.
Itch To Stitch Santorini Top/Cotton
I made this pattern last summer from a linen as part of a 3 piece outfit. It is a good layering piece, especially under summer toppers.
Even though it is a detailed make I knew it would go together quickly this time since I had made fitting adjustments and also that the pattern directions are excellent.
I put one buttonhole on the side panel and sewed the buttons to the opposing panel without buttonholes. – The tank can be taken on and off easily with just the one button opening.
My first make was a solid linen and the construction details are easily seen. This time with the stripe fabric the princess seams and shaping detail get lost. In retrospect I wish I would have put the stripes horizontal on the front and back side pieces.
Itch To Stitch Melrose/Rayon
Going through my fabric when picking projects this month this piece caught my eye because it went nicely with my teal makes.
I had a limited amount of yardage so pattern choices were limited. After trying to fit a few other patterns on my fabric the Melrose seemed to work the best.
It is a boxy, cropped top so the only fitting adjustment I needed to make was a narrow neckline.
I changed the order of construction by sewing one shoulder seam and then continue with a serged bias neck edge finish. I also did a split hem.
Another quick make but putting a grown on sleeve into a fitted jacket sleeve doesn’t work well. This will not be a layering piece but it does go with my color them.
New Look 6407, View A/Cotton
I made this pattern many years ago and it is a favorite. I do like the fitted style.
Due to my petite adjustments the neckline isn’t too low which is fine in warmer weather but not a style I like to wear in colder weather.
The print main fabric is a bit busy so to break it up I added a contrast fabric to collar, neck band and cuffs. It’s a little bright but I think it works.
The split cuffs are fun and a nice change from classic shirt cuffs.
Kristin’s Garments
Anything But Ordinary/Cutting Line Designs/Cotton woven
In preparation for my quilted jacket (hopefully next month) this pattern seemed a possibility and the fabric was perfect!
Made a size small to pattern but added topstitching and a bias band at the neck. I like the back vent.
Custom Pants Retreat (see orange shorts in two photos above)
Vogue 7881/Robert Kaufman linen/cotton blend
Lots to learn at the couture class. Vogue pattern was very similar to the Rika/Closet Core pattern of a few months ago. Attempted shorts for my first post muslin trial.
Omitted zip front and added casing. Couture techniques most likely won’t show up in future sewing projects but it was fun to learn how.
Burda 6990, View A/Poly knit (notice the yogi print :))
Tried and true pattern. Used the crew neck version and realized you get at least two entire shirt patterns in a package. Unfortunately the yoga retreat happened before the outfit got done!
Roxanne Cargo Sweatpants/Cotton French terry
Went down two sizes in all seams except waist to give me a bit deeper crotch level. Made shorts as a muslin-added 3” to leg length!!
Used Tinley pocket pattern to get slant pockets. Great pattern!
All groups begin at 10:30
Great group of people at Sewing Lounge on Saturday! Thanks to all who attended!!
Great makes at Ginny’s and Creative. Duck in out of the rain with us at Sewing Lounge on Saturday, 6/14, 10:30 am!!
Come to Garment Sewing Group this week to see these shoes live and in person!!
June 2025 Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, June 11, 10:30 at Ginny’s in Rochester
Thursday, June 12, 10:30 at Creative Sewing, Apple Valley and fabric swap!
Saturday, June 14, 10:30 at The Sewing Lounge, St. Paul
Seven of us got together with Lisa to construct our shoes last Thursday at Creative Sewing. We had so much fun! Here are some of the finished shoes-if you want to see more work in progress, keep scrolling down. Lisa offers the class at Tiny Apple Quilt Shop in Anoka (the former Millie P. Store.)
It’s fun to edit the photos and relive the garments we saw and fun we had! And since sunshine is lacking today-here are a few warm weather makes for starters-
Material Girl Sewing 