September 2024
Garment Sewing Group
Debbie’s Garments:
1. Fitting – shortened between shoulder and bust and 3 more inches proportionally from length on front, back and sleeves. I also narrowed the width of the collar one inch.
2. I needed to shorten the jacket so much that the pocket placement was altered too much so I eliminated them.
3. The thickness of the fabric, intersecting of seams, dark color and herringbone design made topstitching a challenge. I used strong topstitching thread and tried a walking presser foot but found my standard foot to work the best.
4. I could not find the correct size of zipper – so once again I needed to shorten the zipper at neckline – bummer!
5. I like the jacket but would not make it again.
1. I named this blouse switch-a-roo because the end result doesn’t look like what is pictured on the pattern envelope!
2. I was drawn to this pattern because of the collar. It appears to be what I thought was a Revere collar. Doing some research I found a camp shirt collar with notches and a wing collar labeled as Revere collars. Oh well – no matter the name, I like how the collar on this pattern is constructed with the grown on facing and attached collar. I feel it lays better than the one piece collar I have used in the past.
3. The pattern is described as over sized and it certainly is – I went down 2 sizes.
4. View B is too short. No where in the pattern is the term cropped used.
5. To add more length I added a bias strip along the hem with the small amount of leftover fabric I had.
6. The edge of the cuffs were rounded – I squared them off. Once constructed and attached to the sleeve they felt and looked too bulky. I cut off the cuffs and added a bias strip cuff to the sleeve hems.
7. Many changes were made to this pattern-thus the name switch-a-roo. I would make it again my way just like Old Blue Eyes!
1. I liked the causal style of a RTW blouse and tried to copy the fabric and style . The fabric worked well but I may have made the blouse too short – again!
2. I eliminated the pocket but added contrast with buttons and bias tape added to button and cuff placket.
3. A fun fall make.
Olive Jeans -Jalie Eleanore , TNT pattern that I have made several times.
Kristin’s Garments:
1. This is clearly advertised as a unisex pattern which usually makes me think the pattern will tend toward the male body proportions. After making the pattern twice now, that is not true.
2. Pattern directions and drafting are great. Other than the challenge of sewing on heavier wale corduroy, the sew went well. Collar seam is finished with Hong Kong finish and Liberty of London.
3. The eye opening came when I tried the robe on my husband-shawl collar and sleeves too short, waist and pocket placement too high. I had already gotten rid of the A-line of the side seams.
4. Bottom line: I like the robe for me but it doesn’t fit a man and there were no allusions to this in pattern directions. If only I had seen the robe on the body of the first receiver!!
One Pattern Three Ways
1. Pretty much to pattern in linen-other than the collar being half the height of the pattern, it is made to pattern. The front neck is rather low, the overlap at center front is 3” to accommodate large buttons. I think the combination of the low neck and overlap give the collar an asymmetric drape.
1. Raised the neck all around to nothing at the back
2. Straightened and shortened the short sleeve
3. Used the pattern piece for sleeve detail but pleated to achieve the look and then released pleats at elbow
4. Omitted collar and made the front facing sewn on and ended at center front
5. Fabric was a joy to work with-so many ways to highlight the window pane effect and it was on grain so very easy to match!!
1. Used the pattern pieces as above but placed center front on fold
2. Gathered the sleeve piece at wrist and finished with a band
3. Finished neck with bias strip
Places to go-people to see:
Frocktails! A great reason to dress/sew your best and see and be seen 🙂
Saturday, October 5, 6-10 pm, Fulton Brewery, 414 N. 6th Ave., Mpls, $125 use materialgirls10 for discount
Road Trip to Kansas City/Topeka-October 28-31
Get out of town and visit Asiatica (an amazing company that upcycles vintage kimono) and The Sewing Workshop/Linda Lee. We’ll schedule the visits and let you know hotels, etc. You will need to organize your carpool or fit in with another. Not a handholding/we’ll take care of all the details trip-more of an “I’m going, would you like to go at the same time? This is where I’m staying and where I’ll stop.”
October Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, October 9, 10:30, Ginny’s, Rochester
Thursday, October 10, 10:30, Creative Sewing, Apple Valley
Saturday, October 12, 10:30, Lakes Makerie, Mpls.
Material Girl Sewing 