So many great garments to see in May (thanks to April snow?!?) You keep amazing us with new and different ideas-rock on and thanks for sharing!
Enjoy the heat and the long weekend-just in case your idea of a perfect 95 degree day is sewing in your cool lower level studio :)….
Next time you rummage through your closet looking for something to wear, keep your personal value contrast in mind.
Value contrast plays an important role in looking our best. When a person and their clothing appear equal or within their value contrast, magic happens.
To determine value contrast, the first step is to to take a black and white photo.
Next, plot hair and skin values on the grayscale.
Comparing the photo to the grayscale determines my hair is around a level 3 and skin level 8. The difference between these is 5 levels. My value contrast is classified as medium-high.
Why does value contrast matter? Staying inside a person’s contrast range allows the PERSON to shine. On the contrary, when clothing is too high in contrast, the person FADES into the background.
Take a look at the photos below to see what a difference the right contrast makes. The first set of photos shows too high of contrast, the second set is just right.
Personal value contrast is unique to each of us. Debbie, Kristin, and I have determined our individual value contrast. We’re attempting to elevate our fashion sewing choices with this knowledge. We invite you to explore yours and share your journey too.
Thanks for reading! —Katie
That’s right-final Fashion Sewing Club for April at SR Harris in Burnsville. Today, Thursday at 10:30 am.
Like most normal people expecting spring weather, we sewed for spring! Who knew we’d be cancelling a meeting on Saturday because of a super snowstorm? But the weather man said sixty next week so we keep hoping.
We also hope you can join us this morning if you haven’t yet this month. Bring your spring dream clothes to show and we’ll have ours.
For those of you who may have missed the news, Kristin and I are now certified color analysts. We spent a week in Dallas studying with Elaine Stoltz, a master of image and color consulting.
Through the process, we learned more than just how to choose flattering colors. We learned how to identify personal value and its impact on how we look.
Let’s take a look at value, an easy way to identify it, and how to use these concepts to look better.
VALUE
A color’s value is defined as the lightness or darkness of a color. Black is the darkest, and white is the lightest. Value is measured by a grey scale.
Human hair and skin values can be applied to the grey scale. Simply take a black and white photograph of yourself and compare it. In the photo below (makeup free) it’s obvious that Kristin and I have different values. My hair is much darker. Surprisingly, my skin is slightly darker in value when compared to hers, too. Because hair is dominant, my OVERALL VALUE is classified as medium dark. Kristin’s OVERALL VALUE is medium.
You may be asking, why should I care?
My answer is this— if you want to look your best, incoporate your OVERALL VALUE somewhere in your outfit.
For example, here’s an outfit modeled at Fashion Sewing Club (see photo below). Although flattering, the colors are too light in value. The black and white photo reveals my hair is much darker in value than my clothing.
I can still wear this outfit, but next time will add accessories in my overall value: brown wooden jewelry, a darker bag, and belt are great options to “connect” my clothing with my head.
When dressing, repeat your overall value in your outfit. It makes a difference.
Katie
Due to weather, there will be no Fashion Sewing Club on Saturday, April 14th at Treadle. Please join us at SR Harris next Thursday, April 19th at 10:30a.m.
We’re back!!
You are looking at the new and improved Katie and Kristin. Standing between us is Elaine Stoltz who was our teacher and makeup artist for four days. We learned so much but have to wait for our color swatches before we can start practicing our friends and families 🙂 You’ll know when we are ready!
So we are scrambling to get ready for Fashion Sewing Club tomorrow at Treadle. We hope to see lots of you Tuesday or Saturday and because of the great turnout, we will return to SR Harris in Burnsville on Thursday, April 19 at 10:30.
Here is the calendar for April. Hope I won’t be late Tuesday as putting on more makeup than I’m used to takes time! The pressure….
April 2018 Fashion Sewing Club:
Tuesday, April 10, 10:30 and 6:30 at Treadle
Saturday, April 14, 10:30 at Treadle
Thursday, April 19, 10:30 at SR Harris, Burnsville
Classes at Treadle Yard Goods, St. Paul
Sewing Kids Clothes, Tuesday, April 17, 1:00-4:00
Unlined Outerwear, Tuesdays, April 17, 24 and May 1, 6:00-8:00
Serger-Basic and Beyond: Tuesdays, April 24, May 1, 1:00-4:00
Classes For Kids at Treadle
Kids After School Sewing: Tuesdays, April 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 4:15-5:45
Classes at Edina Yorktown JoAnn
Sew Social, Thursday, April 12 and 19,1:00-4:00
Learn To Sew, Monday, April 16, 5:30-8:30
Serger Down and Dirty, Monday, April 16, 1:00-4:00
Serger Bells and Whistles, Monday, April 23, 1:00-4:00
Three Seam Pillowcase, Monday, April 23, 5:30-8:30
Learn To Sew With Interfacings, Monday, April 23, 6:00-8:00
Comfy Pant, Monday, April 30, 5:30-9 pm
Classes For Kids at Edina Yorktown JoAnn
Kids After School Sewing, Thursday, April 12 and 19, 4:30-6:00
Our trial event at SR Harris had 27 attendees!! Talk about not enough chairs and thanks to our regulars that also showed up to support us. It was so overwhelming, I couldn’t figure out how to get photos of show and tell. We’ll be ready for next month-we’ll be at SR Harris/Burnsville on Thursday, April 19 at 10:30 along with our regularly scheduled Treadle times-Tuesday, April 10 at 10:30 and 6:30 and Saturday, April 14 at 10:30.
Two things to pass on from SR Harris show and tell: a link for hemming napkins-almost guaranteed simple and fun?
And check out the Genevieve Jacket from StyleArc-
Three asked-about topics from Treadle meetings were:
1. The style guidelines we are featuring every month from Triumph of Individual Style. It’s hard to buy the book but this link will get you an e-copy for $19.95 along with the instructor’s guide.
2. “Design Your Own Wardrobe” 4 week course from Seamwork. Looks like they’ll offer it twice yearly. Check it out here.
3. Printing PDF patterns-here’s an online source that will ship to you (even says “pattern printing” on the main menu). And Pattern Review now offers to print any PDF pattern you order from them for $4.50 (or $4.05 for members). Great deal!!
Exciting news in the Material Girls’ World! This week, Kristin and I are training to become certified color analysts.
Long gone are the days of the four season color plan. The majority of people don’t fit strictly into these categories. Many are a combination of cool and warm. A nuanced approach is often necessary when taking personal color contrast into account. It’s not uncommon for an ideal color to change as a person ages. These are some reasons why Kristin and I want to add this service to our toolbox.
My color journey began with Nancy Nix-Rice, a certified consultant from St. Louis. She identified tones in my skin, eyes, and hair and provided a custom color palette to enhance my personal coloring. I was blown away by the impact for the following reasons:
1. I look so much better! People have noticed that I sparkle and look younger when wearing my ideal colors.
2. Shopping for fabric is streamlined. Focusing on fabric ideal for me saves time. I simply bypass numerous gorgeous bolts better suited for someone of different coloring.
3. Use of a color palette increases my ability to mix and match successfully. When the color palette is based on innate personal coloring, wardrobe pieces go together.
My color journey has convinced me that no matter how cute the pattern, or how well its sewn, I’ll always look best when sewing my personal best colors.
We know how great it feels to love what we sew. Our goal is that you’ll love your results too.
Spring trends and the final version of March’s Fashion Sewing Club will make an appearance at SR Harris’s Burnsville store tomorrow-Thursday, March 22 at 10:30 am.
This event is free to all. We hope to meet and inspire new sewists (and a few of our loyal fans-thanks!!!).
We’ll focus on making the spring fashion trends wearable for our personal styles and then show our garments from March Club, which were also presented at Treadle Yard Goods last week. Our goal is to continue Fashion Sewing Club both at Treadle and SR Harris.
“Sew and Tell” is encouraged as your name will be added to the drawing for the door prize which will be a cut of fabric supplied by SR Harris. Show us what you like to sew!
Come check it out-we’ll be in plain sight from the front door! Sylvia and the staff at SR Harris have been great to work with and want to be more than just a place to buy fabric. Let them know if this format is something you’d like to see more of.
Some trends, like clockwork, signal the change in season. It seems like each year ruffles mark the start of Spring. And this year, the story remains the same. Whether you cascade them from shoulders or spiral them off hips, ruffles/flounces create a soft, feminine look that can make you look fashionable. The tricky part is that they add volume, so placement is key. Let’s take a look at how ruffles/flounces can be successfully used on three body types.
1. Pear Figure
Pear figures have proportionally larger bottoms than tops. Adding ruffles/flounces to the upper body balances the figure and draws attention to the face. Take a look at New Look 6507. This asymmetric ruffled neckline works well. Similarly, the strong shoulder line of Burda 6429 offsets a larger hip nicely.
2. Inverted Triangle Figure
The opposite of the pear shape is the inverted triangle. The defining feature is narrower hips than shoulders. In order to look more proportionate, volume is needed on the lower body. Adding ruffles and flounces to skirts and shorts is one way for the inverted triangle to look proportionate. Consider McCalls 7287 and Simplicity 8606 as great options.
3. Oval Shape Figure
Typical characteristics of an oval figure are narrow hips and an undefined waist/midsection, which is often the largest measurement. The goal of the oval is to de-emphasize the midsection while defining a smaller area, which is often right under the bust, and elongating wherever possible. Subtlety is recommended for ovals embracing the ruffle trend. Strategic placement and drapey fabrics are key. The oval should consider subtle overlays, drapes, and flounces as a more flattering alternative and use them in elongating angles to maximize their look (see beautiful evening gown above).
Butterick 6396 (View A) features a flattering flounce. Try Pamela’s Patterns Draped Front Cardigan for very soft, subtle fullness at the wrist and hem.
No matter what your body type, Spring into the season wear fashionable flounces and ruffles.
Material Girl Sewing 