Fashion Sewing Club Show and Tell at Treadle was awesome yesterday. While it was fresh in my mind I went looking on pinterest for the instructions for a “bapron” (as in baby + apron). Just a small piece of oilcloth or laminated cotton and some bias seam binding. I was unsuccessful at getting a picture into the blog so you’ll just have to go to the link to see how cute and simple a bapron is.
Or maybe you want to send me a picture, Margo, and I can put it in the blog 🙂
Contributed by Carrie Diamont
This idea started after I went through my fabric stash and started categorizing by color. I found a nice gray knit and another knit that was gray with purple stripes (Debbie had given it to me-some of her scraps). The two fabrics just looked great together but both were only about 1/2 a yard or so. I’m not very creative when it comes to color blocking so I wanted to find a pattern that basically offered me the creativity I wanted with out having to think about how to do it myself.
I found Kwik Sew 3842 awhile ago and loved the lines in this pattern -I think this pattern can be used for a great slimming affect. I decided my two gray knits would be a great muslin opportunity to try out this pattern. I admit I have a phobia of wearing anything with horizontal stripes – even very thin stripes! So to counteract any girth that could be added by the horizontal stripes, I kept the solid gray on the outside to create a column effect. The pattern went together quickly-very simple- the triangles were not difficult to sew on my serger at all. I made no adjustments to the pattern. I’m very pleased with the result and I hope to play around with some other color block combinations in the future. The pattern also comes with an attractive v-neck, long sleeve option.
Well, that was my idea for approaching a fair number of pleats. Fourteen to be exact. That’s less than the 28 pleats which the other view featured. Knowing that I would never get the pleats pressed into their original shape after the first wearing, I felt I had to stitch the pleats in place (that means four seams per pleat or 56 to be exact, but who’s counting). Which is why the idea of zen sewing occurred to me. Just start stitching and be in the moment. Each pleat is just another pleat, breathe.
I got through the stitching and made friends with my 1/4″ foot which had the added advantage of being a straight stitch foot. That meant that when I did my few back stitches at the end, the fabric didn’t jam down in to the feed dogs. Previously, I thought I just had to live with that irritation. (I just have to remember not to try zigzagging with that foot.)
One other new technique I tried was using the knee lifter that came with my machine. (Is that what going on vacation does to you-make you want to try new things-disturb your status quo?) You will only understand the humor here if you know that I have an old Singer with a knee lever that pushes against the foot feet clamped inside the machine cabinet. This means that on the Singer, when I press my leg against the lever, the machine stitches, but when I do the same motion on my Babylock, the presser foot raises. Needless to say, late into the night as I stitched my 56 pleat seams there were times when my machine was so confused-oh, that’s right, only a person can be confused-the machine was just doing as it was told. Many times I waited for the feed dogs to move fabric but the only thing that happened was that the presser foot lifted. I tried different techniques-deliberately taking my foot off the presser foot, actually trying to think while I sewed (what a concept), but ultimately I ended up using my left foot to make the machine go and my right leg to lift the presser foot. I’m confused, my legs are confused but I feel like I’ve learned a lot AND I love how the skirt turned out.
I went outside and sat in the sun, clipping (black!!!) threads off my new garment. A perfectly zen ending.
Sorry to keep you hanging-if you didn’t make it to a Fashion Sewing Club meeting in March-but here’s the scoop:
After much heartfelt consideration Laurel has decided to move on to the next phase of her life and no longer be an integral part of Material Girls. She has thoroughly enjoyed all the people and will continue to attend Club meetings (she already has fabric and ideas for April) but wanted to cut down on the late night sewing and last minute pressure of the monthly meetings. We will miss her contributions but will continue to call on her for fit and tailoring consultations-she pins a mean dart!
Anyone who would like to send an email to Laurel can do so at lely10@comcast.net
The other big door that closed this month is our Hancock/Bernina/Southtown location. As of March 9th the corporate Bernina store is no longer. However, a private Bernina (and Elna) dealer is supposed to be opening up sometime in April.
That leaves us at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul and Make It Sew in Chanhassen.
The Fashion Sewing Club calendar will stay the same for the Treadle meeting on the second Tuesday (continues to be the largest group) and the second Saturday (15 attendees in March!!)
The Thursday meeting (still the second Thurs. of the month) will now take place at Make It Sew at regular times of 10:30 and 6:30. No need to preregister-the meeting will always happen just like at Hancock. There will be no more Monday Club meetings at Make it Sew.
And for the month of April, the Make It Sew meeting will be free-just to make it a bit easier to find the store the first time 🙂
We hope these changes are easy to follow-if not, ask questions. Show and tell at all meetings is picking up and that means you are being inspired to sew. That has been our goal all along.
Have a happy Easter and we’ll see you in April!
PS-March Club pictures and sheets have been posted under Club Sheets/Garment Photos.
My husband is very supportive of my sewing, in fact he likes to hound me to make things for him. This year for his birthday, Dave asked me to make him a western shirt. So, to encourage my husband’s country songwriting and guitar playing, I decided to find a pattern for a western shirt. My husband was really excited when he saw the pattern I bought and even came with me to pick out the material. I tried to encourage him to go with a fun contrasting fabric for the yoke, but he was too nervous. However, I did manage to talk him into adding a nice trim. Of course, Dave wanted this shirt to become my number one priority so I reminded him that he could speed up the production process by helping to prep the fabric and cut out the pattern. I have to say he did a great job and even put on the pearl snaps when the shirt was finished. BTW we bought extra snaps which was a good idea- because as careful as we were – we still messed up a few snaps.
I used McCall’s M6044. It went together easily. The only adjustment I made was to lengthen the cuff (and shorten the sleeve accordingly) so it would fit three snaps. Well, Dave’s excited to wear this shirt when we go see Garth Brooks in March!
Late breaking news!!! What Carrie doesn’t say is that she entered the shirt in a Pattern Review contest and won 2nd place!!! Check it out here.
Recently in an active wear catalog I found a dress with a center panel and ruching at the midrift area along both sides of the center panel. I thought – now that’s a clever way to hide a stomach pouch! I already had the Christine Jonson Princess Wrap Top which has a center front with ruching on one side.
First I made the top to try out the fit. The fit was fine – but the v-neck was a bit deep for me. To make the dress I added an inch to the neckline to give me more coverage. I also added a back center seam which gave me the ability to add shaping to the back. In order to create ruching on both sides, initially I tried to follow the model of the pattern which – because it is gathered on only one side- the pattern bows out along the gathered side to create a nice drape on the opposite side. Well, trying to create this on both sides of my center panel piece just wasn’t a good idea. A much simpler path would have been to keep both edges of the center front straight and then extend the length of the panel to account for the gathering. (The reason my initial idea didn’t work is because it created a ‘drape’ of extra material in the front area. You don’t want drape across your stomach – that added to the pouch.)
To determine the appropriate width and line of the skirt I followed the skirt pattern from Christine Jonson’s Wrap Dress. I found the key to ensure the gathering around the midriff is flattering is to keep the ruching under the bust and not too far down into the stomach region. Also – keep the gathering even on both sides and fairly tight across the front – if it looks to loose, it looks sloppy and like extra weight. Sorry the pictures with the pattern fabric I used make it a bit difficult to see the ruching.
Save 30% on garment fabric-Thursday only (more great deals-see their Facebook page). It’s a great time to come find them in Chanhassen. We’ll be there from 1-8 pm with garment samples from Fashion Sewing Club and will do complimentary bust/waist/hip measurements and help you choose your best pattern size-bring a pattern you have or we will have samples.
Debbie and I were at Treadle yesterday-6 students and 6 different makes of sergers, 3 pressing hams, sleeve rolls and a small sawdust mess…and can you believe it, they had new fabric!
This is a 90% high wicking, poly microfiber and 10% lycra and such great prints. It may be more suitable for the yoga studio and running, etc. but my pieces are going to be worn on the golf course (and if you’ve done any pro shop shopping lately, I think I’ll fit right in). I’ve been waiting for something like this for ever and now I have no excuse not to sew them up and then no excuse not to play golf (or so my husband would say). Now just for some performance fabric in neutral colors for pants.
Unfortunately these aren’t the only new fabrics…fine linens with a metallic sheen, mesh knits…but you really have to see them for yourself 🙂
We hope you are enjoying the beautiful winter weather and a little bit of sewing. Just want to keep you posted and let you know that each week we seem to meet another wonderful person that sews and this inspires us to keep on sharing what we love to do.
Monday-after weather and illness have taken their toll, we’ll finish our Fit Me training.
Tuesday-a full morning class of Basic Sergers at Treadle
-afternoon-either Tailoring Tools (if we get one more) or open appointments for Fit Me sessions
-Sew Studio at Bernina/Hancock from 6-8:30 for anyone in need of assistance
Thursday-Open Sewing or Fit Me sessions at Lake Riley Sewing Studio (Chanhassen) from 3-8
Next Monday our Wool Coat Class meets again and we hope to get all coats assembled. Email or call 952-201-3863 with questions in the meantime.
Speaking of wool-Make It Sew has 30% off wool and wool blend fabrics and machine luggage and rolling bags through Feb. 3 (Friday)
And then it’s time for Fashion Sewing Club beginning Thursday at Bernina/Hancock. What will you bring for show and tell?
Another fine showing of creativity from both Treadle and Hancock this month. The mild winter seems to be helping-if you can’t ski you might as well sew (haha!) sorry 😛
Anyway, Roseanne continues experimenting with Christine Jonson’s patterns. Below is the top and skirt from Travel Trio 3.
Judy was inspired to make a wool coat to display a beautiful silver heart from Norway-
Carol attended a zero waste Vionnet-inspired class at the Textile Center and put together the tunic with vintage jewelry and then made the velvet jacket and pants to complete the ensemble.
Fur scarves also made an appearance at both locations. Sorry I didn’t get a picture but suffice it to say that the oooh’s and aaah’s pushed fur fabric sales for the stores. Scarves were made from the width of the fabric by 9-12 inches. No twist (as in the Infinity Scarf). Twice around the neck would be wonderful on a cold day like today! Negative nine degrees as I read it.
Thank you all for the wonderful show and tell that didn’t get featured here. The more the merrier (or shall we say inspirational). We will revise Club sheets again for next month-your patience and feedback is appreciated.
Click and drag on Club Sheets and Garment Photos above or January 2012 in the right hand column to see the latest offerings from the Material Girls.
Stay warm!
Material Girl Sewing 