I hope you are in the sunshine somewhere-it’s beautiful!! Speaking of beautiful-here are the remaining sew and tell pics. Another great month of sewing!















Happy sewing for February!!
I hope you are in the sunshine somewhere-it’s beautiful!! Speaking of beautiful-here are the remaining sew and tell pics. Another great month of sewing!
Happy sewing for February!!
Great turnout in Lakes Makerie’s new classroom! Sunny, wood floors and bright yellow chairs-snow didn’t seem quite so overwhelming.
We’ll be at Sewing Lounge in St. Paul on Wednesday and First Sewing, Bloomington on Thursday, both start at 10:30.
Merriest wishes and happy New Year to all of you wonderfully creative and fun people!! Here are the garments Debbie and I made in December along with commentary.
Classes are finished for the year and we will have a new calendar out at some point for 2023. Garment Sewing Group dates are at end of post.
Debbie’s Garments:
1. Shortened front, back and sleeves between shoulder and bust.
2. After eliminating front facing, Hong Kong finishing seam allowances and lining the sleeves, inserting the sleeves with hand sewing it would have been easier to line the jacket!
3. I did not use any interfacing but I did add sleeve heads.
4. Due to not facing the jacket front I changed the order of construction and techniques.
5. The collar seam is stitched wst and the center back seam is stitched rst. Bias trim was added to hide collar seam.
6. Hong Kong seam finish is done with single layer and a folded bias strip was used for edge finishes.
7. The front edges were trimmed before stitching side seams and sleeves.
1. Shortened back, front, and sleeves between shoulder and bust. Sleeve length shortened 2 inches.
2. This is a TNT pattern for me. I need to remember the sleeves get too narrow below elbow before I make it again.
Jalie Renee Pant #4018 (see photo above)
Ponte rayon blend
1. I shortened the length of the pants 1 and 1/2 inch above and below the knee. Next time I would only shorten length by 2 inches.
2. I used 1/4 inch seam allowances instead 3/8 seam allowances that pattern recommends- just to give me a little less negative ease.
3. This is my first make from this pattern and I will make it again. I like the fit, style and ease of construction, especially when it comes to the waistband.
1. Shortened between shoulder and bust on front, back, and sleeves. Also shortened the sleeve length 1 inch.
2. Did a narrow shoulder adjustment.
3. I used a jersey knit for facing to eliminate bulk.
4. Quick, easy, fun make.
Kristin’s Garments
1. Made to pattern-size X. Fun to put together. Great for using larger scraps.
2. Recommend lightweight drapey fabric to keep pockets from getting too bulky.
1. Both patterns have wide neck openings.
2. Jalie (size X) has a shorter sleeve and 3/4 length sleeve addition, La Bella Donna is longer and has a long hour glass shaped cuff. Recommend one size larger for cuff.
3. La Bella Donna (size Large) has one pattern piece, front same as back except for neck.
4. Added neckband from Tabor Vee Neck to “warm” up the tees.
1. Ankle bands are bigger but narrower than women’s.
2. Same great fit as women’s pattern!
1. Cut out smaller size (14) across shoulders for a closer fit. Also sized down for sleeve.
2. Added 6” to length.
3. Great New Look pattern with best construction practices. Neck band is straight, long band. Added cuffs. Bands overlap at center front which is what I was aiming for. Perfect for rayon knits and not a lot of extra fabric.
True Bias Hudson Pant for Women (photo above)
1. Omitted pockets. TNT pattern! Love the fit!!
1. Larger sleeve, different cuff, no placket, were some of the details that drew me to the pattern after seeing a few like it in magazines/websites.
2. Made size Medium, it’s an oversized fit.
3. Cut out another yoke and did burrito roll-just barely with the fleece. Used kimono fabrics as facings for fronts, collar, cuffs and pockets.
4. Omitted the back neck facing and trimmed back neck with bias.
January Garment Sewing Group Meetings
Saturday, January 7, Lakes Makerie (first Saturday of month-not second!)
Wednesday, January 11, Sewing Lounge
Thursday, January 12, First Sewing and Fabric Swap
We’ll have our last installment of Garment Sewing Group for December and 2022 (!!) on Wednesday, December 14, 10:30 am. Hope you can join us and check out Lakes as it’s been a few months since we’ve been there.
On Thursday, December 15, we’ll be at First Sewing for Basic and Beyond Sergery, 10:15-12:15. It’s a one time class-any level you are at, we will help you thread, decorative stitches, cover stitch or just refresh your memory 🙂
Sew Social meets the same day and place (Thursday at First Sewing) from 1-4 pm. That will be the last of classes for 2022!
Here’s what we saw on Saturday at Treadle-
The holiday train is moving through the station and next up is Garment Sewing Group!
Meetings-all beginning at 10:30 am: Thursday, December 8, at First Sewing and FABRIC SWAP Saturday, December 10, at Treadle Yard Goods Wednesday, December 14 at Lakes Makerie
Sew Social will meet December 8 and 15 from 1-4 pm at First Sewing.
Basic & Beyond Sergery will meet Thursday, December 15, 10:15-12:15. One session, any skill level. Use it to make up what you might have missed or forgotten or just get started with serging!! Class is at First Sewing.
Here are a few pics from the Quilted Jacket class back in November at Quilter’s Haven:
We are thankful for all of you allowing us to keep doing what we love! You inspire us every month-speaking of-next month’s meetings will be:
December meetings: Thursday, 12/8 at First Sewing, Saturday, 12/10 at Treadle Yard Goods, Wednesday, 12/14 at Lakes Makerie
Can’t wait!!! Hope you all enjoy your Turkey Day, however you celebrate!
Garment Sewing Group/November 2022
Debbie’s Garments:
My Jacket of Mistakes and Disappointments! What Happened?
– Chose the wrong size
– Not enough fabric thus knit sleeves with woven main fabric and unlined sleeves – needed to adjust lining construction
– Cut off too many zipper teeth and lost pull when testing and needed to rip out and insert again –
– It is a tailored jacket and I wasn’t prepared for that
– omitted zipper welt pockets
– too much in a hurry and so much more!
I like this jacket pattern. The directions are very detailed and well illustrated. The method of attaching the lining without any hand sewing is terrific. I will give this a try again but not for a long time.
1. This is TNT pattern for me but I am ready to try something new.
2. I like the contrast band even though it is black. The only thing I would do differently would be to sew the band to the center front right sides together so the black fabric would be exposed and not the ws of the print.
1. Another TNT pattern for me but again, ready to try something new.
1. So I tried something new and I didn’t do well.
2. I did shorten the length between shoulder and bust on front, back and sleeve. I also lengthened the short version of the sweater by 2”.
3. I feel I should have used a more stable sweater knit.
4. I constructed the sweater with the serger and tried topstitching the bands using a walking foot but that did not work well – needed a more stable knit.
5. I gave up on buttonholes after trying Solvy and sticky back stabilizer to no avail.
6. The sweater is no longer a cardigan since I sewed the bands closed with buttons – it works.
Kristin’s Garments
1. Had to try one of the versions of the short cardigan. This one is a raglan-probably cut along the lines of their Romy pattern.
2. No hem band or back neck facing. Wrapped seams used very effectively.
3. Had fun using stash pieces.
1. Looking for a fuller-at-hem tee to layer under garments.
2. This is a size large-narrow across shoulders. Close fit through bust and back.
1. A new pattern that I just had to try. Blakandblanca Instagram photo inspired me. Wide leg and tapered leg version. I made a size 16 in wide leg version.
2. Directions are great. Everything came together. The pleat is a bit different and I’d love to see someone else’s version of it.
3. Discovered the bar tack feature on my sewing machine.
4. Omitted welt pockets and side tabs.
5. Fit worked very well. Lots of trouser features (fly shield!)-unfortunately most of them are invisible to the general public 🙂 A slower sew but worth it in the end.
November 2022 Garment Sewing Group
Thursday, December 8, 10:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington
Saturday, December 10, 10:30, Treadle Yard Goods, St. Paul
Wednesday, December 14, 10:30 at Lakes Makerie, Mpls.
Wednesday, 10/12, Ginny’s in Rochester will be our host-she has great new fabric and extra discounts on wool to boot! That’s Wednesday, October 12 at 10:30 am. Ginny’s address is 211 Broadway Av. S., Rochester. Bring a folding chair if sitting is important to you :)) Hope to see you!
And to keep you till tomorrow, here are some pics from our Saturday meeting last week-great quilt backdrop, huh?
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 6th will be the first of the October Garment Sewing Group meetings. Yes, it is the first Thursday-sorry to move things about but once in a while schedules get messy 🙂
We’ll be at First Sewing and fabric swapping! See you tomorrow!
Saturday we are at Quilter’s Haven in Rosemount-new store to us, new knits, etc., :)) and Wednesday is Ginny’s!!!
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After going through these photos, I just can’t wait to see what everyone brings for September. Pat yourselves on the back-you rock the sewing world!!!
See you this Thursday (First Sewing), Saturday (Ginny’s) or next Wednesday (Sewing Lounge). Or maybe all three days!!