Last chance for March Garment Sewing Group today at Treadle Yard Goods, 10:30 am.
Here are photos from our meeting on Thursday at First Sewing-












Last chance for March Garment Sewing Group today at Treadle Yard Goods, 10:30 am.
Here are photos from our meeting on Thursday at First Sewing-
Yesterday was our first March meeting-we’ll be at First Sewing today, Thursday, March 9 and at Treadle Yard Goods on Saturday. Here’s what we saw at Lakes-
What will you be sewing for March-that in between, “I don’t really want to sew more wool but it’s still COLD” month!!
Debbie’s Garments:
1. Cut size small and petited between shoulders and bust but not length.
2. Stabilized the hems with Steam a Seam and then topstitched.
3. Used a serged bias finish for armholes.
4. This vest requires a lot of fabric due to the neck cowl but is worth it.
5. The fabric requires a great amount of steaming, press and pounding but again well worth it.
1. This is my second make from this pattern. I like her construction techniques but find the sleeves very narrow.
2. I petited between the shoulder and bust and shortened the front placket 7” and cut it on the bias.
3. I also straightened the outside collar edges instead of using the curve shape.
4. Her collar instructions are a little tricky so I used my own method. It’s a fun make but time to move onto another pattern for a woven tunic.
1. This is TNT pattern for me and thought it would work for a staple travel pant, especially on a plane.
2. Polyester is never my first choice but in this case it worked well for my needs.
3. I converted the waistband to one piece and eliminated the faux fly zipper.
4. A quick make and a versatile pattern.
1. I did not need to petite between shoulder and bust but did shorten the sleeve length by one inch.
2. The pattern has a 2 piece sleeve which I like but I would do a continuous or tower placket next time.
3. I used a burrito roll for the yoke and applied placket and cuffs ws to rs.
4. I will use this pattern again – other than out dated construction techniques it checks a lot of boxes.
1. Another TNT pattern that I often hack to meet my needs or my fabric needs- in this case too much stretch!
2. I changed the cowl to a T neck by removing width and length from pattern piece. If I did it again I would make the T neck out of ribbing but I didn’t have enough ribbing after making bottom band and cuffs from ribbing.
3. I wanted more of a boxy fit so I straightened the side seams from bust to hem.
Kristin’s Garments:
1. Made a size 16 for bodice, size 18 at hips.
2. One piece collar went in very easily with facings.
3. Sleeves went in flat very well.
4. Bust dart built in with the two horizontal seams. Makes pocket application a bit awkward.
5. Front placket is part of front facing-worked well.
6. Took sleeves and side seam at bust in 1/2” and that improved the fit by a lot.
1. Loved working with the wool! Fit turned out to be wonderful-size medium.
2. Elbow dart in sleeve; sleeve facing at hem.
3. Learned how to use eyelet stitch but it was a bit small for the tie.
4. Made a narrow hem-would add to length next time.
5. Made elastic cording from cotton knit-jersey rolls to right side (wrong side shows) on crossgrain and to wrong side (right side shows) on straight of grain.
1. Omitted neck facing and holes for ties.
2. Took dart out of sleeve:
1. Draw a line from hem to tip of dart, parallel to grainline.
2. Fold dart closed.
3. Draw straight line from armscye (close to side seam) to each side of newly opened area.
4. Fold this newly drawn “dart” closed.
5. True up the hem.
3. Finished the neck edge and hems with knit strips and sewed all seams with knit strips.
4. Took in sleeves and side seams by 1/2” to down size from woven pattern.
1. Split neck version-shaped front and back center seams. Vee seemed to open too high for comfort so fiddled with that.
2. Pattern calls for a neck zipper but not necessary.
3. Wrap version-shoulder seams continue up to folded over neck edge. Stitched down the fold to keep things neat.
March 2023 Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, March 8, 10:30 Lakes Makerie
Thursday, March 9, 10:30 First Sewing
Saturday, March 11, 10:30 Treadle Yard Goods
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!!
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-
Great turnout at First Sewing yesterday, 21 people! And a fair amount of fabric to swap 🙂
We’ll be at Treadle tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 and then at Lakes Makerie on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10:30. Lots of opportunities to get your sewjo on the go!!
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!