Balenciaga’s way: In the book Couture Sewing, there’s a section on “stays”, with details on under-bust stays, pleat stays, waistline stays, and even crotch stays (yes, there is such a thing in haute couture). This particular Balenciaga dress, circa 1965 actually uses a stay on each back armhole area in a capped sleeve to control… Read More “Stay”ing the Armhole: Tip From the Haute Couture
Hello, blogworld! I am back after an unintended month-long-plus hiatus from writing. No, I am not sick or anything horrifying like that; some things just got in the way of regular weekly posts. Now I’m glad to be back!! So, taking over from the point where I stopped writing, here’s something fun. I call it… Read More NOWEK (No One Will Ever Know) Sewing Trick: Fake Buttonhole on the Collar Band
Of course it is! Pictured in this post are Chanel Haute Couture pieces – simple and iconic Chanel. All images in this post are from Vogue Runway site — I love that site for the abundance of inspiration and eye candy, and reviews. The over-the-top pieces walking down other Haute Couture runways are impressive in… Read More Haute Couture?
In most general sewing, it’s best to avoid stitching in areas where it’s unnecessary – to avoid the too much thread syndrome. Yes, there is such a thing, although the concept can be quite subjective. However, too much thread can be useful in certain areas of dressmaking and general fashion sewing. Such as, designs where… Read More Too Much Thread Can be a Good Thing: Multiple Rows of Top-Stitching
Well, the excitement got a little dampened along the way. Here’s why: All I wanted was an added pintucked detail to a much loved pants pattern in my favorite ponte knit from Sew Much Fabric. In spite of using all the appropriate threads, twin-needle sizes etc, and all the right sewing tricks, it began to… Read More Finally! White Pants, Vogue 1411
Hey kids, you’ve been doing it all wrong! How do you face a neckline? The tailor is Sajid of Sajid Designs, and you may not understand the language because he is Indian, but the videos are visually clear and understandable. He, like tailors from that part of the world, works a little differently than us… Read More Faced Neckline: Lesson Learned From a South Asian Tailor
Everyone names their clothing, right? Last week was the “Sheet”(dress, that is). Here is my Blue Lagoon. Heh. This is the latest iteration of the button down, but a bit longer, sleeveless and with a side flare. The inspiration was a Rebecca Minkoff version of a shirtdress, and the sewing stars seem to have aligned. I… Read More The Shirt Making Continues: Blue Lagoon
Oops, I mean “shirt” dress. Made with a bedsheet. In the interest of the Rs – Recycle, Reuse, Refashion and Repurpose, I’ve used a bedsheet for the first time to make a garment. Hey purists and snobs, it’s okay, it’s a trial muslin but it is a “wearable” muslin. One fine day, the nether regions… Read More “Sheet” Dress
This wardrobe item is a resounding success, in my opinion. One look at the pattern (Vogue1596) and I felt warm and fuzzy …. know that feeling? Then there was the plan to tweak this pattern to make the entry for Designin’ December. The Fail: it’s not the pattern, it’s ME trying to knock off a… Read More Success (with a tiny fail on my part)! Tracey Reese Vogue Pattern
Hi, everyone! There’s a reason why serious wardrobe seamstresses are loathe to throw away leftover materials. Like a quilter; except, a quilter is a whole different animal. Actually, I enjoyed the fabric shortage part of this project. Miraculously, there was additional material in my leftover fabric stash that coordinated with the main fabric — as… Read More The Fueled-by-Fabric-Shortage Cardigan
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