Mighty title there ….. Happy New Year, friends! I first encountered the term “epic” applied to sewing projects in a book by Sandra Betzina. In the first edition of “Power Sewing” (1990s), she referred to some of her sewn garments as “epic”. Those particular projects took time, effort, the best materials, and utmost skill. I think… Read More 2018: Epic Sewing Projects
My Blue Velvet … Read More My Blue Velvet
Hi readers! Remember my post about the “Big Fashion Stripe of 2018”? To keep up with Fashion Week, I made this black/white chevron striped cardigan (polyester and acrylic). Is this cardigan on trend? Well, a little bit, because most of the fashion week looks were vertical, thick stripes, bordering on the “Beetlejuice look”. I personally preferred my… Read More Chevron in Black and White Stripe
I have sewn many things, but never a man’s button-down shirt. This project is for my son in law, Brian. A captive audience, one might say, but my dear SIL is willing to wear whatever I make for him. We agreed on using McCalls 6044. The shirt is basic and the pattern envelope model looks great… Read More First Attempt: Men’s Button-down Shirt
The irony is obvious. Time, effort, money and sewing skills was spent on these items; yet, they hang unworn. What happened? Let’s break it down. Prudence Blouse With a name like Prudence Blouse, this Hot Patterns item had everything going for it visually, but the allure of the pattern illustration did me in. An easy… Read More Self-Made, Beautiful and Unworn. What Happened?
I’m obsessed with the illusion neckline detail on this Fendi dress in their Fall 2017 RTW line. The red strip sewn in a U shape seems to be floating on the model’s skin. Not an earth shatteringly new detail, but so pretty and wearable if adapted to show less cleavage. I say that because we… Read More Can’t Let Go: Fendi’s Neckline Illusion
It’s quite obvious that I have no idea what to write for today’s post; either that or I have so many potential posts in my head (and in a folder on my laptop) that my writing chops are a bit paralyzed. Is this writer’s block? I’ll scrape the far recesses of my sewing brain and… Read More Of Wadders, and What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Snarky types might call this the “High Fashion Does Prison” trend, or the “Beetlejuice” trend, and I’m terrified that my eye will get used to the look. To redeem the designers, most of them manipulated the fabric to give modern, innovative lines, but its hard to get over the prison invocation. Also, most of them have… Read More The Big Fashion Stripe of 2018
I am adding the romantically named Misty Top to my favorite pattern list. The designer, Andrea Davis of Sew To Fit, put her heart and soul into this design and ended up with a pattern sized for, and flattering to, “normal” women. Plus, we have help from designer Andrea via YouTube. She did a recent… Read More What I Wore to the Eclipse. The Misty Top
This post was originally titled “Making the Impossible, Possible”. Say you’re sewing up a see-through, diaphanous, loosely woven and therefore ravel-prone item. You’ve decided to use French seams throughout. Good! But hold on; there are side slits in this here garment. A French seam and a side slit do not mix – not really. Impossible… Read More Combining a French Seam and a Side Slit. Impossible.
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