tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39867076492988498882024-02-07T12:07:49.937-08:00Couture PioneerElegant thriving in lean timesAMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-72570594749430988522011-04-29T08:11:00.000-07:002011-04-29T08:34:25.856-07:00New needles every 30 minutes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqkzI5mhUkpANBL-9HftwlmO5Rlm4NpnfHMSq6DkbYeXD0Szrx0bPhATjBEbL1SZNfpQewfM5KpZp7TFNOscf5y5Fp9VRnzQWDrJ-WyGjDB4l7yIeCrTJir2owXL_6LevAdw6qLCSxKdG/s1600/royaldress.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqkzI5mhUkpANBL-9HftwlmO5Rlm4NpnfHMSq6DkbYeXD0Szrx0bPhATjBEbL1SZNfpQewfM5KpZp7TFNOscf5y5Fp9VRnzQWDrJ-WyGjDB4l7yIeCrTJir2owXL_6LevAdw6qLCSxKdG/s400/royaldress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601028908122171442" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); line-height: 16px; font-family:Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Designing and crafting Kate Middleton's magnificent dress was a tour de force by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, and by British needleworkers. I love how the lace just covers the top of the wrists. Here are details from the BBC as to how the dress was made (new needles every 30 minutes!):</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The lace on the bride's dress details a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, and was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The bridal train measures 2m 70cm, and along with the lace, all other fabrics used in the creation of the dress were sourced from and supplied by British companies.</span></span></p><div class="story-feature narrow" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; position: relative; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: -160px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; width: 144px; float: right; display: inline; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; clear: right; "><a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13235599#story_continues_2" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; position: absolute; top: -5000px; left: -5000px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Continue reading the main story</span></span></a><h2 class="quote" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); font-weight: bold; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-indent: -500px; background-image: url(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/view/1_4_13/cream/hi/shared/img/story_sprite.png); position: relative; clear: both; background-position: 0px -188px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“</span></span><span style="line-height: 16px; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: -5000px; font-family:Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Start Quote</span></span></span></h2><blockquote style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; float: left; display: inline; font-weight: bold; "><p class="first-child" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; clear: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kate Middleton is the perfect Grace Kelly princess bride”</span></span></p></blockquote><ul class="links-list" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; clear: both; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); "><li style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13236617" class="quote-link" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What are they saying about the dress?</span></span></a></li></ul></div><p id="story_continues_2" style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The lace motifs were pinned, "framed up" and applied with stab stitching every 2mm to 3mm around each lace motif.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean."</span></span></p></span>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-23352738731156623582011-03-12T15:15:00.000-08:002011-03-12T15:44:22.592-08:00Mesh tunic top<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This is a great Vogue 8582 tunic by Marcy Tilton that I've made four times now - and I'll probably make it again! Easy to make, and with quirky details. It has a twisted neckband (or not, as you prefer), and a super-flattering and modern asymmetrical hem.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8vNzyR4dYn8x9jTUhrWYDbN68J0LcpUGPX2tomqjYoxYAolJ2pefn9FY0ADGeNy1AczTaGGg8-8JHP0PbwkmfqNE5RC_c4KYdC-Q0jttRRTJQHthYrBSGNM7dborjRurNcXQUhpB-DdY/s400/Mesh_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583339234297583250" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">My mom, wearing her new tunic</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This top seems loose, and (being lazy) I've made it without a full bust adjustment, but I have to say that if you need the adjustment, the top fits much better with than without.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I made this version as a gift for my mom, using mesh fabric. There are instructions for sewing mesh on the Gorgeous Fabrics blog and on Marcy Tilton's website as well. It's worth having a look at both methods.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Ann of Gorgeous Fabrics has a <a href="http://gorgeousfabrics.com/blog/2009/06/23/mesh-tutorial-jalie-sweetheart-top/">mesh tutorial on her blog</a>. She explains how you can cut a double layer and leave each layer unhemmed. Marcy shows how you can <a href="http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=760&cp=4">double the fabric with the hem placed on the fold</a>. (There is a post called "double-layer knits" on page 4 of the tutorials.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Don't be intimidated by these descriptions, though - it's really <b>easy</b> to work with mesh.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Thanks also to Shelley at Marcy Tilton for pointing out this fabric to me. It was on sale for $5 a yard and it made a fabulous top and it just seemed a perfect refined mauve and black look for a go-with-all-your-black-trousers top.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">For this top, I doubled the mesh for the body of the tunic and I used a single layer of mesh for the sleeves. I left the sleeves unhemmed - no problem at all and it looks fine. I slipstitched the side seam hems in place by hand. It was very fast and it turned out great.</span></div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqRHpW2601fS9T-Jk2qiFXCUEqACFToGEr78-vsN3Hjyrvhra-LtljliP3NSH-hUqYkiUkPa3Oq6pmEjdjYv8KmiuZeAcfpurhMcoMDgCYQ4aRCqQSb8fwqBgjo_59Kb9bDycacqrw9KU/s400/Mesh_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583339093310067906" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hard to see the binding here, but it's flat, not twisted</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This pattern comes with instructions for twisting the binding at the neckline. This looks great on some fabrics, but I didn't like it so much here, so I just sewed on the neckline binding in the usual way.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'll try to post some pictures of other versions of this tunic top - it's a winner.</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-67692162596637763862011-03-08T06:30:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:19:00.633-08:00Hip-tie blouse powers the flowers<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's the new hip-tie blouse in a Roberto Cavalli silk charmeuse - I've very happy with it. Here is where sewing pays off: you can purchase a similar top at Neiman's or Net-a-Spender for $595, or you can make yourself a glamorous and better-fitting topper for $50.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ECO3tLYYhX_4Pgh7P6MdcRRHoY5DU-u_Ouhm8NcGpTPvCNEOgej3q7qvSr2ZuKoTSQT96Y810mHV-NXeB31DXBvRYdxii3NIlufoHn3roqbSZHNs2qwxyMlAVLd6hZ9mrLJzCGLM_WM9/s400/RC_top3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581775115736426578" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">My hip-tie blouse</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'll admit that I bought the fabric on sale at FS Fabrics in Los Angeles. I think it was originally $100 a yard and I bought two yards at 50% off. I made this blouse for me and a fabric necklace for my mom all out of two yards of fabric. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTKFP4WBG9MzaVp_5yxTNxauiTyD3dQKHzuPJT7F3Ox5Pa4hGfZLVSp6rRqI3mScae_iPlIDq-2_d1tXBmIWWrbgnGSerN-7j2D7dht0-tqMLzU4g1XpZBXz-PkPshNuA6lM5vNpf7C5L/s400/NM-2VDZ_mf.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581723352259935090" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">This Roberto Cavalli blouse runs $595.00</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Here's a summary of how I made this top:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">1. The hie-tie top runs big. I made a medium and I did a full bust adjustment (FBA).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">2. I added a dart to the side (as part of the FBA).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">3. I gathered the neckline by hand. This worked so much better than by machine.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">4. This fabric is opaque and rather heavy, so I finished the seams by pinking the raw edges.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">5. I attached the bindings by machine, then stitched in the ditch </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">by hand</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I found the solution for attaching the bindings in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">High Fashion Sewing Secrets</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> by Claire B. Shaeffer. She gives detailed information on how to attach bindings. She says that when binding a neckline you should "ditch-stitch by hand, using a very short running stitch".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">At first I thought: that is insane. Then I realized that it is quick to do and it gives beautiful results that would be hard to replicate on a machine. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">She also gives instructions for finishing binding ends so that they look very neat.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Now I'm ready to party!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6mFAb5Me9w2YQX_uzmnJdtTVDmO8ZSjqYbF8BGO1EL_KLfly2tNb0RwrIvYOrITadNOwQAjr3q964yCkT9AUIXVN63HRkJPQ6_PMxARSyTiQlPr1eBTH-2bGgUvJ6Zxoaw1VvLFXThno/s1600/RC_top3.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-34868325837121373752011-01-27T16:30:00.000-08:002011-01-27T16:58:18.477-08:00Roberto Cavalli Hip-Tie Blouse, Part II<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">Back with Part II of the Hip-Tie Blouse. It's a bit unfair of me to blog about a pattern you can no longer purchase, but this isn't so much a pattern review as a pronouncement on Slow Sewing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The first time I made this top I finished it in under two hours - and I have to say, it's fairly adorable. I'm making it for the second time and it's taken me, so far, about eight hours. So what happened? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I decided to make this the slow way and learn how to do it right. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I started with a full bust adjustment (FBA) - not my very first one, but close. There are lots of great websites showing you how to do this, so I won't repeat what's been done better in other places - I'll just show you where I ended up. This isn't even a photo of the same top, by the way, but it's the same process:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3mb7WvJGzmegVibBavRIKhOecSDkhMFXUuwhzC33nwOKWo0rBwoYitnqhARYNh5Q-CBNrFzEq2eFZOexJm2SSqV5fd0e6KHhm1nX-Pm7iE6DwmKuvW3Y9PdPpDQz9HxOSq2srT46ryOm/s400/V8620_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567028931369830130" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">After I made my FBA, I made a muslin and tried it on. There weren't any bust points marked on the original pattern, so I used the muslin to mark the bust points and then I pinned out where I wanted my darts. I transferred the markings to my new pattern, and used that to cut out my fabric.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I thought it might make sense to check the fit again when I put the top together because the fabric I planned to use (the gorgeous Roberto Cavalli silk) was so much drapier than the muslin. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This lead to a discovery for a fitting amateur like me - there are three moving parts to this top:</span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The angle of the shoulder seam </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The depth of the darts </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The position of the neckline gathers</span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Change one element and you might need to adjust the others too. </span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I started by adjusting the darts, which seemed a bit big. I learned something on the <a href="http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=195">Marcy Tilton video</a> that helped solve this problem: split the one big dart into two small darts. This worked perfectly. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Then, I had a look at the neckline gathers. Normally I would just follow the pattern, mark the gathering area, zoom some big stitches across there and pull. But here I was dealing with Roberto Cavalli, so to show some reverence, I gently hand-stitched the gathering lines, and then put on the top to see how to position the gathers. And guess what? I ended up making the gathered area much more narrow. I stopped the gathers where I've scribbled the word "better!":</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjJ7o7x1tLgmI9vg2tNlKFohJETsaVGpBOXtzeR8NoHCl6wd8oCVRZMCPT17ZPJ-__B_up4w8Fl_Vv6cuEixFupgkz-1zryildcpTg53Kb6r-9cDOCJ0omznwmGhxMSsb8NrqmjHSZ18k/s400/hiptie_front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567033915559166866" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Again, the Marcy Tilton video - it's my top and my neckline. Why not adjust it my way?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I've now stitched the gathers and the darts in place, and I'll be able to test the angle of the shoulder seam and show you final result tomorrow. We can compare and contrast the two hour top with the eight hour top. Stay tuned. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-39991697343041280812011-01-26T11:46:00.000-08:002011-01-26T17:24:35.712-08:00Sewing as metaphor for life<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Last night I cut into a piece of Roberto Cavalli silk charmeuse. The drape, the heft, the luscious hand, the sophisticated design and color scheme, the slipperiness - everything about this fabric is enchanting - and intimidating.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3H_WJEkX5f35jcL0eL847H8VMxF6t5aV7MCaJKCLQYOrVytFUt1jUSZWY50mhzNnmFq4GH1cARsi8jjxOzM-Jit-DyLNt7nsNmpyKE719FmqJ326Lkm1mZQHYpa5D0LESJyVjpFxZcVq/s400/Irises.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566591249537467314" /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I was afraid to cut into this cloth - but now that I've gotten a bit more brave, I find that it's working up into a dazzling little blouse that might cost $795.00 at Neimans. I finally worked up the courage to tackle this project, here's what helped me get over my fear:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Planning </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Experimenting </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Assembling the right tools</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Taking my time</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'm making a pattern I've had for some time, the Betsy Ross Pattens hip-tie blouse. This is an adorable little top that's easy to make. Sadly, Betsy Ross Patterns has ceased production - sad because they made some excellent patterns that were simple to make and lovely to wear. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxgdfZ_oR0oL1fSTO0dUXT1YHv4Wqu9-cIVynRMaKq8Ab5YKJ0Mah-T_AiOYdE3vNCv93hh3bkv-3-cSadcacokV-FM6ytFomZKUg5MHHah0Yo9Ybzt0jZnj-MML36cSNyOjuDsGFE3Tq/s400/hiptie_blouse.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566593259581208258" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I made this top in some less expensive fabric last year, and the top I ended up with was too baggy for my taste, although that hasn't stopped me from wearing it to death. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I decided that with this Roberto Cavalli fabric I must finally tackle my fear of making a full bust adjustment. Guess what? It's easy! There is nothing to lose but a modest amount of time and the cost of some tracing paper and muslin. It all clicked for me when watched Marcy Tilton's </span><a href="http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=195"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">video on making t-shirts</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">. At $40 that video seemed a lot of money to me, but it was a spectacularly useful investment. Yes, spectacular. Thanks Marcy! I discovered for one thing that I'm not a size extra-large, but a size medium with "people on the balcony" as the French would say.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">More on this top in my next post...</span></div><div><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-50311954417024404802011-01-23T09:18:00.000-08:002011-01-26T17:22:47.405-08:00Fabric bead necklace<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NURHl1EMwjSVsH96CdKMPWTESdSFKNtdlYfLdlprqDWvE11hFDVE02myvG8J9v14l7t0wyfN00TJ-Aji4nj5qWc6U1VJBV1NQmDDPtxJS-dxEDcmhW78Fud4c2iIrknDtfxuhBBhCnFA/s400/liberty_necklace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565435246587207378" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been trying to curtail holiday spending - but I still like to give the people dearest to me something really gorgeous, even spectacular. I have some small bits of exclusive, high-end fabrics in my stash: a bit of Liberty tana lawn left over from another project, and a narrow piece of Roberto Cavalli silk charmeuse. and I also remembered reading a Threads article about making fabric necklaces.</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This project is extremely fast, and if you have the right fabric, inexpensive. I bought 1 " wooden beads at Michael's. You can spray paint the beads silver or gold if you're using silk georgette or chiffon, and a bit of sparkle will charmingly show through. You can also use styrofoam beads, but I wasn't very happy working with the crumbly texture. Styrofoam has the advantage of being lighter, so your necklace won't weigh on your neck.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cut the fabric into 5" strips. Piece the strips together until you have enough. I sewed together 2 strips 45 inches in length to yield a long strip 5 inches wide and 89 inches in length. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You want to sew that center seam together very, very well so it won't pop apart when you start knotting the necklace - take my word on that.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFeVeYqKJThhXNJzTH3yzQeY2nf-_Todnfgntv28PQ6pdj66jhyjSayaOJTU8vvWz_tAVtPPtQVzElNWbXR4bsVAlGY5QMicGVkX8mwDU_CRUSzsYJjUjwHZ6ybn9sGiHj_4Qq_vOSzJ0/s400/libertybow_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565435397374651346" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You then fold the strip lengthwise and seam the long end. You don't want this seam too bulky but best if it doesn't pop apart. Trim close to the stitching and turn the tube right-side out. Press. You can press over a dowel if you have one handy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I started by knotting the fabric right in the middle to hide the visible seam. Then just insert the beads and knot tightly after each bead. You might need to practice a bit to get the knots tight enough and keep them close to the beads, but this isn't a high-stress project. You'll be finished in 20 minutes. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the necklace is as long as you want it, just press the ends neatly, slip-stich closed and tie a neat bow. You can secure the bow with a few stab stitches, if you like. And presto: an elegant and impressive necklace made with under $10 of materials (provided you had the fabric in your stash.)</span></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-59814110972127207012009-09-11T18:14:00.000-07:002009-09-14T21:27:13.207-07:00Oilcloth<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lots of people have been asking where I got my oilcloth tablecloth - here are some resources if you want one too! Real oilcloth is a super-practical and easy way to cover your table. You care for it by wiping clean: that's it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The kind of oilcloth I like most is widely available in the UK but hard to find stateside. It is heavy cotton-linen union fabric that is lightly coated with a layer of plastic, so that the feel and look of the cloth remains intact. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you've ever bought those noxious (and possibly insalubrious) PVC tablecloths, please try to find real oilcloth, which is coated with a thin layer of vinyl. It has no bad smell and doesn't feel so plastic-y. You won't be able to live without this wonderful stuff.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBtXGZk9k0zeZXhBybLDdiHIercuF6cEhhsOm1W9UdMgY2x-kPd3sSldlmH0bEOG3tfoou6I3yQJicrQC-vHR5EmPJsM-rrBYQ4cuVs9IYsGXAICfB4xtuE44U6x7yMaPL7H5vfaFVnew/s400/ascotstripe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380387898990739106" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Stripes from Ian Mankin (UK)</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh0g1l6Xh9by3uYk3JsQvk67N60w1b_blYM2K7L6xplMGVbAn5ZNPZ25Fvz20DHj1ksSV95l5qLzK5kwgWixCUlnwNHmhQQadJoMspek-ML1q-teOF2jJaZn0RprJae0Zpu4We8uvvEfd/s400/elephant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380388143651835170" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fun elephant and giraffe print for kids from Cath Kidston</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wgoNqZ8EfxHTco9d6jJK8ZFmbuac9LyPBpQZG9YCWMUpE_XRrTnKO7MI4IPBRBA_1G_JOyAG8RrBnuhNFXez-eYgZu3rpsVVZTrB2hTVyFAv8lKjO0_Xz6H3_P462CWCZe_YAYZMFGiL/s400/duckegg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380388153554883986" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lovely floral from Just Wipe</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujKO7bMjn6J5BvVho1D2jnVm7i9x6cVXzsWZC7hV1MKTUTgJpju2UEslOj07AscUAvSoXIBVzToaHhTX6G0xUAUFFrepoBTdoChyGsRFcvIMgYGlddTnV4VsPAN1hoZ2CK13A7DmqtFD5/s400/dogs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380388127364304978" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Top Dog print from Just Wipe </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(or find it at John Lewis)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSUayZLMa-Nt3oPBCdOHg6PHrdiRshE0_2LzRECPQO5m2vK4ADfxFT9-ft-OVzkKkzwbmXOZK8GMyos50DXVBtZxzklJ475Tu4-vFAJXDcE9pV6wy7ELd2H-4SlElqSnr08BEFpwlwrkn/s400/willowbow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380388134954310754" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Classic, refined William Morris Willow Bow print </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(from the Curtain Shop)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My very favorite oilcloth comes from </span><a href="http://www.ianmankin.co.uk/oilcloths-103-c.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ian Mankin</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in London. Ian Mankin sends samples very quickly and they ship from the UK, so there is no problem whatsoever if you want to order from the US. You may need two meters to cover a big table, but it is well worth it. This oilcloth has a light, matte coating so it feels and looks much more like natural fabric. It does stain if you are not careful - coffee or red wine should be wiped away immediately - but with just minimal bit of attention you will have a flawless, child-proof table covering for years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Other wonderful sources for oilcloth are fifties-style goddess </span><a href="http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/c-33-oilcloth-by-the-metre.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cath Kidston</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (UK), groovy modern Marimekko (order from </span><a href="http://store.txtlart.com/oilcloth.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Textile Arts</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in the US), or see a very big range at </span><a href="http://www.justwipe.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">JustWipe</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. You can find William Morris prints at the </span><a href="http://www.curtainshop-online.co.uk/p464847/Wm-Morris-Willow-Bow-minor-Oilcloth-tablecloth.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Curtain Shop</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (UK).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you are in London, pop into the John Lewis department store for a big selection, or visit the Blue Door Barnes, a shop selling Swedish furnishings, for exquisite pale blue and oatmeal colored linen made into oilcloth. In Paris try Printemps for "la toile cire'".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now you can relax and enjoy your meal: no tablecloth to wash or iron!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-72851388857993452452009-08-19T10:08:00.000-07:002009-08-19T17:07:20.040-07:00Kids' T-Shirts<div style="text-align: justify;">Back to posting after a long time off. This summer I made (nearly) all the clothes for myself and my son. I haven't quite worked my way up to dressing my husband - Ralph seems to do a perfectly adequate job there - but I did make a mountain of t-shirts for my son. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I used the Ottobre "Best t-shirts" pattern and it worked perfectly. It does help to know a bit about sewing knits before you start with this pattern, as the explanations are fairly brief.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVwuNIjjZb42V4XRKpF-FKtiQQ05S1E9F-FadFC8oQWv9toLhRdjtYJwmMSuClGzsM4lzoJBBa7svG2WuoEgt4OjZPauD3N3rigctEv6d_ySycBKAu2fda6SiSbSGpJt7mg6Ow_Og4boK/s400/arth_T1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811015567120018" /><div style="text-align: center;">T-shirt in stripey Hilco Campan fabric</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This fabric comes from <a href="http://www.banberryplace.com/">Banberry Place</a>, a fabulous resource for kids' (and particularly girls') European fabrics. This knit for Hilco in Germany is sturdy, stable, has body without being heavy-weight, and sews up perfectly. It's the nicest kids' knit or for that matter adult knit I've ever worked with. Well, at $24 a yard, it had better be. I'm not sure this project turned out to be a money-saver, but don't the little ones deserve the best?</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPynXJWNr3tLA2mXjWWhTXHsOF69XpYLhVwDP8-OgisLs873_HTTClGwqgHBHvPfrMONY-MaDKzQa9gHMe41LAd16iztIP7ito-tQz4v_uszaLb7V9jB-Bxzm-L09OPWVBzeq0SqRUE5j/s400/Arth_t2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811019655776354" /><div style="text-align: center;">Arthur models his t-shirt in "Carlo"</div><div style="text-align: center;">also from Banberry Place</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are a few tips for making Ottobre t-shirts: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Determine the size</b> Start by calculating the height of your little (or big) boy or girl in centimeters (2.54 centimeters = 1 inch). Use this measurement to determine the size shirt to make. My son is six and I made a size 116 cm. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Trace</b> Now trace the pattern from the pattern sheet. If you prefer short sleeves, measure the sleeve from a shirt that fits your child, then add about 2.5 cm to the bottom edge for the hem. Add seam allowances to the pattern before you cut it out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cut your fabric</b> Be careful to position the stripes to match front and back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Assemble the t-shirt</b> The pattern gives great assembly directions. I like the sewing instructions from Jalie t-shirts: if you don't have a serger, use 3-step zigzag or normal zigzag to sew the seams edges together first, then sew the seams at the seam line using a normal stitch, stretching slightly. Of course use a needle suitable for knits.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Hem</b> Make the hem a bit deeper than what's called for to avoid having it flip up during wear, and interface the hem area with a strip of fusible knit interfacing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Apply the binding</b> I discovered a few tricks for applying binding. Have a look at the excellent video on the Threads website, which gives excellent instructions. Then cut your binding to the length specified in the pattern and sew the binding strip in a loop with a narrow hem. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can reduce bulk by snipping the seam in the middle. Snip in between the zigzag almost to the seamline (see photos below). Now fold the binding in half lengthwise to apply it to the neckline, and placing half of the center seam to the left side and half to the right. Voila, you get a very flat, professional looking, non-bulky binding. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now press carefully to flatten and gently stretch out any wrinkles around the neckline...although my son generally jumps into these t-shirts before I get a chance to press them. There's something magnetic about clothes your mom makes personally for you - you just love them more than other clothes.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBjWVB35l8Xwjr93QzBu6KQFwn62mRaCUAa4jjPvxg4zjC2yPMf1iWu7IUGgrH0ng_MfER9kpRmlBnGGaxwOzp391vFS2a3eZ12sw1gr5x03AeZ68qUUiKUhD-oZ-0ONPuPe3iQvyrXJk/s400/binding1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811029190347314" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhtKxHb5TTVSGS_stIHBAqy4SkspQksDlf0w3CbEoSTw_IBa7TKBVgWgvW-s1V17yCns3hPvA54ZT3gc1-nffzXcfy0aD-I1oA27ZXwMCH-MQ25w4DXLOCid7ERlj2m1687u7NKa8RRci/s400/binding2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811335588446898" /><div style="text-align: center;">Sew the binding to form a loop,</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">then snip the seam allowance at the mid-point of this seam.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't cut through the seam itself!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwOOTuMJK6Cc9w578pJmu6qEomuO0EmdvJL0W3fuaHAPVagkSweACPykVvbdPahkNxK7qMAzYEa7QH1ml66v4S8hf5zBkJOFjxOLMd1-WgRLxOHXX-p2gfT1-Y-K9vzheaFc8_Tn8XOcv/s400/binding3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811047672872194" /><div style="text-align: center;">Push one side of the seam allowance to the left</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">and the other to the right</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45QimpHhzUTQYJJS2NnhbVaA31F-yfg8VRVJ7vG_yswPeJCwkCbuDbnCEv5ZLvFRIaB4xa2B_AyyDouf0Pk7wrIB2bCai4HSFIh9WnB2AQg8O7MVdHt9SQ-C5veuNmasDUtYZptuSM_1l/s400/binding4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811348774363074" /><div style="text-align: center;">Sew the binding to the neck opening, stretching evenly to fit</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Check out the great tutorial on the Threads website)</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJG9d-z3iAQrjPYDyXe-7-f3tJ0Ksqm513hpryrfoF6sJhh-kEq6wzKqsDOi8CB-CFBSnylw8swvpXXXv4O8RTO2o3RCguXxflEBJI2rcEgsnBuZTvleQCOj9TIGVuSB0azaAIjotGmrT/s400/binding5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811360469886194" /><div style="text-align: center;">Now you have a perfectly flat, non-bulky, professional binding</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXyx_PBlBhpeiKdI1NdnSlDWZ1jEa3wohAJBDO-WQ_kHwF_sGC8I06IoNDpgwReRpWxrGZWnpMHQLz6UFWth59NofKYfOF0d8LcoU29CPPyX9Szs7GqdG74__8DyHSB9ADwvwVRBRRuTe/s400/Itry.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371811362462753682" /><div style="text-align: center;">My son tries his hand at machine sewing</div><div style="text-align: center;">(under close supervision by mom)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A createur in the making? After this lesson I locked up the power cord, though.</div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-80133150178040981202009-06-07T21:55:00.000-07:002009-06-07T21:59:49.717-07:00Translations of Marie Claire Idees<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some of you have said you'd like to purchase translations of Marie Claire Idees. I am happy to translate project instructions for you. If I get enough demand I will can translate all the projects in each issue. For right now, please contact me and let me know which projects you'd like translated and I will give you a quotation - and please have a look at the sample translation of the Mexican skirt! Thanks...</span>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-70584101549994396902009-04-11T15:46:00.000-07:002009-04-11T19:52:47.792-07:00Marie Claire Idees<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I subscribe to a wonderful French magazine called Marie Claire Idees. For those of you who don't know about this publication, it is the best crafts magazine anywhere in the world. You can subscribe <a href="http://abonnement.marieclaireidees.com/">here</a>. (On the left side of the page, look for "Abonnement dom-tom / etranger" which means "foreign subscriptions." Click on the pull-down menu and opt for "Etats-Unis d'Amerique" which means "USA".)</span><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This magazine is only available in French, but I'm thinking of offering a downloadable translation in English, so please let me know if you are interested. Here's a design that appeared in June 2008 (Issue No. 69) that I may make for this summer - instructions in English follow.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt_ztHvtrVvw8Ym7QRUMO2X4HqPs9TT7dfiyTRG0ALcwrVTKQU1dlBSgEz4cZ2ZR-o2meEjsXgop2leWC97MFtb9dqcrDl1Upf6rPtz0oGIrih-3zckH9npgjk2ZlTS3D5MahAi6p0J2m/s400/mexicanskirt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323590413450359778" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mexican Inspiration - Flowered cotton skirt </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rating: Very easy to make</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Size 38/40 </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(which is about a size 6/8, so you may want to adjust the measurements as required)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What you need</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cotton fabric, 54 or 60 inches wide:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 yard of cotton fabric, printed with a small black and white floral design</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1/2 yard of cotton fabric, printed with a black and white patchwork design</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3 1/4" strip of black cotton fabric for the waistband</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Interfacing for the waistband if desired</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Black and white zigzag: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You need 28 yards of zigzag in different widths. Each piece should be 2 3/4 yards long.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Black thread</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">White thread</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">65 cm of flat elastic, 2.5 cm wide</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How to make the skirt</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Preshrink and press all the fabrics and zigzag.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut out the fabric pieces</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut 2 strips of printed black and white floral measuring 50" x 13" (125 x 33 cm) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut 2 strips of printed black and white floral measuring 50" x 5"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut 4 strips of white fabric measuring 50" x 2"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut 2 strips of white fabric measuring 50" x 3 3/4"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut 2 strips of patchwork fabric measuring 50" x 3 1/2"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the fabric pairs together</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sewing each pair together along the short edges, using a 3/8" seam allowance. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the two 13" pieces of floral fabric together, matching the short edges. <br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the two 5" pieces of floral fabric together, matching the short edges.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew two 2" pieces of white fabric to form one strip; sew the two other 2" pieces of white fabric together to form another strip.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the two 3 3/4" pieces of white fabric together, matching the short edges.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the two patchwork pieces together, matching the short edges.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now cut and add the zigzag trim</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut the zigzag into lengths, allowing a 3/8" seam allowance on each end. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew 5 lengths of black zigzag onto the the 2" white bands.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew 3 rows of white zigzag onto each 5" band of floral fabric</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew 6 rows of white zigzag onto the bottom of the 13" band of floral fabric</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew the bands together</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stack the bands and sew together, allowing a 3/8" seam allowance. Start with the wide flowered band at the top, then:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attach a 2" white band under the big flowered band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attach the patchwork band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attach a 2" white band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attach the second floral band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hem and finish</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fold the last white band in half lengthwise to add some weight to the hem. Sew the last (folded) white band onto the bottom of the skirt. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finish the seam allowances inside the skirt.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew 2 rows of black zigzag onto the white bottom band. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now assemble the skirt by sewing the vertical/back seam. Work carefully to line up each strip.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Adding the waistband</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Reduce the waist diameter to 90 cm by pining a lot of tiny pleats all around the upper edge of the skirt. <br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cut out a 36" strip of black fabric to form the waistband. Sew the short ends together with a 3/8" seam allowance to form a loop. Sew the waistband to the skirt right sides together. Turn the long unsewn edge of the waistband under 3/8". Now fold the waistband in half lengthwise and sew it to the inside of the skirt, leaving an opening to insert the elastic. Insert the elastic into this casing and sew it closed into a loop. Slipstitch the casing closed.</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-12441391588733279362009-04-07T14:26:00.001-07:002009-04-07T15:10:52.087-07:00The Delicious dress: deliciously slow<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thank you to a dear reader for a great suggestion: Vogue V8578. This is quite glam and could be extended to maxi length. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK9MD27HFM2fos7bv_mSSv9erpBP0zjMd_z3_Y332bhmLaqpexLLb7HMUF17d9q1egNfTmqjMrES_xWZU0ptxzL_cih5oibk8Clw7ZjD_rA8o4vzZEHlCxQZ3Ujnb2fBEh3Mp4xP9yT6d/s400/V8578.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322073352337594338" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The one to try next:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Vogue 8578</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the meantime we chip away at the Hot Patterns Deco Vibe Delicious dress, which is so easy to make...unless you make it extra hard. The usual: a couple of seams, no zip, no buttons, all agony. So far, I have interlined all the pieces, pressed them nicely, and begun to assemble the dress. It isn't anywhere near ready to photograph but I include a photo anyway, so you can see the idea.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEmI-HyguwjJgcAI7KHx7vUYLTmlMTW3H69FyEX6hzEblrmarUWS0ylJMUXWxZmTBLdU18jadzDfoejEY7-LLgsR6cR9wMaagmSUHsaGnT8rlhCn0scImiXsKkxbEUyXdAIJHbZmQqK2y/s400/underlinedpieces.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322064734688379090" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A pile of underlined pieces</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pinned together before sewing</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some initial learning: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Work area</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: This is fairly self-evident but you need a big work surface to cut out the pieces for the maxi dress. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Max-imize</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: I have the sense that the maxi dress works better aesthetically than the short dress. The long length gives somewhere for all that drape to go.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Basting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: I basted all the underlining pieces to the fashion fabric pieces along the grainline. I've also basted the seams in place in areas where pieces were likely to slip. It's a bit of work but results seem good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pressing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: The shoulder seams are curved. I pressed the seams flat after sewing, then pressed them open over a tailor's ham (with a bit of card underneath to prevent leaving a line), then pressed them on the right side, again over the tailor's ham and covered with silk organza. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sleeve gathering</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: I am now trying to figure out the ruched sleeves. The pattern suggests that you slit the sleeve opening, and then roll a narrow hem while inserting a bit of narrow elastic in the slit hem. I think this could work, but I am not sure I like this method. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I took a break to walk around in downtown Manhattan Beach, and I passed a shop window where I saw with a beautiful spring dress, pale green with white flowers. When I looked closely I noticed that the white flowers were embroidered with beads. What a lovely idea. I might try adding a beaded detail to the hems of this dress if I need to weight it toward the hem. Do, and overdo, in other words.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5faNgdgUCmiizQH-N7BqFETFDwwZM7b3GLyjzCi7QTmgs7PEYva2-XkRMPUII2OxOUROY-x6Wuo_oTMqxu2JWIN-5Cs1CTNYsdS4FPiwOwYROTsvErfOmGI9y_Sztknrj5lysXpPoLDy/s1600-h/partlybasted.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5faNgdgUCmiizQH-N7BqFETFDwwZM7b3GLyjzCi7QTmgs7PEYva2-XkRMPUII2OxOUROY-x6Wuo_oTMqxu2JWIN-5Cs1CTNYsdS4FPiwOwYROTsvErfOmGI9y_Sztknrj5lysXpPoLDy/s400/partlybasted.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322064735521198402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some segments now partly basted, partly pinned<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(It's not as bad as it looks)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">More to follow...</span></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-78151322339144769412009-03-28T22:32:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:11:49.918-07:00In for a penny, in for a pound<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thank you, dear friends at PatternReview, for your advice on how to make myself look like this, except with more color:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5rE5lkPf3BAvt6XOnOBia-_FNxNMmHg4_fqcmklIHCb6zwqIWgVLx4tQLBQVuKisH2Xcvyptb7an-oDq8Hb8OHZm8dTH6UG6MZkVcELhbWoxQxatBDMA7UkydqzDG1IiMBSjAYaVQOJg/s400/dries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318485075778351586" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Dries van Noten dress of dreams <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(Oh come on Dries, a little peachy blush couldn't hurt)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I started making this dress exuberantly enough, tracing and then cutting out a muslin of the HotPatterns Deco Vibe Delicious Dress. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"This dress isn't all that fitted," I said to myself, "I'll use my bust size." Wrong assumption, as it turned out. The muslin was a vast poof from the waist down. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've taken some advice from many people at PatternReview. Rather than add darts or try to shape the seams, I traced the pattern in a smaller size from the waist down. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I gave up on making another muslin, as the fabric was just too stiff. I rather bravely decided to skip making a second muslin and instead pin fit the Swedish tracing paper. The new size seemed to fit well enough, and was much sleeker.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Scissors in hand I launched into a long piece of deep blue silk. I was too terrified to cut into the Pucci fabric in my stash, but I needed to try this HotPatterns dress in very, extremely drapey fabric to discover whether this pattern would ever work. I was prepared to sacrifice this blue silk crepe de chine that I bought a few weeks ago on sale.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurgIKZeDEHYRW3sdKLoUtYQ-YotmicUMf6oextm1ESy79xXiQV8BQ1x2Kx2WU3H5bKx0lvYnQMOkKgp_phd-mNaJEFhCHSIrAzGlfE8r_emifPicYQT9B3UWjY24nooXpxwygxxamkl1F/s400/bluesheer.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483693838299826" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I found that the blue silk was rawwther sheer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(My hand, visible through the silk)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I contemplated how to solve the sheerness problem. Wear a slip? Or underline? This dress is still an experiment, but it's getting more expensive by the minute. So far, I've bought a pattern for $18.95, plus shipping, and then $24 of silk and $5 of thread. I've made one muslin and traced this pattern twice using up practically an entire roll of $12 Swedish tracing paper. I've already spent $65 on a pattern I'm none too sure will work. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But hey, why not go whole hog? I cut out the blue silk, which has great drape, although it was just too thin for a dress. I decided on interlining, thus my next step in crafting this utterly unproven HotPatterns design was to make another purchase: this time gossamer silk underlining, four yards at $12 a yard. I bought this silk at my local fabric shop, where the girl behind the counter had no idea what it was. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"What kind of silk is this?" I asked. "Gold," she answered. We held up a length of the blue crepe de chine with this gold silk behind it. The two fabrics married as though draping a Grecian goddess.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzTwI0ex5im_BhcpoKvmfYxh14LWMOqt85Zi0O61i39Hf5Iam09NWjOxjjV6NMsUgiRVO5o4VA_OHeCV229YPEHVXKrKQxPvqWh07JnKgf3ojvf-kflo0Mspj-DrUX3vS6lxdKw8m-XIA/s400/goldsheer.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483692579435746" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Photos can't describe the delicacy of this gold silk,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever it is (habotai?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This gold silk was so light that it was difficult to cut without pinning it to a surface. I didn't have a big enough piece of cardboard, and feeling impatient, I pinned it to my Persian carpet. Not at all the recommended method, but it worked a trick.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiahGjys2ocByRt_WaA_YorAJ5E5PIvs3jxIIItmWWvc_e-DBlMaqdyeLzCUqpWFB5AQqlz0R4M99iEfRodzR2SrF65Dd5gNBH3y8s2fXuCk41sGakvySrbCD2zTQamqX6J2nDOnxzc1W/s400/layout.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483702450942242" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Silk pinned to the carpet</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXaYoqTAOD8g0WhU32lfiopZebwXcXk_RMmSJlGKURzKHG_eM-5tn9z5mx780nA9rlv3Pg9yUYg4J4gNKlr-eXdVZj8xiiS2ZyQMfDn4Cz3e8-ZeWugbZ6ydCfFX4-OoEwTkenIaqn3VH/s400/roll.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483711779501714" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Underlining sewn in place, before pressing</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The underlined silk panels have the most astonishing lava-like drape. Hopefully drapiness will be the trick that transforms the Delicious Dress experiment from maternity dress to goddess-wear. I'll let you know in a few days. I've got yards more basting to do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the meantime I'm still contemplating the Pucci fabric in my stash. I've ordered two patterns from Marfy. Maybe this fabric wants to be a tunic? Or an asymmetrical dress? <br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d_yBxsnULGiRObd7s91vbcbNab0pqdDrl13xNCuPqV-1rvtHZVmDR8yjbSAfHr9h04jZsEe7Q71my-ZNdxiAN7sN2WNec6Jd3xROW0qPxsWjK5jkIEVjYBWsd4fYww8nStU3hVZxU0cr/s1600-h/epfabric.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d_yBxsnULGiRObd7s91vbcbNab0pqdDrl13xNCuPqV-1rvtHZVmDR8yjbSAfHr9h04jZsEe7Q71my-ZNdxiAN7sN2WNec6Jd3xROW0qPxsWjK5jkIEVjYBWsd4fYww8nStU3hVZxU0cr/s400/epfabric.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318485081084546146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iHPBZMpUZgw6XQBL4GlLK1IPm4DkI6rPK1aQaov0TWnJ12S5zXYIgghkfIVWZh7zHj1OXnd9ovJlpz4WeAIT0zE9jmNLTSrt-73AAWcxzfRJK6sXwyy11ItgQkoOa7EIc1-spixqW0pX/s1600-h/marfyf009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 371px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iHPBZMpUZgw6XQBL4GlLK1IPm4DkI6rPK1aQaov0TWnJ12S5zXYIgghkfIVWZh7zHj1OXnd9ovJlpz4WeAIT0zE9jmNLTSrt-73AAWcxzfRJK6sXwyy11ItgQkoOa7EIc1-spixqW0pX/s400/marfyf009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483816544752610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The butterfly is missing a wing<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Does it work? I think I love it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ4X2wNdCVl7byuHXQHTJ1eFUShNx1kYRjS4muuwLqQvvZyLzeJAQFzmyhJ2SpjTZuU1OWoWs3PdQAadkRJ_pHHDFb83VXRXUrist6Uu0iwmyTKyqdyo8T7MzuorRu2-BBn7rBhRnaNp9/s1600-h/MarfyF1296.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 371px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ4X2wNdCVl7byuHXQHTJ1eFUShNx1kYRjS4muuwLqQvvZyLzeJAQFzmyhJ2SpjTZuU1OWoWs3PdQAadkRJ_pHHDFb83VXRXUrist6Uu0iwmyTKyqdyo8T7MzuorRu2-BBn7rBhRnaNp9/s400/MarfyF1296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318483714118631986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A great square pleated neckline<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sometimes there are just too, too many options out there.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-81255322413709632102009-03-13T14:22:00.000-07:002009-03-13T18:51:00.606-07:00DecoVibe Delisch Dress - waist not want not<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpQL1DjNdUKgoeT80OYFzhkQuLi3nThA2yW-0ixa3aOlsXVUqVPRophwGCM5W292e_kN3PVRb-x9ivAZDB_gWODsCQ1TdsMKdOHa_FF67fjHxVyc4uCYA78c_4iCFz5Cl0EsoiGc3Wpfe/s400/dries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312787709186357426" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What I had in my mind:<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dries Van Noten, Fall 2007 collection</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dear seamstresses and fashionistas out there: I have been imaging myself at a swinging 1970s party, glass of wine in hand, stylin' in my drapey maxi dress. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Things have not worked out as expected. I made a muslin for the Deco Vibe Delicious Dress. I really do not want to admit this, but I'm feeling seriously disappointed.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sxsWWkP4KjzeSgOKbGbgtmv_iSH6uUjKx198JBrlPfYgHTxeIWJCNhtl-G8ec6NEHrzmp2t6rARFZpmi8eJnNXBi-32fo-PxgSJD-M5X5nhkPuS1k0sNtRulqbK51H17LxAudIYCuUkJ/s400/hp1034muslin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312786295118190338" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Muslin of the Deco Vibe Delicious Dress<br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Muslin fabric cannot, and should not be allowed to tell the story of this dress. But it's clear the muslin I made from the pattern does not look like the illustration on the pattern envelope. There is one important reason why: no waist.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The pattern envelope describes shaped center front and back seams. If you look at the illustration, the dress appears to have a shaped side seams as well:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcwUZNG5n15O9jugcZbyMHRoKHiEg7AJoF61pdzp4wi3xtPzXJNmiI2zcpq1D3R5V-bBjrxoL2dK5KaWQE4bjBByEPt5a1DiX3bJ3R-c1iObBZsN5-8IY6PLyTLajtXw0wYj8fBobvrMl/s400/hpddsketch.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312790957744493858" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The illustration shows waist shaping</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIox7qWpeHHAMSsGKblJUcgoeSHXbCxAC5BNEKZTzKhhYe4tCXnll-PmvVeAx-jjWpXM2Ss_ULP44wnD4xwDwyAaa4r6CqoxygitmfzVTzuu11cLcem80N_S3wJG8yqpTujvEsOEEq_Ev/s400/IMG_0497.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312790957816941026" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here's the side seam of the muslin</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Slightly, but almost imperceptibly shaped </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(I was too despondent to iron it)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Something else about the Dries Van Noten dress: the gathers start at the very bottom of the V, at the lowest point of the neckline. These gathers all emanate from one point and open horizontally and vertically. The design ends up fitting something like an empire dress - at least that's how I read the photo. It's not the same shape as the HotPatterns dress.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'll attempt to reshape the muslin by:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Curving the side seams</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Adding darts to the back</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Adding a seam for the center back of the neck binding</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Adding a zipper down the back</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If any of this works I'll let you know. Otherwise I'm trying something else: </span><a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=22893"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Simplicity 2754</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-59297579207492996142009-03-09T12:58:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:12:22.698-07:00HotPatterns Deco Vibe Delicious Dress: Planning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYSXm58bKztuBL_qdEzMYaBhdWPK9DhU9aOygaCqCz9sOWW2f3sux0aV9OHWiFAljjOrka5nLhAPhtsdQCZuc-0m_8GkGzFIAMgqNc2Xupd1FyKOy-unKxpXKPPDTWgDBTYIVExqkl9st/s1600-h/withemfab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYSXm58bKztuBL_qdEzMYaBhdWPK9DhU9aOygaCqCz9sOWW2f3sux0aV9OHWiFAljjOrka5nLhAPhtsdQCZuc-0m_8GkGzFIAMgqNc2Xupd1FyKOy-unKxpXKPPDTWgDBTYIVExqkl9st/s400/withemfab.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311380713002886930" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Have you ever been faced with a fabric so beautiful that it paralyzes you with indecision? </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am dreaming of an evening gown made in this astonishing Emilio Pucci fabric. Or is it a caftan? Or a daytime dress? Not sure, but I do think it can work a a maxi dress worn ankle length, with elegant flat sandals. With this giant print, you need to show your ankles to break things up a bit.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfCDXvsosgEn62tj8B_7El0wwEvY0Re58vKVXb75MLl6aSDFq2lix9YGGBolznEtSwu2SoBF3IcSGfHRaBT7QxzL3vcmTBfyUxFmp0aY-ESnYLI7Ypo0ccWi5JDEAe2W6lLgZG-sxz3wW/s400/epfabric.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311286020115422226" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Emilio Pucci silk print</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9zJmanrKtFFqfxSj3lN3sITaef6g1xyiucK4k4lP2J9pfjii19srDsEIo8gqGqs6YhRCHrAwbMb0bLfdrH1FSurSanROwcfqszQND1w5ziQujSkiPo8iMeqJNnqKxLJhP9FDw76RNbXS/s400/pinksandals.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311295020160284114" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Possibly with these strappy sandals<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alexander McQueen at Net-a-Porter for (cough) $685</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Something perfect would be to add bands with a small-scale toning print, but sadly I didn't find one. See what I mean with the effect on this Pucci </span><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/36930"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alessandro dress</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. It could totally work to create a dress with just the top part made in the big pattern, like this </span><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/39680"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Missoni kimono dress</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I could also use black banding on the sleeves and black edging around the neckline to break up the print. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But please write in your comments. Is this print just too much of a good thing? The muslin is cut out - with the dress below in mind - I'll post it later this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcSwaH0e-R6Pl1HdKeGrP0kzCWm5vW9zxBw_vHfomj-2MERUEl_9DIrzQlBzrc3jkEM69fYLUS-2cQ9xCJsjTJCYl4qH8xfViYP4ojM10MJ3KqirgRzsmrau-q8smQL9GUuzkLMJIyrxu/s400/hotpatternsmaxi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311291458886429634" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The dress in question</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(First on the right)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A maxi in every way, from HotPatterns</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-60674438345370515012009-02-28T20:16:00.000-08:002009-03-09T19:52:09.381-07:00Inspiration<div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've been sewing a camisole in Liberty fabric - another piece for the $15 wardrobe. Unfortunately I tripped over the foot control for my sewing machine and broke it (the control, not my foot) just as I was finishing this camisole. A sign, my husband says, that I may need a dedicated sewing room.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But this accident gives me an opportunity to show you what's inspiring me now, while I wait for a new foot control to arrive in the mail.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">London Fashion Week is always a great source of ideas. You can see details of the shows on the </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Guardian</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (UK newspaper) website. Christopher Kane is a 26-year old British designer who attracted a lot of attention at fashion week with strong, elegant looks for Fall 2009. Here are two dresses he created based on black marker scribbles on white paper.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHB4v4wIxotQ2N9D0rqcQgRlbAosTzsYtVamlUC0I2b73n2Mtf9K8fpvYWMgNR_Fgp6krrbxnrKVGam2M0gvpeZqmyxddU9XXtP_btGtY8DdH5RHNjrmM0of2oNxRgGucb3O5kC8Qynb0/s320/christopher+kane.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308097452871988274" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Black on net (or chiffon?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">simultaneously strong and delicate<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ahX1SztEadTG_iuAEs150LOMaXZMyP08wqD4w7b-ef5fSeQtkZBNOxAU0JojaO7VXhQfDmuRElo-DR9E6ahqeifnsOUb7b8ryTHCNgIThxyRhYcBnbla9DDPBUw55BmEdwaw9ja3baTR/s320/christopherkane2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308081271286270146" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Vertical lines ending in a froth of ruffles:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">thrilling sense of movement</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These skirts would be challenging to sew, but they show what can be done even without color, using binding to define shapes and create rhythm and movement. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sadly, as much as I admire these looks they don't fit into my current life as parent to a kindergartener. I don't get as many opportunities as I'd like to wear chiffon. But here are some appealing designs from Missoni that are flexible enough to wear in many ways. They could be made from genuine Missoni fabric (try Emma One Sock) or from a similar knit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNh_VOQ44qnIDFQpf3_-kG-eHCKQjvDnrdKdQTIVPfiOjpWCSDMRHVdta7pfkAYTeT6CDvWlK7-hMsGNWwuJ0cEDdaGQU1KzPF_SwIO9YQE7gybglnvgduRUTjxUG6ImVs_J-hqK8tIJf/s320/missonicaftan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308098936358641330" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Very wearable Missoni kimono top<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodjWCdz9WrGc3PseDYD6FQvPy5WCfEc0G_xyaQ6pKu0oCNkWCiWOAUmcRNNQJtVFyH4EXILg4mj2Vg_4_uetE3DLOoTetYJfIVpkVEYfPTR7ynDBmgTi4_o1SG8WZ7mPJuVokugg0AKwp/s320/missoniwrap.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308098938300004306" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A basic wrap dress </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">interesting play of fabric on the neckline and belt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm making a top from Onion 5015, which doesn't have the same drapey sleeves but does have a similar shape. There's also a tutorial for a top like this on the Sewing Divas website. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm thinking about sewing more tee shirts, too. Sonia Rykiel also offers some sophisticated and playful options.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO0mQZUeBTguUkiYG_fvFoeOVnGQnjw3nzD7wpjRKf_uAc-m9pPIu1YBK3EBI8MOc5quu1plyiOGXgWyUfRcISzysOXtmn39G4hzUvTumkZvpkX53Xk3oKbvr7LKFWcdPn4vB4NHkMU3Y/s320/soniarykielstripes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308070988325696738" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A long stripey t-shirt or sweater</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with hot pink details</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSR_knktijpey6c8BRfBH5UUG6lSUrli4oHiUv9SsWrOaM8KqakyxxzREtOsoh9YerXQRHTzb6tuGSuWVm1kDsMXA1PLWSTNEDQ_5sMLIXOoRl3sho66SAhsPzCFsVLTPLLJglwh6I4ZI/s320/rykiel2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308070978123126450" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Another stripey top<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This with multi-color details</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm starting these tee shirts with with a striped knit from Lucy's Fabrics. I found colored rib knits from a children's fabric supplier. I lengthened a Jalie pattern to get this longer, sleeker look. I'll show some photos of this project in a follow-up post. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And here is a style from Alexis Mabille. I'm a bit afraid to work with lace, but this is a terrific blouse with a polo-style collar in satin. This blouse would suit women of all ages and it could be worn across seasons. The collar updates the look, but it's a classic that wouldn't go out of style: a smart use of expensive lace fabric. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbAMkC_pjUzoiSGnRKg876uW2Ay4VIWDa7lHc5nq00PkClcQk4sE0XtQIjUGZyxpkX-gTw_0AepIsMEmA9XMBwErLdng4f5Uk07EHPUz7sVXAqAaYAJwZeBxz1N9M4HAU9mFwZ6Ww8Neh/s320/alexismabillelace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308071415747358930" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alexis Mabille lace blouse from 2008<br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It seems as though everyone's making their designer looks at home. If you're up for a challenge, Paul Smith offers a </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/series/make-your-own-designer-clothes-accessories"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pattern and instructions</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for how to turn an old shirt into a Paul Smith shirt - find it on the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Guardian</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (UK newspaper) website.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-21277035124955396112009-02-26T08:23:00.001-08:002009-03-04T20:15:02.387-08:00$15 remakes your wardrobe: Liberty bathrobe<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Adding Liberty trim to a terry bathrobe is one of the easiest and fastest projects imaginable and the results are extraordinary, showing that a very small amount of Liberty of London fabric can add a lot of personality to your look. The idea for this project comes from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Simple Sewing with a French Twist</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (also described in a previous post). Ms. Dupuy once again uses British fabric to create what she calls a French look, but never mind the provenance, we love it.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfN214XnZEN2f70Mb1MJvzA_trZLcaA-UV___tXDWmPY2yPxqxfNHoOw0LCXblG1ZpcEKNcyH9T803uE4pUjD8RSPIwSvBXkZxbvM2IGwa0Wr_tHyzyNoAgRC0nUzw9CPeciiyU53rMc/s400/DSC_0244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309212994571334994" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Terry bathrobe detailed with a Liberty print</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This project requires just under half a yard of Liberty Tana Lawn. I bought this Liberty print for 50% off when I was in London, so my cost for this bathrobe trim came to under $10. I'm cheating a bit by not including the cost of the bathrobe itself. I bought this one on sale at Land's End for about $35, so overall this is an inexpensive project. And something else that's great: it only takes an hour to complete.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You will need a white or cream terry bathrobe and around half a yard of Liberty Tana Lawn. You can find this at </span><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabric"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">PurlSoho</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, where they have an beautiful collection, or order fabrics direct from </span><a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Liberty of London</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ms. Dupuy gives detailed instructions for this project in her book. This book is great addition to your library - it includes patterns and complete instructions for fifty highly creative and surprisingly easy-to-make projects - and this book is on sale at Amazon for 35% off and it's now $18.15. </span></div><div><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpcouturepb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0307351823&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The first step in this project is to preshrink both the bathrobe and the fabric. Make sure to use the same washing method for both. I washed both on warm and dried in the dryer to shrink. I generally wash Liberty fabrics in cold water on the gentle cycle and hang to dry away from direct sunlight - these fabrics are delicate and prone to fading over time. Press the Liberty fabric.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now you are ready to measure the belt and the cuffs:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ3iN3pfVbYWJwbRYU_72fA7DTBGwVCaTygymhre2BD96mTpFkityvkckbQQnzlrM4DBQQG3ct_oLvR-TU8NS_6siU5gRFjwkVRa-Tw2RLXSImYmSOO1HlM53AmUc5cbLYoIf2gR559G6/s320/measurebelt.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309190917981780930" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Measure the width and length of the belt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADeeoN3Vd-u1io_8eBPgz-J9C_JnIMdLlqT739SHJnt90PhmB_fxoeh5ybEPnYZbkYIOv92n_aU77v9q5EOFG9nPQWUyNblgJCOF_jTzf3FFwdmccoaK9MRkziwLQyr9SUnUdhmmLsCso/s320/meascuff2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309190919593081506" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Measure the depth of the bathrobe cuff<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CqIilCG37yoqIDS2zgysnP3JNO47zZkwjDj6ZCtyBRiPKvgJAdkavfVw-57BkfxlSrPpKLZVq8YFq60m8dlf0tsBEqtKSAHVhU0qXlnlwvR5IO9wn4jHn6ERW1I1Ke-r1hMW7XEJHFwW/s320/meascuff.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309190924180262242" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Measure the circumference of the cuff</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Once you have your measurements, add 15 mm or 5/8" seam allowances all around and cut out your fabric. When you cut out the cuff, you can choose how far you'd like the Liberty fabric to wrap around to the inside of the cuff. You can wrap just one inch or all the way up to the top of the bathrobe cuff, about four inches. This depends on how much fabric you have, and whether you'd like to be able to roll up the cuffs when wearing the bathrobe. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Once your pieces are cut out, press under the seam allowance at the ends of the belt.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OkG4Rab0I34dASqlhtLhv_5y9MHp7EY5U8nSLNKgEf_XfePQEb8U4CmYeEfH0PguwhPFq9cPS8oxc071KIri0eCZJHa7umFx3jpmdBpv_sjDKqoUQ4NadbLPp5NWB13D0QR4XqJq-p1X/s320/pressbelt.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309190931213297506" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pressing the belt ends under</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do the same for the cuffs on the top and bottom edges.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fold the belt fabric in half lengthwise and sew the long edges, leaving the short ends open. Sew the cuff fabric side seams together as well. Press flat to set the stitches, then press open and trim.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Next, slide the terry cloth belt through the Liberty fabric cover. Use a safety pin to guide the terry belt through the fabric. This is a bit fiddly because of the difference in fabric weights. Be careful not to rip the Liberty fabric as you work. Just slide the terry through gently, pulling the a bit of the Liberty fabric along at a time. Don't rush here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Center the cover seam down the middle of the belt. Now you can topstitch through the center of the belt. I used a slightly longer stitch length, 3.0.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQ5PVNq__y4Tq1ZHaW7VIphQWG5S7ihEGfBf3vNiH64ow-FWciIFdeC6NRqg1uukbKz28h4zzxq3M1frm-MLJ1cdc_hsF8S2fl9onWrIuyEV7jxg_31j-IeGCAEOCQKZwaBTnLDcIpWuW/s320/sewbelt.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309191095174869074" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Topstitch down the center of the belt</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now topstitch across the ends of the belt. Press thoroughly (and I needed to steam it to get it flat). Belt finished!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To sew on the cuffs, align one turned-under edge of the Liberty fabric with the top of the bathrobe cuff. There is a line on the bathrobe that you can use as a guide - it's fairly easy to spot. Pin and sew in the Liberty fabric in place, again using a slightly longer than normal stitch length.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoj2yew2RAHiwR4CxZPBbMFuvvPs4ZpqBNR4T4ekqjKsFe4Saiwyaeq1Ar1zctl7bKVZ4VPypN_6F8PBtli4UMZSBDjHS-q9ccrMBxDea2N-cdlN7QAQUnrYl-2zURaX3w2I1wJn_bGB_/s320/sewcuff.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309191099190787282" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Slide the sleeve over your machine arm; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">stitch cuff in place</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now hand slip-stitch the inside of the cuff in place, and enjoy! In another post, I'll explain how to make a darling camisole to match this bathrobe. </span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-20883045568130645592009-02-24T14:00:00.000-08:002009-02-25T15:09:11.996-08:00$15 remakes your wardrobe: hip-tie blouse<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Every girl can use a versatile silk top. One excellent choice is the </span><a href="http://betsyrosspatterns.com/patterns.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Betsy Ross Pattern's Hip-Tie Blouse</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. This blouse rocks worn with skinny pants and ballet flats. It's equally darling with wide linen slacks and sandals or with a straight skirt and heels. You can take it uptown by wearing it under a suit. The neckline is high, so this top looks groovy and hip, silky but not overtly sexual: it's the perfect date-night or casual dinner party top.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XsKDUoZdTV-d-kA4AsXdym377ZcWzRN_8t9pUuV9Dv2WfI40WCFc_qFqIcxGuBBPu2W9wwPoMqqbLySJFCIFkTPN5A2uT0qlWznwL2NH3kG4wM6PzDmcjMkAPIQcT6YkjV8DXAxUPZtk/s320/htp_all.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306811256517434626" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Betsy Ross Hip-Tie Blouse in a blue animal print</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you've never sewn with silk, this blouse is a good place to begin, because construction is simple - there are no zips, no buttonholes and no facings, not even interfacing. Be brave and try couture fabric, or go cheapie by using just about any silky synthetic, jersey, cotton, or knit that takes your fancy. It helps if you choose something lightweight and/or with a bit of drape.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLB8WgQWvTZZawrEX69hKtYBdB7sDg7FER_bWeHRirYhd5ptxY4AWYwVdopP58ekyRlA_dnsUbsG0ZsbZlgDB4-Gf-xZwdDjcnwhdKPInbDmvAwcXHAmGhbqxTGW1LUbTZ_rxB-iCXOwI/s320/htb_bow.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306811258172894050" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Super-sweet bow at the hip</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And the Hip-Tie Blouse in silk qualifies for the $15 wardrobe. You can buy silk crepe de chine on sale now right now at <a href="http://www.denverfabrics.com/">Denver Fabrics</a> for $6 per yard (reduced from $22 per yard - quite a deal). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here are a few tips to get you started:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Play with fabrics</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Be brave and try expensive printed couture silk charmeuse - you're not going to end up hospitalized with buttonhole-related anxiety: no buttonholes. You can also choose crepe-back satin: use the crepe side for the body and the satin side for the bindings and waist sash. Another option is georgette for the body (double or interline it), combined with matching silk satin for the sash and bindings. Try black, bordeaux or cream to create a designer look-a-like. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Choose the best size</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: My experience is that Betsy Ross Patterns, cute as they are, have a funny range of sizes. These patterns are always too big for me, even following the sizing chart. I recommend that you measure yourself accurately to start, plus take that extra minute to measure a blouse or top that fits you well. Compare these two measurements to the pattern. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check the depth of the arm opening</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: You can easily adjust the depth of the armhole. Trace the pattern onto Swedish tracing paper or similar, raising the armhole depth if needed. You'll want enough depth for comfort and ease - but not so much that everyone can see the side of your bra under your arm. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Check the bust size ranges</span>: This pattern is sized from XS to XXL. The range of bust measurement varies from one inch for XS to a whopping five inches for XL. Possibly, preferably make a muslin before you cut into that $110 a yard Roberto Cavalli fabric, because you may need to draft an in-between size for yourself by redrawing the cutting lines to create a width equal to your bust measurement plus an inch/inch and a half of ease. You want a soft, drapey fit. You don't want to find yourself sailing in a parachute's worth of silk. Unfortunately this sizing problem can annoyingly take the Hip-Tie Blouse from a rating of ultra-easy to the more complicated, why-don't-you-just-draft-your-own-pattern level of competence. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here is the mistake I made: I have a 40" bust but I didn't want something too tight, so I elected to make the XL. Oops. Looking over that size range with a critical eye might have saved me some trouble, as I ended up with a blouse that is 6" too wide all over. The armholes are also too deep for me: the top doesn't cover my bra at the sides, and - although it doesn't much matter given the other problems - the body is also too long. Sometimes with independent pattern companies, it pays to analyze the size chart, not just read it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBMjAY3B9wkTqwtD-Q18vAH3Adn9C2coyde99xOv0efg0s5BLp2SyHNvLJApTSPZnBMjhkXUmVl3HGTUIMhGqnt9k977SP-0c69joPO4OcsoVC1-iJ_4AO8PXQPYd7QQSnknfLN1DmqI2/s320/htb_bust.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306811257284923634" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bust measurement across the front, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">before I took it in</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Handle silk with car</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> If you're using silks or slippery fabrics, follow the cutting-out instructions and sewing tips in my previous post on the Decades of Style Butterfly Blouse.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Add a little handstitching</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: This pattern calls for topstitching the bias tape in place at the neck and arm openings. Hmmm. I wouldn't do that. It's worth slip-stitching by hand to get an immaculate result.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Top with a sweet butto</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: The pattern also calls for a hook-and-eye closure at the neckline. Betsy warns you not to attach the hook by machine, "or you'll put out your eye." This describes some awfully rough-and-ready sewing. We can probably do better. I think this top looks its most appealing with a tiny, refined button at the back of the neck. Make a loop of self-fabric or a thread loop to hold it. Look for a lovely button in your stash or buy just one that is special.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WXuSTXPsOzn-yS2x7RL_nUzRbYaTA_h8ZzC2M1EizdFeCHSf2eBLlOWTNhDkhyphenhyphennZ5pkJa-3khMa17AimOuctJoCWxpe_aCRDaFrfAAe3Krt36wFE0vZHnXhpq49SrRhBaQDtuu77kDYR/s320/htb_button.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306811251834497330" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Shell button makes a lovely detail</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just follow the instructions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> (once you've dealt with the size):</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Betsy Ross talks to us in a quirky, girlfriend-to-girlfriend way, but it's all perfectly understandable. Once you've got the size figured out, this top assembles in a snap. If you're an advanced beginner (or above), use your skills to construct something just that bit more refined that will add value to your wardrobe for a long time: it's worth it. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-57530779180036495842009-02-15T20:54:00.000-08:002009-03-04T09:18:50.317-08:00Make a Liberty tie<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thank you very much for writing in with your favorite fabric resources, and thanks also for the comments on tie patterns. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">David Page Coffin now has a pdf available of </span><a href="http://myvirtualworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/12/making-neckties-at-home.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">his instructions for making ties</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, available for $8.00 from his blog page. This is a great investment - you definitely want to get this if you have any interest in making ties. One-half yard makes two ties, so you can make Liberty ties in silk or cotton for about $12 each (plus, alas, shipping).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I haven't read all of the tie-making guide yet, but it includes crystal clear, hand-drawn illustrations and guidance for selecting the most suitable fabrics. The guide also offers links for websites that offer silk fabric for ties. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-10067778382573641052009-02-10T14:14:00.000-08:002009-02-13T07:44:03.722-08:00$15 remakes your wardrobe: knit t-shirts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's taking me years of sewing, but I finally discovered knits. I work from home, I'm a mom, I live in Southern California, the result being that I live in tee-shirts. At long last I learned that they are fast and inexpensive to sew. You can make tees without a serger - I learned how, as I'm too much of a penny-pincer to buy what would probably be an indispensable machine.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add a tee shirt in French fabric to your wardrobe:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time: 45 minutes </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cost: $12.58</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You have to add the cost of the pattern, and the thread, and possibly the needle - but then you probably have a tee-shirt pattern in your stash.</span></div><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYYwGx7lFDuyFIORlQPZBec30rpVa0vu7WLn0yD_SO2VnWHGwsexG2nhllEBrmA93yzDLlXmaxGpmUceJzRPZ2nmG9PoKtFxGPeOTHU3cQsQb3QXhybwCyieNb_hscDaMrOFSP3eOhWnf/s320/SMT_floral.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302136402799515058" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fresh aqua print from Lucy's fabrics<br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigds09hMRcB-OfIBZayGpa_SDABi2GEc43OQ3wJH2oMhFL3IKEoY1zhGZ1Q3D6algl3Rl6qgCHARUWEILrvcRhgn43UKaWg0sjBhs19qYwoNn1diQ4QGgwd2DUlxsLNBvt-1mwEL9vHiGb/s320/SMT_paisley.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302135641669312146" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sophisticated Anne Klein paisley from Textile Studio<br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT2rdy_7eHV5Ltfwhh6fPcwCkBWza91IakBU_DoTsl9jwNqUunrnhzs_GuTmw949oqhodaUGIvysflcSTCmGvN68YNeDWRmcAHXqRlhKl4QbB2Xo5NIrxuRpUHQ9XMtZ5nVf5JG_qorAz/s320/SMT_red.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302136248455431522" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">French red wool, flecked with steely blue</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">again Textile Studio</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The wool or Anne Klein fabric will set you back slightly more than $15, to be honest</span>.</div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I began sewing knits with one perfectly-crafted pattern: the </span><a href="http://www.textilestudiopatterns.com/patterns/index-tops.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Santa Monica Tee from Textile Studio</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've found several great sources for fabric, and there are so many more, so please tell us your favorites in the Comments below.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.lucysfabrics.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lucy's Fabrics</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has hip knits </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.textilestudiopatterns.com/fabrics/indexes/knits.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Textile Studios</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has upscale, carefully-selected knits </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.banberryplace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Banberry Place</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has fabulously colorful Euro knits </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here are a few from Lucy's now in my stash:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuT334n5ieNe4kkCKcg1q3yq43cBm6uxkaHz8qJLAfixwuZsbNpp-5-ofwlrcaKdAGcpRT13w0kLJ4UaHZLrvI8EMhqFwj2iOcWTzvSD5jdcnAMj3Rw30LQStbxKhsFnjLlQE5Y83-QWo/s320/pp_olivebluefloral.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301623009952683810" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An adorable floral from France:<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">subtle teal, browns and mustard </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPz7UrbONzULuYnzyWZIipS2z65lFVity6xRhyOYi-97lYlT0Mz7nuLuK9rviJEtzVcPIVhGZnAiBio3SWr7NoBB6gYJl3QAJ6aNmbtzjori9_ii42uTRULK6cuARlFnXk1vDZBmzCOlF/s320/Pucci.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301623109250981698" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Zippy Pucci look-a-like, also from France:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the print goes in the bodice; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">sleeves and binding are black.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So many of you out there are expert at sewing knits, and far ahead of me. But here for beginners are my quick tips:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Don't be afraid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of knits.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Get the right </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">needle</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for your machine.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Test different stitches</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> before you start. Use a 3.0 stitch length for sewing seams, and stretch the fabric in front and behind the needle as you sew. You can also use a very narrow zig-zag for seams. Test on a scrap of your fabric to see what amount of stretch gives you the best results. You want to be able to stretch your garment a bit during wear without breaking the thread.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- If you don't have a serger, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">finish the edges with zig-zag</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> or 3-step zig-zag. It's probably on your machine and you may never have used it. It looks so great on edges!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Use of bit of lightweight </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">knit interfacing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in the hem so the edges don't curl while you're sewing the hem.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sew a strip of stable fabric</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> into the shoulder seams to stabilize them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- There are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">great instructions</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for binding necklines on this </span><a href="http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3839/video-a-neckline-binding-for-knits"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Threads video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E-VVoFgBxqQequ2mRVL4upGfsUpZ4Xa9R61AV_7umXUUn_MNiEyRUrVelvUggXR5k1mUKhfviyQAoAArWmGAHOSB_Pnec3Haxn1OTKIwG3VMWg7jiKSQwx3dIBbesbJ51kCUH08306Bt/s320/SMT_detail.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302136507635508098" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Detail of 3-step zig-zag finishing</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leftovers</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: You often end up with lots of leftover fabric when you make tee-shirts. Use it to make:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Sleeves or bodices for another project</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Binding for another project</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Kids' tee-shirts</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Hairbands</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Camisoles and undies</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am going to try my hand at making boy shorts and some more tees from </span><a href="http://www.jalie.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jalie</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Undies call for 4-way stretch but I might be able to get away with my bits of leftover rayon-lycra fabric, with more stretch in the width than in the length. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'll let you know in a future post how this works out - will I be able to get into this underwear? At least I've got cute tops to wear.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-78786692845850166132009-02-09T13:42:00.000-08:002009-03-04T09:19:16.237-08:00Liberty of London<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I recently reviewed Libery of London for PatternReview and I got thinking about Liberty of London fabrics (</span><a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readstorereview.pl?readreview=1&ID=1380"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">read the review</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> on their website). <br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And if you love Liberty, they are now on Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63746581360&ref=ts"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">click here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to become a fan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Liberty of London is a fabulous department store in the center of London. You can find many beautiful things at Liberty - from Arts and Crafts furniture to contemporary lighting to luxe linens to needlepoint patterns. Every department is filled to the brim with exquisite, luxurious, sometimes cutting-edge and often hand-crafted items. Their selection of women's accessories is especially unique and impressive. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xv-SFmw8b3RO0KpBoaCTWzYFmKtWkW1w8H0XNop21Nt9x0Oj3zWThJIGW1S9vvk87xFKa8EUnj-_SMyJQNmOrZihFCWVIhDQMKJHlVqBm926SOAehO42OUchPLLqkEgtYCuAmk18p072/s320/4th+floor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988224706070338" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The view from the 4th floor at Liberty<br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you are a sewer or a knitter you will head straight up to the third floor where you will find the deliciously delicate tana cotton lawn fabrics for which Liberty is famous, and many beautiful yarns and craft materials. Liberty recently opened an </span><a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">online store</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> where you can shop for fabrics, and what's more shop the fabric sales. If shipping seems prohibitive the fabrics are available in the U.S. as well, for instance from </span><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/1695"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">PurlSoho</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. As of this writing you'll get a great deal on the exchange rate if you buy from London.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here are some ways to use these fabrics:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Liberty fabrics are perfect for adding adorable details to clothes, and as little as half a yard can take you a long way. Here are some ideas from the French magazine </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marie-Claire Idees</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: use Liberty florals as belts, or on collars or pockets or cuffs. Cover buttons or make fabric flowers. Or adorn an edge with a fine binding. Try these details on plain items (a jeans skirt or trench coat) to personalize and add a feminine touch.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuip7TqZk_uO5ZxgHvk4KB-9rdf23qeDaPWs-6orvr8ouGnjg7sOmgyRbE23hTDHDg7T7_zDOBlZbV7FMaarug8GHBX-NjpNgY8kBenSVgXseE7-utV_Mv89JmjNcmAdcqCjG0GjdUvx8/s320/Wiltshire.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301002798133170994" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Wiltshire" floral from 1933...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNdTpz-gE0ORerH9Mg_LMGqYfuWUoSZbz7DoHN9Stm1TZzcDkmoOHesR3gqzUo_YIZK4Hs1qUWE2xxLGW2qJzIJh1AhUEI4KqNwSROHeyxXlgCGpStcFanWDDNv1vhDH8SkS1UlzF22rW/s320/ssftbathrobe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300975922254513234" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...can trim a bathrobe <br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(this example from Celine Dupuy's sewing book, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reviewed in a previous post)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PNwf5Ftll8gVNNSmHWf2bo_3RENDonGpatLXRU1XudSLNMEYYb2YyRkjw4Hn5-k9Uy3vnyUMxxSzuQ8C3DZ_4PdoMsfkueDIacL8zjg_7625U3-6qW7hZQWD1yO2gWitKS3kfOh8NcjF/s320/felicite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300980598469333506" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Felicite" in delicate colors...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUUwBToAud60BAm215EHIKoZDGFD4MeeUNo62azXeJsCpWpZsxR4UDBJ9P6e-lOchGa2ZB5UkXLc1fpFS51_og4gEnps9q7TOoAvN7UfyUQUTpn5-FNdJOPBvnuz1rjmh98b_izKfmzuo/s320/libertytrim.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300977006841321010" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...can add a sweet detail to jeans...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lVfZVBSIsYjaQY9AakcJOfjPSYKsIaKND6_JzwR_uPtS4QvsfaJ941eFDtkSZMvAkR2jOx4CdbGGSA8zpVQX-joSZ-S3tN3h4WbfAdVxozg6nfMv2ixSenfJbb94PtFFDgLO9dOim0ea/s320/libpinafore.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300996746067671634" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...or make a keepsake pinafore for a little girl.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(this easy and darling pattern from </span><a href="http://www.ottobredesign.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ottobre magazine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVNybViB5Z465vZSP4QjyVKjaNHp2wJlmzYEabj93eBZvaoJU2GlcA63kkz3MzQvhXcN67WTqvHOCJV5K-lHLgbvNlWjSJ2HZRIYgV7eg2oXpZpkWOycgT8tChzoJl6GQPBVbe92dzLcz/s320/caesarblue.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300992983521123762" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Updated Arts and Crafts peacock feathers...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...might make wonderful, soft pillowcases. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Make a pillowcase, then sew yourself a sweet camisole and pajama pants to match (</span><a href="http://www.jalie.com/sewingpatterns/casual_underwear.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jalie</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has good patterns to try). You could make a men's tie in silk twill (try Burda's </span><a href="http://www.burdastyle.com/creations/show/2616?image_id=22623"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Osman tie pattern</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) or boxer shorts in cotton (again try Jalie). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you'd rather create a fabulous dress: </span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKbZu2EvOZi1YGXhw-E6lTvbnLkWHnAeio7BqJYP_G1vLi8dw-96a80X1p4mtDDX8wDZ9BildZJ6w3FY7P-EdPJELVMxaBDyK3t4opG4MhYqS9y71ikjp80ENuoXH2i_lmm_qubLPoTU9/s320/mrsrob.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301006139152534322" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Mrs. Robinson" is a work of art</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and would look amazing on this HotPatterns Deco Vibe dress. Maybe the Liberty fabric just goes on the detail. But maybe you need the maxi dress. How to stop? In a follow-up post I'll show you the muslin of this dress. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But how do I choose which print?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofflyLKlwBiMQnWyQiSxg3UttS0vh4gfC_OSlFl63H_UxwZBJ3oe__kU16CP1u9jbiaPFpDE3ZTcCFhWmrzp6VMLwZeVG6x56L0yCaLftfYNz8hfR7kuuFQlC1YakEuDzPMv1-WNvAbzZ/s320/hotpatternsmaxi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301019138463613458" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">HotPatterns </span><a href="http://www.hotpatterns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Deco Vibe" dress</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-29282405484710117752009-02-07T16:41:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:19:30.547-08:005 Tips from a Line-Drying ExpertI<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> am lucky to have a Line-Drying Expert right here in my own home: my husband, who hails from Stroud in England. When we were first married, he was somewhat shocked at my lack of air-drying skills. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2DP5cyGLPYgn3wWPDBVglAmywqOpIQhjEkHidZf4Y4_XbPqIZkBK-yXamHhS-QNLXpbyKzyE7f0tj3hhUJrmMtjr3dsEjvzARL8Obx4RKVzPCJPWqB9IzdsJkuaGNTa5gUE1c_lvLst7/s320/landing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300643458493760658" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Drying clothes, growing herbs </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">on our tiny beach-house landing</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With my husband's help, I've gradually figured out to dry clothes without a dryer and without anxiety. He's offered lots of washing and drying help and advice over the years.</span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here are his five top line-drying tips:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check the weather</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: You can line-dry your laundry in any climate, but it helps to be in tune with the environment. In years past the BBC radio announced which days of the week would offer "perfect drying weather" and admonished the ladies of the house to get their washing on. Today you can check for weather updates on the www.weather.com or on your iPhone. Wash sheets and towels the night before you expect sunny weather - hang your things out in the morning. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J-ojTuBGTjCoL7_OoNtQSEfntqBj2w4dlKmiTvkfEC-1ZemISfCHgfn1W_4FckzwzKNLa74IjaU1amJY3-A7zJSC2jyrOAcWB0x24OuDRVueM375b9d0ceet53yZfNzU5Q3a2SPPAJdv/s320/fold.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300642014419903282" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Folding sheets in half widthwise</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Towels</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: You might feel that towels dry too slowly on the line, however you'll significantly reduce your energy usage if you avoid resorting to the dryer. Run your towels through the spin cycle twice to squeeze out moisture. Wrung-out towels dry quickly in the sunshine but may take overnight to dry indoors. Once dry, you can fluff them up on the air-only cycle in your dryer if you like them nice and soft.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmAaOjMP5su81kpBQ9PaRW5UHgPXzg-N7gvW6hpFat0Q-xt5w_isPv8Tpd7o9m_-rKIOGpyJr_BeyGWfaZIlOIQ9hlapEEYdJLk1aoHJ2UAfY9Q07n3ck6HkORbuFbizr_O4hyphenhyphenSpFTvLl/s320/corners.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300641570373446738" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hold the two corners together and pin to the line</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sheets</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Get a friend to help if possible. For indoors: fold the sheets in half lengthwise and lay them over the drying rack. For outdoors: fold the sheets widthwise. Hold two corners together and use a clothes pin to attach to the line. Then hold the other two corners together and pin to the line. You end up with a tunnel - the wind can blow through and dry the sheet faster. What's more, the sheet doesn't drag along the ground.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrY6WHURpCpCFwhd-P5bSqrIM9IA_4UBMIrQXGDG4WcsdATK2kZ62gVqiKR_-8HhWRxR6KliWilv0ZobGVYtOiZg50XbMmt0pXhbHo_92fCgRJwztl-Fv49qjPXwuVG26qfogR4m7mfSlg/s320/tunnel.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300640895730311250" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A look through the drying tunnel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Use the dryer...judiciously</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: If your laundry isn't quite dry when you need it, pop it in the dryer for five or ten minutes to get your things bone dry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shake it, baby</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Shake your clothes out before you hang them up - they'll need less ironing. And as much as we like drying, nobody likes to iron.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-31381063382593234972009-02-02T14:13:00.000-08:002009-02-05T12:44:06.866-08:00Sewing with a French twist<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've been reading Julia Child's book, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My Life in France</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. So far I've only read a few pages. The war is over. Julia has left Pasadena, she has married Paul and the two of </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">them have stepped off the ocean liner and onto French soil. She's wondering anxiously how a 6'2" America woman who only speaks English will be received in France. She will soon fall in love with everything French and bring all she learns back to the States for all of us to enjoy.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The question for sewers like ourselves is: how can we too bring that style home? You will find an answer in a wonderful book called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Simple Sewing with a French Twist</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> by Celine Dupuy (sorry about that accent aigue Celine, I haven't mastered the blogger keyboard yet). </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY4cVEFG2vka8M0RirG2O-9wAPi13O1p2CCQodznqr3jEBp4OSdybfhf_Z1epwoKh7x884suyxrbf2AxKZ3646UQMj7lBJYVN3TwP6s__B9isPa0R3rx70kqXqJRarAs2VGJewvuAYn2b/s320/SSFTbag.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298403143893879538" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Celine Dupuy's "Rive Gauche" bag in an Amy Butler fabric<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This book offers one exquisite idea after another for home accessories - baroque lampshades and sofa cushions, red velvet beanbags, hand-embroidered duvet (comforter) covers, striped laundry bags, open-work lace curtain panels, in short everything you could possibly want to sew for your home. And you can sew something to wear as well: a woolly beret, bohemian flip flops, a dainty chemise. That's right - make your own flip flops from printed velvet.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWoHk65-o7CiZwVDr_xJ2cv-p3vmTmDwECKkhQxwHcsHXN7G5NiurLoRhvV7RVrxLAGjV7WWS8l3STP_6AhqQBdYRo6XOYm4PGfU9LuYDckbHjMmZs3XMfElEcUizZ-jlncAD_CPcI7ug/s320/ssftbaginuse.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298417224798536850" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Rive Gauche bag in action</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The book includes patterns, illustrations and detailed instructions for sewing. I'll be honest: some of the translations could be better. In places I had to reread the instructions five times. But it's not that hard - a beginner or intermediate seamstress could make these accessories.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now for the hard part: where to find those so-sophisticated fabrics. Mlle Dupuy is cheating a little, for many of her French accessories are made with decorating fabrics from the quirky English </span><a href="http://www.designersguild.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Designers Guild</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in London, a source of mind-blowingly exquisite fabric and all matter of colorful, modern designer home accessories. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlfR1R3JgWGtByxu96p-ZhStx2YT6jJ041L7ftSHEzEDpX28HconauGjIAB0ZPAXjT3enOgMtzdjC0zet90bqVdbJQl8JlCNGFxovHm42ZUojctoyHLKK9f4L2I6z6PX8fkDCEBPCuE3x/s320/dglondon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298405652762146818" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Designers Guild flagship store in London</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You, my fellow Americans, will have to order these fabrics through your interior designer. But on this side of the pond we have our own fab fabrics - you might start with </span><a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Amy Butler</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for one.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mlle Dupuy is a contributor to an equally fabulous French magazine, </span><a href="http://abonnement.marieclaireidees.com/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marie Claire Idees</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, available in French only, although you could certainly figure out how to make the wonderful creations depicted using the diagrams alone. You can order this magazine from the French website or from Amazon. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'll share some samples made from the pages of MC Idees in a future post.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bonne chance avec vos creations !</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpcouturepb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00007AZEO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpcouturepb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0307351823&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpcouturepb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0307277690&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-20100614337897626592009-01-30T23:02:00.000-08:002009-02-05T12:45:02.763-08:00In which we get serious about reducing consumption<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's February 1 and time for the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">January report</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm tracking how much energy my family uses, and how fit I am. And I'm (ahem) sharing this with the whole world.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">First a bit of history. Back in 2006 I commuted a long distance to take my son to a very wonderful <a href="http://www.wswaldorf.org/">Waldorf preschool</a>, unfortunately located twenty miles from our house. I drove 1250 miles per month. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I had to make a decision about what I was prepared to do to improve the health of my family and that of the planet. I was ready to Give Up The Car.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's what we've changed:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- I don't commute anymore. I now work part-time from home (since 2005)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- We withdrew our son from private school. We now walk to the school near our house</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- I don't do all the grocery shopping in the car. Instead I do some on my bike</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- We stopped using the dryer. Instead we use sunshine </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- We don't live in a house with a backyard anymore. Instead we live in an apartment</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and my son, age five, now begs to travel by bike, scooter of bus because he wants to save the polar bears. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfxeSZjpD7rbyuXoDDMZtvtp3-2GQH-A5Oz33-PC30Zgtt6-6KBsqLHyT_KThKFPsw_A3phyBVPsXCakKJ04eINCp854pXi1PSDc-AWjrJlVOVkgZb7u2IXj9Ocx5DZm1z5dbdm5HCe8P/s320/polarbear1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297927343289653202" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Polar bears enjoying the snow (courtesy of National Geographic Kids)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_vpNfCfQjG4he43PXK1P3eWhBim_5AkpX4aeqObnYSISUx9PRWWYdNn9w-jPVcFSge6bKGn-Za7gp4fbeSqu2Z-l2w6yEm_naszKZuxlv-Lm4gJJTiyPphyphenhyphend4LXWxKX9FZdsU9zAI42O/s320/scooterman.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297918469976230786" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Scooting to school on the beach path</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We're making some progress, but we could make more. I want to measure. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's where we stand:</span></div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My current weight</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 166 lbs </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My goal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 130 lbs</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My car mileage</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 650 miles driven in January 2009 (down from 1250 in January 2008)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My goal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Reduce by 50% to reach 300 miles per month</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My electricity consumption</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 225 kilowatt hours in January 2009 or $28.05</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My goal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Reduce by 25% to reach 170 kilowatt hours per month</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My natural gas consumption</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: $46.63 (sorry, no measurement available) in January 2009</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My goal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Reduce by 50%</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's my plan of attack:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Car usage</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Do all the grocery shopping on foot, by bike or on the bus</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Experiment with public transport here in L.A. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Keep a log of car travel</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Electricity</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Unplug the TV</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Unplug the laptop at night</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Experiment with a few electricity-free evenings</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Natural gas</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Take shorter showers. Get a shower timer</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Wash some of our laundry in cold water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My weight</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Eat less</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Exercise more</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We'll report how I do on March 1.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-35785365322475556822009-01-30T22:15:00.000-08:002009-02-05T12:47:58.467-08:00How to dry your clothes outside<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I never wanted to dry my clothes on a line; it seemed like a lot of work. My first experience without a dryer was in Italy. My landlady didn't seem to know what a dryer was, or why I would possibly want one. "La macchina...la machine..." I stuttered, "the machine that DRIES."</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then I married my husband and moved to London. When our son was born I developed a serious case of Dryer Panic. I didn't know how to raise a child without a clothes dryer. So I whipped out the Visa card and bought a dryer, costing us a whopping $800 in London. I loved watching it whiz the clothes around, that is until we received our first electricity bill. The electric company actually came to the house to see if there was something wrong with our meter. Sadly not. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That was when I got religion and started hanging all my clothes up to dry, baby or no baby. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's easier to make the switch to sun-powered drying if you start with solid, well-designed equipment. One option is the classic "umbrella" rack, which gives you lots of space for clothes and won't blow down in a breeze. Try the </span><a href="http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/household/laundry/umbrella+clothes+dryer.do"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Breezecatcher Umbrella Drying Rack</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for $169.00 from Gaiam, an eco- and fair trade product company. These racks work best if you sink the base into the ground and cement in place.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If it's difficult to find a permanent place for the umbrella dryer, try a retractable line - perfect for drying sheets. You need to position in between two trees, walls or posts. You can make your own with or without a pulley. Look for </span><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/outdoor-clothesline?autonomy_kw=clothesline&rsc=header_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">instructions</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> on Martha Stewart's website.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or purchase a </span><a href="http://www.stacksandstacks.com/5-line-outdoor-retractable-clothes-dryer/1123/5930/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5-Line Retractable Outdoor Dryer</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for $74.00 (www.stacksandstacks.com). Pull the line open when you need it; close it when the laundry's dry and it's time for a barbecue. If possible, choose a location for your rack or line that's close to the house so you won't have to carry your laundry basket very far. While you're outside in the sunshine, plant some herbs in pots to perfume your path.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Get some retro-chic with accessories. Clothespins will get you in the mood - try </span><a href="http://www.target.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Target</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - and then you'll need a kitschy bag to hold them. You can make your own. Cath Kidston also offers an adorable collection of laundry accessories including a </span><a href="http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Spray Flowers Peg Bag</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for $14.00. So cute that you'll probably want the matching laundry basket and ironing board cover. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Don't worry, you're saving heaps on electricity bills.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In our next post, we'll interview an Air Drying Expert.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986707649298849888.post-88463123933462041032009-01-29T08:37:00.000-08:002009-02-05T12:46:08.056-08:00Solar power drying: world tour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I live in Los Angeles. You can say what you like about this city, but it's certainly sunny. Yet my neighbors, or rather their cleaning ladies, are holed up day and night in utility rooms drying clothes. The dryer roars as the cars thunder by and the planet burns. Maybe it's time to try an alternative.</span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You want to use solar power, but how do you get started? Here's a view of laundry drying from some other places and times. In the next blog we'll show you the essential kit you need to unplug the dryer once and for all.</span></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPTYjr8MSADGR8UXu_5HWRSTR_44GuYE_RxREyP47I-1sU1MkMGjVqsZFTVDPc1OanRXy3P1gfn2OdPX3hEOmX2GRI1bOiNn6KG3wgwS-YmgHGOlW3-nPPgTQEAXcxDlObRHbDRSXUeiv/s320/pegbag.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296815147012443538" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Store your clothes pins in style </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with this </span><a href="http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cath Kidston</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> peg bag <br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />First stop, England. It's a rainy place, and maybe that's why the English are expert at air-drying clothes. It takes technique if you don't have much sunshine. Indoors, outdoors, in the sun, over the oven or in the airing cupboard, they've got it down to a science.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9okZggm4gW44ZERzUALx19pNPcC_yDtV-ktOVTGn1cmC-TPdc6VREGSRBeB_VZzo3J_cMSdwN22rfmejDlr-AajV0SMHTaDamSxEiJTcYpXBVcccxHgEgGh7JD7kO-ErV6UoTT3BiuWg5/s320/ClothesPegs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296812444753154306" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My husband and his mother </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hanging sheets to dry circa 1959</span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />And in Italy, where I lived and worked for a few years, the sophisticated, well-heeled and Valentino-clad ladies I met hung their laundry out to dry in the sun: some perhaps on a roof-top deck, out of public view.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBqeQqVes6ssdu4-Xp2f6wAW_N2GQJGPqI98tiQTOGiA1o5JDc5ZHPJv3Yg2Kwrzvsxgmb86fXmE5kmOL6pHZ6QvDC_hZoFih_MXSpWe1YU3L-hHUS7FizzUWDzhYcm58ae9vk9IY1tiT/s320/venice.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296804640983106850" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Laundry drys in Venice...<br /></span></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFFWSL4v2pRI6oKglFsGoxQ4ziRuDfCXrWKwerhe334m7F4tMMj9VEepPHjXe20fRxAag9mz-sberweZnUj62M_25t95oKXO_CuGCZ_mP6ozAjqfjbI2SYCYB13UZwP3cGbgi-8cY1mhc/s320/naples.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296814795254119442" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and in Naples</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You're going to need a Victorian kitchen maid's apron to play the part. Make your own with this pattern from </span><a href="http://www.evadress.com/Harpers_apron.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">EvaDress</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHWlSkkjXcHTcuIgOdt_uadtY44tQ-W0RjlSbqxbT54WUttOkKNPaBjYD9MgO3Qb4Je0jZzEmga2C4RC243UOtCPL9pIcDQNmvqwctPfHnBCC8HoeCu8aiyFbRXIhE0xps7i2Czqcte7F/s320/laundress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296808587893181234" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Washing day in 1880</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>AMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013660756578618713noreply@blogger.com0