Category Archives: Sewing

Fast.

Easy.

Flattering/Cute.

Sleeves that are set in FLAT.

I mean, what’s not to love.

This baby went together in 2 hours and that was working in between.  It will always have a tee underneath but the neck slit could come up about 4 inches.

Only mod was to use only one center pleat, the corduroy bugged me to have all of the pleats called for. In a lighter weight, this one will be stitched as directed. Can’t wait to wear it with a pair of skinny(ish) black jeans and a black t or turtle. Will look great with jeans too and a big chunky necklace.

You know your tuckus is in trouble when you have to take a couple days off work, get into your jammies and understand that makeup will not be a happening thing—- for a project.

My project?

Butterick 4919

Occasion: Gala this weekend

Version: Long baby, long

Fabric: Red taffeta

Details: invisible zipper, horsehair braid hem, filmy matching fabric for a ‘wrap’

Time: Probably not enough

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My Custom Dressform is at the ready (and fabulous!) and I’ll have the how to’s for yours by Thanksgiving. I promise.

Fit for a Contessa indeed!  I am crazypants about this apron it is spectacular and beyond. The simplicity of muslin but the best quality muslin. The simplicity of style but embellished completely. Bleachable if marinara goes astray, adaptable for size or garments with super long ties in the back.

Simple shapes taken all the way there and then some.

Remember the ruffle tutorial? Well, those ruffles ended up here on the apron. Smaller rows of ruffles set it apart as well as the fuller gather.

The apron bib is higher than some and a bit wider, there is complete adjustability for fit and coverage and the long neck ties can take the bib higher or lower on a whim.

The back is simple yet tailored, clean and crisp topstitching makes it shine. (‘cuse the tushie on the bare nekkid dressform!!!) We’ll rectify that soon enough.

And just to gild the lily a little bit I added a small raw edge muslin rosette on a removable pin for a teensy sass.  Gotta’ be about the sass, right?

Now the only thing left to do is decide what to cook in the new apron? Something really fabulous to be sure!

The dress form out of the box and un-sullied.

We shall sully when I get back from The Creative Connection Event—

There will be Big Fun.

and a fabulous Tutorial!

Sewing a ruffle can be frustrating, especially when working on a long strip of fabric. Traditionally you run a line of stitching on the edge to be gathered using a long stitch length, then you have to pull that thread up and get it all even and not break the thread. The following method works for ME—– and might not work for you, or need a tweak or two along the way, but it is certainly worth the effort to put this into your bag of tricks.

• The following works on 100% cotton fabric, pre-washed to remove all sizing. My fabric is 100% cotton Kona muslin with a 200 thread count.

• Thread is 100% polyester, mine is Coats and Clark

• the sewing machine is set up with normal upper tension, longest stitch length, slightly more than 1/4″ from the edge

• I sew with a Bernina 180, you can see the stitching position set “two clicks” from center

• LOWER tension: I bypassed the slot that feeds/tensions the bobbin thread entirely. I use a “pigtail” case (sometimes known as an embroidery bobbin case) and after bypassing the slot I ran the thread through the “pigtail” to guide. I have used a regular bobbin case with the same technique and the result is a slightly tighter gather in the ruffle.

• Place the fabric to be ruffled under the pressure foot set at normal pressure and sew with gentle tension on the strip

• The photo above shows the ruffled fabric straight out of the machine!

The ruffle pinned right onto the anchor fabric—- no pulling needed! (Now if you need a super tight ruffle, you might need to pull that thread a bit but it is much easier!)

• The technique applies when ruffling a single layer or a double layer (shown above). A double layer will be slightly less gathered because of the second layer of fabric coming through the machine.
• Results will vary depending on the weight and fiber content of the fabric, experiment first!

I hope you’re inspired to ruffle something— at least get out your machine and putter ar0und!

Don’t forget to re-thread your bobbin case before you sew a regular seam or you’ll be unhappily surprised!

I was reminded of the wonders (dare I say miracles) of good sewing thread Monday. Sewing was at its simplest, soothing, calming—- all because of thread. The fabric was muslin, my favorite muslin that I use almost exclusively, excellent Kona muslin all smooth and finely woven. Delicious really. A fresh needle in the machine (which quite frankly after looking at the photo could use a good cleaning!) and miles of straight stitching for narrow hems— good thread makes the difference. Like many sewists I have a drawer-ful of thread. Some way too old, some fresh, some from the bargain bin, some fine quality— some I don’t even recall where they came from! The thread I used for the muslin Zen was Coats & Clark, a fresh matching spool. I have nothing but good things to say about it, and it had been a long time since I’d sewn with it, believe it or not!  My seams are sturdy, I flew along the seams at lightning speed with nary a break or bobble, it even seemed to make the tension wonderful!

I’ll be going through that drawer of thread soon and tossing out the old maids—– the less than quality thread. Once and for all! I’ll replace my thread with nice fresh spools of quality thread. Surely my sewing will be all the happier for it.

The muslin project? Something delicious—- I’ll be sharing along with a technique for one step ruffling on long strips of fabric without a ruffler attachment.