Truth in Beta-testing
Yesterday a sewing pattern beta-tester asked this question in a FB group: “Is it customary to have to grade your own pattern down?” The pattern she was testing was too big in the size she measured for, and when reporting…
What is a good age to start sewing?
By sheer coincidence, these two posts came on my Facebook feed yesterday: Jennifer Van Meter DeShazer (Jennuine Design), in her new sewing FB group, queried “How long have you been sewing and how did you begin?” My dear friend Robbin uploaded…
Pants Rise: Shape versus Size
Quick post: Sometimes you can see what’s happening with garment fit by playing with the paper pattern. I came across this free Baby Bloomer pattern on Craftsy this evening: There’s just about no shape/angle/curve/hook to the front and back rises. …
Alpha Testing: Measure, Walk, True
When a sewing pattern is released for sale, it has been (hopefully) both Alpha and Beta tested: that means it has been tested by professionals and by amateurs. You may have participated in Beta testing yourself, or read posts from…
Elastic Casings the Easy Way
(Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/7pinedesign/7-pine-design/) What was your first apparel sewing project? Chances are that it was an elastic-waist skirt, an elastic-waist pajama pant, or an elastic-neckline peasant dress: simple, un-fitted silhouettes with minimal pattern pieces. What was your least favorite step?…
Free Pattern: Bias-trim Pocket
Last week I was making the Brownie Goose “Junie” dress and decided I’d like to add pockets, and since I was already making bias tape for the dress, I made pockets trimmed with the bias tape: Rounded pockets are great because…
How to make your own Bias Tape
(Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/7pinedesign/7-pine-design/) Some of the cutest sewing patterns use bias-tape-trim: strips of fabric cut diagonal to the fabric selvedges. Bias tape can be folded into binding, or stitched around cord to make piping. I love bias-tape-trim, but I’ve struggled with the most…
Pattern Review: Brownie Goose “Junie”
My first Brownie Goose pattern! Although I’ve purchased way too many pdfs over the past year, I still scan the new releases to see if there’s anything I “need”. The “Junie” struck me as so very vintage-yet-fresh, simple-yet-clever….like something a…
A-line Skirt: “Slash-and-Spread” Method
…... In pattern drafting, you often want to add fullness to the shape of a pattern piece: The CORRECT way to add fullness is from WITHIN the pattern piece. The INCORRECT way is to tack on more to the OUTSIDE the…
