tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post376536656279479937..comments2024-03-27T22:07:57.614-04:00Comments on Diary of a Sewing Fanatic: I don't do it like the books say...Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-54650422530014305712007-03-06T14:20:00.000-05:002007-03-06T14:20:00.000-05:00Thank you for the mention, Carolyn! I'm just pleas...Thank you for the mention, Carolyn! I'm just pleased that you like what I do...<BR/>I suppose I am a bit - a lot - of a traditionalist. I know I do quite a few of things slightly differently, but I've been doing that for so long that I've rather lost track of what's considered the "correct" way. <BR/>I line dresses as described by Meg - works well for me too.<BR/>And may I add that I'm seriously impressed by the speed at which you work, and the volume you produce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-57440825598251847932007-03-06T07:34:00.000-05:002007-03-06T07:34:00.000-05:00Hi Carolyn!I thought of someone you would LOVE to ...Hi Carolyn!<BR/>I thought of someone you would LOVE to meet. My fabric store has had Louise Cutting come to do seminars a couple of times and she is funny, fantastic, and absolutely full of great ideas about sewing tricks (to get perfect seams, Armani pockets, fantastic bias edging, etc). Her web page is great and her patterns are probably the best in the business in having all the sewing instructions fully spelled out (and in having fitting "moments" pointed out clearly). If she ever does a seminar near you, take it! Her trunk show alone is worth it. She often goes to Saks or Bloomingdale's in New York, visits the high-end racks, and spies on the internal construction of the clothing for engineering and design ideas. So maybe she seminars in the NY area too (she lives in Florida). <BR/>http://www.fabriccollections.com/schedule/schedule.html<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>Meg in NCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-43358091179902146752007-03-05T23:21:00.000-05:002007-03-05T23:21:00.000-05:00Hi Carolyn! YES, I have another way of lining a s...Hi Carolyn! <BR/>YES, I have another way of lining a sleeveless dress that keeps the shoulder seams intact. This comes from instructions for making a lined vest, but if you simply imagine that an elongated vest is a lot like a dress with a zip closure (and a closure in back instead of in front), this method works. It requires almost no hand sewing and no edge- or top- stitching (all the seams actually get done right sides together, the conventional way). You do have to turn the top fabric and lining inside out THROUGH the shoulder seams, but they are machined perfectly. Here’s how: Assemble the lining, including shoulder seams, but do not close the center back and do not sew the side seams. Assemble the top fabric of the dress the same way (sew the shoulder seams , but not the side seams or the center back where the zipper needs to go later). This is a good time to make fitting adjustments. Now place lining and top fabric right sides together and sew the neckline and the armhole seams. Clip and press them to make a nice rounded finish, but it’s better NOT to try to topstitch the lining just inside the seam. (If you do, you will have trouble at the shoulder seam, and you will also have to avoid the area at the center back where the zipper will close and the bottoms of the armholes where the side seams will be later.) NOW turn the whole thing inside out. You will be pulling the back right and the back left through the shoulder seams to do this, but the shoulder seams are sewn perfectly. If you are going to use an invisible zipper in the back, put it in now (putting the back left and back right together), and finish the rest of the center back seam below the zipper as well. (This is also a perfectly good time to put in a conventional zipper if you prefer.) Now you can sew the back right and back left pieces of lining together at the center back also, from the bottom of the zipper down. You will need to hand-tack the lining to the inside of the zipper. Do a final fitting. NOW you can sew the side seams: one long seam connecting front right to back right of the top fabric, continuing across the armhole seam to connect front right to back right of the lining fabric. Now do the left side seam the same way. You now have a complete dress except for the hems (and you can do them with the blind-stitch if you like). The neckline and armholes are sewn perfectly on the inside, and the bottom of the armhole seam should give you a perfect intersection where top fabric ends at the armhole and lining continues. <BR/>Meg in NCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-43333657578245168022007-03-05T21:59:00.000-05:002007-03-05T21:59:00.000-05:00I think I do things differently too. Back in the ...I think I do things differently too. Back in the old days I would follow the pattern EXACTLY. Now, I follow tips and advice from the experts and also learnt to be more creative and just go with what I feel.<BR/><BR/>PS, the dress looks pretty darn nice!Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529416439720810403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-52514742473513874462007-03-05T12:29:00.000-05:002007-03-05T12:29:00.000-05:00I do a lot of stuff differently. Having never tak...I do a lot of stuff differently. Having never taken a sewing class, you come up with all sorts of little things. It certainly makes for interesting sewing and forces you to learn something.Summersethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364235843222794829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-56139841296706297742007-03-05T09:30:00.000-05:002007-03-05T09:30:00.000-05:00Oh. By the way. Here's a little sewing technique t...Oh. By the way. Here's a little sewing technique that I'm trying out for the first time. I sometimes like seeing no stitching on front placed patch pockets- so they appear to "float" on the garment. I don't line these patch pockets, but do cut the seam allowances at one inch rather than the standard five- eights. Baste the bottom and side seams of the pockets a scant thread width inside of the s.a. Allow for the required amount of fabric on the top portion of the pocket. Fold down the top portion first, then press and fold the remaining s.a's in. To sew the pockets on begin by sewing the bottom seam first but BE SURE and leave one half inch unsewn from both corners. In other words, Start by sewing a half inch in from the first corner, and stop sewing a half inch from the second . This is to allow room enough to be able to turn under the side s.a's. Now,do just that. Turn under both side seam allowances. Pin. Hand baste the s.a's from inside the pocket to the garment front. Carefully machine stitch the pocket side seams next to but NOT on top of the fold of the fabric. ( the pocket will be pulled too tight width-wise if stitched on the fold) Stitch as far down into the pocket as your machine will allow. The remaining quater inch or so will be hand-tacked from the inside of the garment. Give the pocket a press with your iron and a press cloth. If you're satisfied with the look of your pocket, trim the seam allowances and enjoy! Oh! One thing more. It's best to use a zipper foot on this application, the narrow foot seems to manuever the small spaces better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-28784998954474343612007-03-05T08:06:00.000-05:002007-03-05T08:06:00.000-05:00I'm definitely no expert, but I am enthusiastic! ...I'm definitely no expert, but I am enthusiastic! :)<BR/><BR/>I like seeing advice and tips from all levels of experience, capability and taste. This is in part because the experts are so far in advance of me that can't even begin to do some of the things they are doing. <BR/><BR/>So while I also love to read their stuff, I find that many times I have to file it away for future reference.<BR/><BR/>As for doing things differently from the instructions, I pretty much started that on day 1. Not in big ways mind you. Just little things like using a different technique than what's listed to set in a sleeve.Janiméhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08026290749080406453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-83280792806761337522007-03-05T07:56:00.000-05:002007-03-05T07:56:00.000-05:00Sewing enthusiast. Yeah. I like that as well. I do...Sewing enthusiast. Yeah. I like that as well. I don't know if anybody else out there does this, but I don't necessarily layout patterns according to the instructions. In fact, I never do. Oftentimes I purchase fabrics according to how I feel about them at the time and don't really have a particular garment in mind to make...just a vague inclination. I do pay attention to the nap of the fabric, however. I totally agree with your take on the talents of the bloggers you've mentioned, from what I've seen and read, their sewing skills are the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-21502876970209680852007-03-05T06:50:00.000-05:002007-03-05T06:50:00.000-05:00I consider myself a sewing enthusiast too, not an ...I consider myself a sewing enthusiast too, not an expert by all means; there's still so much to learn! I do lots of things differently, that's because I'm a self taught sewer too. I believe there are many ways to do the same and the right way depends on several factors, including what really works for us. I also love learning from others even if I don't do things their way. I enjoy reading your blog!Tanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01073735708031525696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-44226655802787825622007-03-05T03:07:00.000-05:002007-03-05T03:07:00.000-05:00I like your method! It probably involves too much...I like your method! It probably involves too much precision pressing, etc. for the instructions, plus I don't think they've updated their directions for 40 years at least.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I agree with you about my "expert" status, but thank you so much!! <BR/><BR/>I do lots of things a little differently, but I don't know that they're anything that anyone else should do. They're just things that I think are better for me, or easier. I've lately been making thread eyes when I use a hook. Overcast with buttonhole stitch. They're really stronger and much longer lasting, not to mention better looking than a metal eye, plus they fit on a narrow band much better! I like hand sewing, so I don't mind doing some or a lot if I think it's going to work well.Lianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235950571276425579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20705637.post-36586821012150744452007-03-04T23:21:00.000-05:002007-03-04T23:21:00.000-05:00I like that - "sewing enthusiast"! I can't think ...I like that - "sewing enthusiast"! I can't think of anything off hand that I do, but I don't always follow directions either. I do what works best for me or what I know that I can do without having to rip out a bunch of stiches! I'm anxious to see what others, say, though. Maybe I'll pick up more good tips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com