Friday begins a three-day weekend and I've decided that during this weekend, I will make my version of the Christine Jonson Princess Dress. I've opened the pattern envelope and read the instructions thoroughly (more on that later!) I've touched my fabric longingly more than once...and now I'm ready to begin.
So a few days ago, I sent this message to Christine regarding pretreating the fabric:
"Hi Christine ~ I had a quick question. Do I prewash the fabric or not? I know there was a lot of discussion on whether to or not in the old Sewing World days but I didn't know if the answer had changed or not."
And here is her response:
"It is your decision as to whether or not you pre-wash the fabric. My advise is to always cut 3- 3"squares of fabric and do this test: leave one alone, press one with a hot iron and steam and "try" to shrink it, then wash and dry the other one either in the dryer or air dry flat (however you will want to care for finished garment). Then compare them to the one you did nothing to and see what happened.
Check and compare both the lengthwise and crosswise grains to each other, usually there will be more shrinkage in the lengthwise grain. This will help you determine how to deal with the fabric and pattern sizing.
If the swatch shrinks alot you will know to add to the length/width etc. to your pattern if you do not pre-wash the fabric.
If nothing changes then it is a safe bet that the finished garment will not change either and you will not need to pre-wash.
Sometimes a fabric will just "feel or look better" after washing it or maybe the edges will roll and it will be more difficult to handle. Testing the fabric ahead of time is really the only way to know how to proceed.
The shrink/press information from the "old days" only applied to the cotton/LYCRA fabric that I offered exclusively with the original patterns. I added a bit of extra length and width to the original 6 patterns to allow for pressing shrinkage of that fabric, but now because there are so many fabulous knits with a wide variety of fiber content available I do not do that.
I recommend doing the swatch test along with using the finished garment measurement chart and the Perfect Sizing Worksheet to guide in choosing size.
Check out this link and read the To Wash or Not To Wash article http://cjpatterns.com/LittleBlackDress-TableofContents.htm
I hope this helps. And, fabric content means nothing when it comes to pre washing or not. Just because one rayon/LYCRA jersey washed up beautifully with no shrinkage or ill effect does not mean the next one will not shrink 2" all the way around! Each fabric must be considered as an individual.
So, I recommend doing this test with both of the fabrics you will be using and see what happens!"
As I told Christine in a subsequent email, that she states it best and there is no need to improve upon what she's written. So I will be performing my swatch test tomorrow evening and I will post the results then. I'm on my way to having a great dress, dontcha think!
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On another note, thank you to everyone who left a message, sent me an email or wrote something on their blog (Debbie) about the lack of posts here for the last two weeks. In a nutshell, I just needed a blogging break. I've been blogging for the last 5 1/2 years pretty steadily and when I find I need to delete a post from my blog, I would say it's time to step back and take a deep breathe.
There are some pretty serious things happening in the world right now and especially here at home in America...so blogging nonsense is just background noise. I hope you will continue to pray with me for the folks in Alabama, Joplin, MO, and Texas...but most especially for the people in Japan. I know they've fallen off the newscycle here in America but I'm sure living through the rebuilding of their country is still a challenge every day!
I've been sewing while I was gone...so not only do I have the Christine Jonson dress' adventure to share with you but a few other goodies as well.
...as always, more later!
That's right - fabric and pattern have arrived safely at Casa de Sewing Fanatic! And I'm thrilled...can't wait to get started on this project!
But I have even better news...seriously I do! It's something special just for you dear readers...Christine has graciously offered anyone who purchases a pattern from her during my construction of this outfit a 20% off discount. Yes, that's right! Any pattern you order from Christine Jonson's site will be 20% off by using the coupon code "SewingFanatic" on the basket page or at the checkout/payment screen.
Now don't drag your feet because I'm chomping at the bit to make this dress and shrug...however, I will give you a little time to make your purchase because I'm not going to start working on this dress until next weekend (May 20-22). I can't guarantee how long it will take me to finish so if there was a pattern you wanted from Christine's site, I would run right over and use the coupon, NOW!
...as always, more later!
The most amazing thing happened to me yesterday afternoon and it started with an email. Seriously a simple email with a version of a title that I've probably read at least a dozen times...but this time...this time it was special!
Let's start at the beginning so you will understand why I was so excited when I received the email. About a dozen years ago I began my foray into the internet sewing community. I started with the mailing lists on Quiltropolis and moved onto the sewing forum, Sewing World (the precursor to Stitchers Guild). It was there that my eyes were really opened to what kind of sewist I could become because the forum consisted of not only sewists but patternmakers, designers and entrepreneurs...people actively engaged in making their living from their sewing talents.
One of the participants on this board was Christine Jonson. She sold this awesome cotton/lycra knit fabric and these really kewl patterns. She had a devoted band of followers and I loved seeing the pictures of the outfits they constructed and reading about their sewing journeys. However, my interest was really piqued when Kathryn (I Made This!) made a couple of Christine's Swing Jackets. I think Kathryn has made three in total but it was this one, that caused me to purchase the pattern.
At the time, I purchased not only the Swing Jacket
but the Swing Shirt too...
Both of these patterns worked for the business casual atmosphere of the job I had at that time. But as you all are aware, I moved on to a more conservative workplace and sadly neither of these patterns were made.
So now that you have the backstory, here is the part that made my day! I received an email from Christine where she asked me if I would be interested in reviewing a pattern and her fabric on my blog. She said a couple of nice things about the blog and that she has read it off and on for the last year. Now that sentence alone made my heart beat a little faster...*LOL* She left her email address and her phone number, so I called her. Seriously, picked up the phone from work and called expecting to leave a message and have her call me back.
But I had forgotten that small business owners are generally in their place of business and ready and willing to speak with their customers! Silly me! Christine comes to the phone and spends 20 minutes with me discussing the type of pattern that would work for my needs. Never once did she try to steer me to one of her popular or new patterns...the emphasis was on what would work for me. Then we discussed fabric. OMG! I was smiling so wide that several of my co-workers later asked me who I was talking to...but seriously people talking to Christine Jonson about what fabric works best with what pattern...heaven! *LOL*
So decisions were made, a pattern chosen, fabric picked and I'm sure that it's all winging its way to me as you read this. Here's what I want you to know...not only was Christine gracious and helpful to me, but she will be the same way with you! If you visit her site, Christine Jonson Patterns, and have a question regarding the fabric or her patterns, she is available to you via email and phone, too.
Don't forget that Christine's patterns are featured in this month's (June/July 2011) Threads. The article is called, "Sew a Mix & Match Summer Wardrobe" and features several of Christine's patterns and fabrics. It is a step by step tutorial on how to get 10 great and easy summer garments. Christine also has a Facebook page and a twitter account, so you can follow her at both. If you just want to see pictures of her garments made up, Christine has a Flickr account showing her patterns made up and modeled.
Finally, yes I'm promoting her products! Christine is a designer that I've admired for years who produces a quality product. I'm glad that she reached out to me to try one of her patterns, because I hadn't really looked at her site, prior to the Threads article, in some time. There are a few additional patterns I'd like to try, as well as, several pieces of her fabrics that would work well in my corporate wardrobe. But here's the kicker, most of you don't live in my work-world and the selection is even greater and more far reaching for you.
If you are a follower of Christine Jonson, and have used her fabrics and patterns, would you kindly leave a comment and tell us why you like her products? Would you speak to the quality of the fabric? How the patterns work for you? And her customer service? The rest of us would so appreciate any info you can pass along! Thanks!
I will have several follow-up posts as I go through the construction process for the dress. I can guarantee you that my opinions will be truthful and not swayed at all by this opportunity...so stay tuned as the journey continues...
...as always, more later!
