Sewn Magazine Available November 6th

Sewn Magazine is a new bi-monthly sewing magazine. The first issue will be available November 6th. It is an actual paper magazine that you can hold in your hand and read while laying in bed, riding the bus, or sitting at the kitchen table cooking dinner. 

It is a sewing magazine that highlights sewing, fashion and DIY projects, showcasing multi-cultural talented artists from across the world!  It is a sewing magazine that feels like a fashion magazine for sewists. Featuring at least 10 sewing/DIY projects per issue along with two sewing patterns and the magazine is available for international delivery too!  

So if you've followed Michelle on her blog, That Black Chic or as a Fabric Mart Fabricista, you know that she has an amazing sense of style!  She also has written a few articles for current sewing magazines, check out her bio for the links.

Michelle has rounded up an interesting group of sewists as part of her editorial team. The team is being announced on the Sewn Magazine website, so check in frequently to see who is participating. Believe me, you are going to love this collection of amazing sewists from around the globe!

However, I am also very pleased to announce that I am part of the editorial team for Sewn Magazine.  I will be writing a sewing advice column called, "Ask Carolyn". So if you have a sewing question like how to use a notion, how to do a technique, or how to choose fabrics, send the question over to AskCarolyn@sewnmag.com and it may appear in a future issue of Sewn Magazine.

For subscription information, go to the website and pre-order your copy.  During the month of October, when you sign up for the yearly subscription (6 issues per year), you will receive a discount of 10% off the subscription rate.

I really hope you will give this new sewing magazine a try AND send me a question!

...as always more later!

SEWN Magazine ~ A Sewing and DIY Magazine

Last month I reviewed the new digital sewing magazine, Sew Sew Def. During the discussion in the comments section, the other new sewing magazine, SEWN, was mentioned.

I wanted to do a follow up to that conversation.  

Sewn will be published by Michelle, who authors the blog, That Black Chic. The debut issue is scheduled to arrive in November 2017. It will be a bi-monthly magazine (6 issues per year) and will include sewing and DIY projects. It will be available in paper and digital editions.

Per Michelle, "This magazine will be serving you articles on diverse fashions and lifestyles, which is why our motto is going to be "Sewing is a lifestyle." And to top off all of this fabulousness is the reason for this magazine, which is to showcase the culturally diverse talent that is missing in the national sewing publications.  I am going to publish a sewing magazine that would represent not some but all makers out there including those who look like me."

A mock-up page of the new magazine

Now as you know starting any new venture requires capital so Michelle has started a Go Fund Me page for anyone interested in donating. I'm donating and I hope you will too. I hope that you think that giving whatever you can to the continuance of our sewing industry is as vital as I do.  If so, here's a link to make a contribution!  

I am sewing and will have some finished garments soon.

...as always more later!

The New Sew Sew Def Magazine

Let me state up front that I have no part in the publishing or marketing of this magazine. I was not offered a free copy. I paid for it myself because I was intrigued by the concept and frankly because I'm nosey and wanted to see what was going on. Also, two of my sewing friends were featured in the first issue, so I wanted to support them.

A few basics - this is a digital/online magazine. The cost per issue is $9.99 and $119.99 for the year. The magazine has a very diversified editorship and is geared to women and men sewists. It also tries to encompass ALL sewists. By that I mean, not only are young and thin women highlighted, but plus size women, men who sew, sewists of color and sewists who make children's clothing.

Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow asked what I thought of the magazine in the comments section of my Saldana Maxidress post. I thought it was a great idea but wanted to wait until the second issue came out before I posted a review.

Here are my thoughts ~

Pros:
1. It is a well photographed magazine. I love the tie in to YouTube, so that you can see more in-depth interviews. That was a great step beyond and a wonderful use of the digital platform.

2. I like that there are at least two free patterns included with the issues. Two that are available for download in the first issue. The second issue has three and one that you can download from Thread Theory, so four in total. 

3. The menswear patterns are amazing and like nothing that's currently available in the Big 4 catalogue. Also the emphasis on mens sewing is awesome. Again like nothing that's presently being shown in any of the other magazines or online right now. If I was a male sewist, I would be purchasing this magazine!

4. There is an interesting mix of articles that highlight all areas of apparel sewing - menswear, women (plus and regular sizes) and children's wear. Trends (fabric and patterns), indie patterns and patternmakers and sewing suppliers are all featured in-depth.

5. I don't have to dispose of this. Weird comment right? But I have to recycle every piece of paper in my house, so I've cut back on the number of paper magazines I purchase/subscribe to. I also find that I like having digital magazines because I can access them anywhere on my iPad.  So it's very convenient.

Cons:
I have less cons than I have pros.

1. The first is the cost. This is an expensive magazine. However, I understand the cost. There is a high quality look to the magazine, there are the filming costs for the YouTube tie-ins and then you do get two free pdf pattern downloads. 

Now I've already read some criticism online about the price of the magazine and honestly with the first issue I wondered about that too. However, after I made the Saldana maxidress, I realized that the cost of the pdf pattern, plus the magazine was worth the investment...well at least to me.

2. I thought there would be more in-depth construction articles, or how-tos, I mean it's MimiG and this woman can sew! The first issue has a lot of interviews in them. Now while these are very interesting interviews, we are sewists and you know we like to see how things are made! 

The second issue definitely has more how-tos in it for both men and women. Although since Mimi is a master of the YouTube video, I think tying some of the techniques to YouTube videos would be very helpful. Maybe something for future issues. So I guess that's not really a con is it?! *LOL*

Conclusion ~
So I was okay with the first issue of the magazine and wasn't quite sure I would continue with it. But then I wore my dress, got several compliments on it and decided that I would hold judgement until issue two. Hey I'm honest! *LOL*

If Mimi continues to offer the opportunity to purchase single issues, I would go that route. Picking the ones I like by the patterns offered (cause the swimsuits for men and women offered in the last issue aren't my thing) and the articles would determine which issues I buy.

However fellow sewists, before passing judgement, I would buy at least one issue. Why? Well it's supporting a fellow sewist for one thing cause our dollars are the only dollars keeping this industry alive. Two, let's face it digital is the future of sewing. As much as I hate pdf patterns, they are only becoming more popular not less.  

As an aside, I was in the grocery store in the middle of the day last week and I noticed it was mostly older people shopping. We all used the check out with the cashiers, there was hardly anyone at self serve. But when I go to the grocery store after work with shoppers my daughters ages, the self serve check-outs are busy and there are only 1 or 2 cashiers. There is a segment of the population now that is very comfortable with computers and have no problem dealing with them on a day-to-day basis.

So no matter how much I like paper patterns, pdf patterns are the future, just as digital magazines are becoming the norm. I honestly read my Threads and Vogue Pattern Magazine on my iPad and only refer to my hard copy versions when I need them for sewing. I'm sure with time, I will start to use my digital versions more when sewing too.

So give the magazine a try!  My only other suggestion would be if Mimi could develop an app that I could download so my issues could go in my Newstand folder on my iPad. It would make it easier to find my issues, rather than rooting around in my email for a link.

I hope you give the magazine a try because I'm sure more sewing magazines will be going the digital route in the future!

...as always more later!

Threads & Sew Stylish are now on my iPad!

I've received an email several times in the last couple of weeks about Threads Magazine being available (FINALLY) on my iPad.  The first couple of emails said that as a subscriber I could sign up by checking my magazine label.  Okay, good idea!  The problem is that I'm never where my magazine is...*sigh*  Then finally  I received an email with MY subscription information in it.  Okay whatever programmer at Threads thought that up should be given a bonus!  Cause then it was just a matter of downloading the app, signing in with the thoughtfully supplied info, and downloading the issue.

But wait, I'm roaming around the app and what do I find ~ the latest issue of Sew Stylish!  Y'know I purchased that issue through my iTunes account, so now I have both issues downloaded on my iPad and will be able to read them on the very long bus rides home...just an aside my commute home from work has been hellish this week...can I say that again hellish!  

Anyway, I'm thrilled!  Absolutely thrilled!  Now Threads if you're listening, if you can make it so that I can send a picture or article to my email address, so that I can print them/it out like Elle Magazine offers, I would be over the moon happy!  Cause every now and then a girl needs to have a picture on a piece of paper or wants to share an article with a friend.

Now I don't know if this is available for the Kindle yet but since I'm an Apple girl (who has way too many Apple gadgets!) I'm thrilled.  Oh yeah, I said that already didn't I.  *LOL*  One more thing, the app is available for your iPhone too.  Okay I'm off to check out the new issues...

...and I will have pictures this weekend of several new pieces...

...as always more later! 

My Love/Hate Relationship with Burda

I stopped buying Burda Style/World of Fashion last year.  I didn't subscribe to it and my local magazine stand stopped carrying it.  I've made exactly three garments from a dozen years of BWOF/BS so I stopped buying it.  However, I did subscribe to Burda Plus which was a bi-annual magazine featuring plus size designs.  I did love it, even though I made nuthin' from the patterns and I must have six years of Burda Plus magazines to show for it.  Don't really know that for sure because my Burda collection is still packed up waiting for storage to be set up in my new sewing room.

I really didn't miss either magazine during my year's hiatus. Then I got an email.  A simple email started me down the road to ruin.  The email showed this magazine...

...and I was intrigued...and then curious...and then before you know it I was on the GLP website ordering it. But it seemed kinda silly to only order this one magazine, so I signed for another year of Burda Plus. Figuring that since I no longer buy Burda Style every month, all the patterns would be new to me.  A problem I was having with Burda Plus before...they were recycling the plus size patterns from the monthly issues.

Anyway, long story short, the magazine showed up this week and I was disappointed.  Really and truly disappointed.  The magazine says that it has styles in ALL sizes...yeah right.  Two lousy loose pieces, $10 for two lousy pieces.  Can you tell I'm annoyed?  And this is after receiving the first issue of the Burda Plus, which was actually a great issue!  See love/hate...

I'm thinking that after this second issue of Burda Plus arrives, I'm letting it go. Because I didn't really miss anything...my sewing is going in another direction...not in the way Burda is going.  Y'know I love seeing garments other Burda lovers/sewists make. I love seeing how they brought the idea to fruition. But in all honesty, that's not me.  Right now, I'm really enthralled with interpreting designer looks and making them in my size...or sewing up a wardrobe...a series of garments that work together and allow me to plan.  That's my sewing right now...not Burda Style or Burda Plus.  

So after this next issue I won't renew.  I'm actually glad that I did this because it confirms that my original decision was correct and I won't be enticed again.

...as always more later!

Diary Bits on the first day of Summer

Tonight I came home and this was waiting for me...

...yes, it's the first issue where "our" friend Robin Denning is the new Editor of Vogue Pattern Magazine.  If you've been under a rock and don't know the story, here is her last blog post discussing how this amazing opportunity came to be. So of course, I sat down to peruse this edition and what really caught my eye was The Creative Expression article.  

August/September 2012 Issue

Now y'all know I'm all about editing and interpreting a pattern to get the look that I want and this article really celebrates that.  One of the garments highlighted in this article is Vogue 8805.  You know Vogue 8805, the dress that I want to make based upon the Preen designer original. The same dress that I've been having the darndest time finding the orange ponte knit for the bottom of the dress. Can we just refer to yesterday's post here? *sigh*  


Anyway one of the editorial licenses they took with the dress was to add inseam pockets on the front of it.  I'd been thinking of doing the same and now I don't have to work it out myself because VPM has provided instructions...instructions that I plan on following!


But I have another dilemma...I have three shades of orange...

tangerine ponte, mango ponte, golden orange poly crepe

and these look better in the picture than IRL

...the first two don't work for me and the one that does is a totally different fabric (a poly crepe) instead of a ponte knit.  So I have to figure out if I can make the two different fabrics work or keep looking for another orange knit.  Or horrors of horrors give this project up...something I'm really not ready to do.


The last thing that's on my mind is this dress...

I found it in this month's Lucky magazine in one of the editorial articles.  This silhouette has been playing around the edges of my creative brain for a couple of months now...way before I saw this photo. It's not a silhouette that I've worn as a fuller figured woman but I want to see if I can make it work now...and that is my next "outside the box, can I make it work" moment.  There are two patterns that I'm thinking about for this challenge...

Butterick 4957

McCalls 6599

...but mostly I'm concerned that I'm gonna look like a hippo with a tutu...twirling around taking pictures and not realizing how poorly I look.  So to calm my fears or confirm them, I'm going to do something I nevah do...I'm going to make a muslin.  Yes, you heard it here...I'm going to sew a muslin.  I have to otherwise I won't know if this look will or will not work for me.  And I gotta know if it works so that I can get these ideas that are swirling around in my head out of it.


I guess you should stay tuned because it's about to get real interesting around here...*LOL*...and as always more later!

I'm not missing it!

True confession time...I haven't bought a Burda Style monthly mag or a Burda Plus since the May issue 2011...and I'm not missing it!  I was really worried that I would miss the trendy stylings and the fashion forward garments but I have to say that nope...not feeling any separation anxities...no need to scour NYC for a copy of one...nuthin'!

I think alot of this can be contributed to Vogue Pattern Magazine upping its game and providing a magazine with a lot of the things that I loved about the old Burda magazine...not that thing that the new BS has morphed into.  I truly feel that the Burda Style editors kicked me and some of it's long time American readers to the curb when they dismantled the old website and replaced it with the new one.  And please understand that I'm not bashing that website, because it does provide a service to the new sewist...a service that is needed so that our craft continues with the next generation...it just does nothing for me.

So I will continue to enjoy the 12-13 years of magazines that I currently own and have no intentions of parting with.  I may even look for a new garment to make from one of those magazines since they were so fashion forward...but I since I'm not missing BS...I will no longer actively look for it...it's time to move on!

...as always, more later!

My mailbag and an alteration

I love mail!  At the end of a workday, I love walking up to my mailbox inserting the key and wondering what will come tumbling out.  Today was a particularly good mail day...

Two new issues of Stitches, the Vogue Fabrics by Mail Swatch Club listing (Transition 2011) and the fabric was waiting by the front door...two more of the trendy rayons from Fabric Mart.

I also received three new patterns from BMV.  McCalls 6329 and Vogue 9771 were purchased because I saw them made up and thought that they could look cool in my wardrobe!

Stitches Magazine:
The two magazines are special dedicated issues - the first one is on Shirts & Blouses and the other is called Stitches Annual.  I know I was complaining about this magazine when it first arrived and truth be told it's still not a really "deep" sewing magazine...but I've learned to enjoy the inspiration it provides.  And when one shows up now, I find that I am a little thrilled to receive it.

Vogue Fabrics by Mail Swatches:
I use to subscribe to this years ago and last week while cruising their site, I decided that I needed to subscribe to it again.  I'm sure that I will regret this before the year is over *LOL* because I know it will feed my fabric addiction...but I am excited to see it!

As for the alterations...

My boss brought this dress to work a couple of weeks ago to ask me if I could alter it.  Ummmm, no!  She was gifted it from someone in her building and it is a designer dress from the 60s.  She took it to her local tailor who definitely got it down from a size 10 to a size 6 but the buttons on the front were toast.

After a trip to Botani Buttons on a Friday afternoon, she picked out these buttons and asked if I would please sew the buttons on...

Here is the dress with the buttons she chose sewn on....

and at the neckline...

I can't believe it but she wore this polyester heavy as heck and made like 'a steel tank" dress in 90 degree farenheit weather...but she did look amazing in it...and it only took about an hour to sew the buttons on.

I will probably work on the pea green linen dress this weekend...it is the last thing lingering before I start my 6pac sewing.  I'm still working through pattern selections but I'm sure I will pick something out and at the very least cut it out this weekend.

...as always more later!

Stitches Magazine

Years ago when the magazine stand in the Pan Am/MetLife Building in NYC used to carry every sewing magazine under the sun ~ my special treat was to walk there at lunch time and peer through them all.  Then I would carefully select a few to take home with me.  One of those that regularly came home with me was Stitches magazine.

I loved the articles and how they developed wardrobes.  I loved how the editors interpreted the styles for their followers.  It was a different magazine than the American pattern companies' produced.  Back then all of the pattern companies published one (Butterick, Simplicity, McCalls & Vogue) as well as the Burda line (Easy Sewing, Blouses/Tops, Petites, Plus and the monthly Burda World of Fashion) or Threads and Sew News so I really enjoyed Stitches Magazines unique point of view.  As with how the world changes, the newsstand changed hands and stopped carrying as many sewing publications and I could no longer find Stitches Magazine.

After Audrey showed her latest copy of Stitches on her blog and so willing gave up the subscription information, I purchased a subscription for the magazine.  Just this week two new editions arrived in my mailbox.  And now I'm wondering if I was just feeling nostalgic for this magazine or if I was in a different learning curve when I use to buy it.  Because it is a good sewing magazine and it has interesting articles in it, but it didn't move me creatively like I thought it would.

It could just be these two issues - I mean I have 13 more to go! But I was wondering if anyone else subscribes to it and what do you think?  Help me out here...am I missing something?  Did I let my sentimental feelings for the magazine color my reality?  Or do I just need to settle into the groove?

Thanks in advance for any opinions...and as always, more later!

To Burda Plus or Not?

There has been a little brouhaha lately about the Burda Plus pattern magazine.  First it use to come out quarterly, I know because I own quite a few of them.  Then they made it bi-annual.  Now the magazine has four sections and only one of the sections has new patterns in it.  The other three sections are just repeats of the patterns that appear in the monthly version of Burda Style magazine.

Since I purchase the BS magazine every month, I'm questioning why I need to continue my subscription to Burda Plus?  For someone who doesn't sew from the BS magazine every month, I have to admit that I love this pattern magazine.  It is so fashionable with such great details included in the clothing...even the plus size garments are fashion forward and trendy. 

So why do I need the recycled patterns twice a year?  It would help if they made them up in different fabrics and photographed them in different settings (like the Big 4 do) but noooooo....they use the exact same photos from the monthly BS.  (Okay, I'm getting quite a thrill out of calling it BS...childish I know! *chuckle, chuckle*)  I've also got serious issues with the fact that they did away with the English version of the Burda site for that new anomoly!  And please don't tell me that the present site has anything to do with the Burda site of old...that, however, is a "discussion" for another time.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out what to do.  Do you want to know what my real quandry is?  I'm afraid I will miss something.  Yeap that's it in a nutshell.  What if they go back to their old ways and print an amazing fall issue with some awesome fat girl clothes...and I miss it!  'Cause it's dayum near impossible to find a Burda Plus on the newsstands and GLP always seems to run out of the good issues with a quickness!

I have to decide soon...the issue pictured above is the last one of my subscription.  I just don't know whether to Burda Plus or not...*sigh*

***************************************

On another note, have you noticed that there is no sewing going on around here!  Nuthin' at all in the last few posts about actual sewing...hopefully I will fix that this weekend...hopefully...

....more later!

The August/Sept. Vogue Pattern Magazine

ETA: They're up! The new patterns are up! And they have some that aren't even in the magazine!!!

I received the August/September issue of Vogue Pattern Magazine and since I was amongst the last to receive my copy, I just knew that the new patterns would be posted by now! I mean they just had a sale on patterns...selling off the last of the spring/summer ones...so you would think they would be posted now...right? But alas...there are no new patterns in sight...I know because I've clicked into the site several times in the last couple of days!!!

Okay...I'm obsessing! I know this! I admit this! But you would be obsessing too, if you saw this:

The dress and the suit are by Badgley Mischka - I want both patterns!

This is a new Tracy Reese - love the detail on the jacket back!

I am soooooo loving this Anne Klein coat! I may actually break down and sew one this Fall!

This Five Easy Pieces pattern...I can see sewing an entire wardrobe from this one pattern!

Okay...I'm even drooling over this Marcy Tilton top! I have the perfect piece of black painted shantung to make this up in! No fabric purchase required and that's a good thing!!!

This Vogue Woman topper would work in any lifestyle...

So I guess I will continue to stalk the website for the new patterns...hoping, praying...that they will show up soon and you too can share my joy!

Burda World of Fashion

I love Burda World of Fashion pattern magazines. Today I realized that I've been collecting them for a dozen years...yeap, that's right...I have 12 years full of BWOF magazines...and I've made maybe three things from them...*LOL* Because until lately I thought of them primarily as a fashion magazine...the patterns were just extra!

Now how did I finally realize that I have so many years and so many copies of BWOF? I've spent the day cleaning, organizing and painting...I've lived in my apartment for four years now and I've finally made some decisions about how I want some things to go...took long enough huh?! *LOL*

Anyway, the bookcase that broke a couple of months ago, was fixed by my very resourceful daughter...and I reloaded it with magazine cases full of BWOF:

So in honor of organization, I have a giveway. I found one extra copy of the May 2007 issue. If you want it, it's yours. Just leave a message in this post's comments section from now until Friday, February 27th. I will pick one name from the hat Friday evening and let you know who gets it.

Parting shot:

The new color of my kitchen. I now need new kitchen curtains but that is an easy task! So no sewing this weekend...I have an engagement tomorrow during the day and I will be stuck in front of my TV tomorrow evening watching the Red Carpet events before the Academy Awards show.

Sewing will resume next weekend!

The last bits and pieces of 2008

I do have one more post for 2008...but I will share that tomorrow. In the meantime though, a few bits and pieces...

1. New Magazines in the mail

I was thumbing through my Vogue Pattern Magazine and there is an article called "City Safari" by Kathryn Brenne - where she leads the hunt for fabric in NYC. (LindseyT pay close attention, now!) and somehow she managed to leave out two of my favorite spots - Daytona Trimmings and Metro Textiles!!! I was two steps from the computer and writing an email to the editor when I glanced upon "Editor Picks" and saw both listed...shew! I also now understand why Vogue Patterns online are on sale for $4.75 today and tomorrow!

2. UFOs

I don't do UFO's. I hate UFO's. I will finish and/or rework a garment to avoid UFO's. So why are these two pieces still hanging around in unfinished form!?! Geeze, didn't I just say I hate UFO's!!! And there are two more in the drawers underneath my cutting table. Those are in the cut-out stages, fabric still attached to pattern pieces...ummm, I've gotta do something about these and quickly!

3. New Ideas

Yup, that quick little top jumpstarted my sewing mojo...I've got plans...boy do I have plans! And most of the garments came from fabrics that are already in the collection! Today, everyone left work at 3pm...I felt a little bad leaving behind them because I arrived mid-morning due to a drs. appt....but by 3:45pm it just seemed dumb to be sitting there...ALONE. So I traipsed off to the garment district and bought trimmings at Daytona Trims (*LOL*) and lining at Ebad Fabrics. That's what's pictured in the photo above...I've got ideas and five, count them five uninterrupted days to sew!!!! Wooooo Hoooo!!!!

4. Vintage Patterns

The last two for 2008 arrived in last night's mail...so I will begin the process of planning my next Jackie O. Retro project...I've got chills just thinking about it! *smile*

...and that's my last bits and pieces for 2008! Tomorrow I will share my sewing goals for 2009 - there are only three of them but they are soooooo important to me!

'Til tomorrow!

Sew News Inspiration

A couple of days ago I picked up the April/May edition of Sew News. I was pleasantly surprised at home much I enjoyed this issue.

Of course the article, "One Pattern, 3 Look's" caught my eye first! This article is well written and photographed. It will encourage you to use your pattern as a jumping off point and to dream of many different looks for your pattern.

The article has great diagrams showing how to cut up and change a pattern. And as a TNT pattern fanatic, who is constantly reimagining her patterns, I loved this article.

Another article is called, "Three of a Kind" where three different Sew News staff members used the same skirt pattern but came up with three different looks. Each look fits the sewist's lifestyle and figure, but really highlights how everyone should make a pattern that works for them and not just copy what's on the cover of the pattern envelope.

Also included an interview of Carmen Webber, Season 4 Project Runway contestant was interesting especially since Carmen wasn't on PR long enough to become a fan favorite! The article was informative and showed several of her designs.

The last article worth mentioning is called, "Neckline Redefined" which gives you in-depth instructions on how to alter your pattern's neckline. Since I've altered a neckline or two on both tops and dresses this was very useful information...confirming some things I already knew and and also reinforcing some others!

Probably the reason I liked this issue so much is because it is all about encouraging you to experiment with your pattern, to dream up something new, to challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and do something a little different! If you are not a subscriber or you don't regularly pick-up Sew News, but you are looking for a resource that will assist you in becoming more proficient in "interpreting" and "changing" a pattern...this issue is for you!

I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled with the entire issue! So if you can, please pick one up!