Modern Patchwork

I am super lucky to count Elizabeth Hartman as a friend, but even if I didn't know her personally, I would be anxiously awaiting her new book! It will be available in May 2012 from Stash Books. See more details on her blog at Oh, Fransson!

Quilt for C + K + A

 My super awesome friend C had a baby. We know the gender NOW that the baby has been born, but at the time of quilt-making, it was unknown.

 It was really hard for me to let go of making a feminine quilt (I really thought it would be a girl!).

So I let go of the idea of the quilt being for the baby. I just made the quilt for my friend.

 And she liked it.

Which is all I really wanted.

Make your own t-shirt

If you haven't tried it yet, you might be surprised at how easy it is to sew up a t-shirt. Knit fabrics can be tricky to understand and it can be challenging to learn how to manipulate them. Once you learn that part, you can take off in garment sewing!

I am teaching a T-Shirt Class on Sunday, November 7th at Modern Domestic. Class meets 10am-2:30pm with a 30 minute break for lunch.Because there isn't usually homework between the sessions of the t-shirt class, I am able to offer this as a one-session class.

In class, you will learn how to handle knit fabrics so they lie smoothly during cutting, how to manage those pesky curling edges, how much to hem to prevent the hem from rolling up, as well as countless other tips for making drapey, silky smooth t-shirts. Many of the things you learn will also apply to heavier weight knit garments such as sweatshirts or yoga pants.

Click here to learn more and sign up.

Blind Hem Tutorial

I have a new tutorial up at the Bolt Blog. It's about BLIND HEMS! Woot!

Emaline Skirt Class

I'm teaching an a-line skirt class at Aloha Vac and Sew (SW 185th and TV Hwy). It's the Emaline Skirt - very cute, a little sassy, and a flattering fit! Learn to put in a zipper and make a quick and easy skirt that could be your Fall staple!
Call Aloha Vac and Sew to sign up: 503-649-6050
Class meets Mondays, September 20th and 27th, 6pm-8pm. $40. Machines provided.
And folks, you don't have to make it in the clown-ish prints that they show on the front pattern. I'm thinking a nice gray or dark brown linen would look fantastic and hang beautifully. Pair it with some tall boots and you've got it made.

Emaline Skirt

Jeans!

Upcoming class:
Jeans at Modern Domestic
Sundays, September 12, 19, 26
Noon-2:30pm
$115 plus supplies

Make jeans that fit you just right!

Kimono Dress

I made the Kimono Dress in the Heather Ross Weekend Sewing Book. I wanted to make it out of knit fabric, and I scored some inexpensive, yet stable interlock knit at my nearest mega-store, so I was willing to consider this dress a muslin.

Yes, I bought the fabric to match my shoes.

The sash fabric is silk from a different mega-store. I got it on clearance in the bridal section and could only get the 1/4 yard that you see there. It is nearly 44" wide and I simply cut it in half lengthwise and sewed it together. I finished the edges with a rolled hem on my serger, using wolly nylon in the upper looper.

The dress itself only vaguely follows the pattern. I made the bodice and then wrapped it around me until I had adequate coverage and a less plunging neckline. Then I took in the side seams of the skirt until it matched the circumference of the bodice. After I sewed the bodice to the skirt I tried the dress on and it was still way too big. So I took inches more off the waist, tapering from under the kimono sleeves to the hip. I got a little carried away and would like it to be a little less snug through my low-waist, but it's soft and comfy and stretchy! I'll be making many more!

Finishing touches

If you haven't been over to Sew, Mama, Sew lately, be sure to check them out.

This month is Make It, Wear It!, a collection of inspiration, hints, and tips about garment sewing.

I have a post today about Finishing Touches.

In other news, there are some new classes to check out over at Modern Domestic, including jeans and a bias cut slip! There is also a knit skirt class if you are looking to leap into knits as well as Twist on a Tee, a class where you can design your own t-shirt. I will also be offering an ongoing class called Sewing With Sally where you can bring in any project of your choice (preferably something you've done in a class or private lesson with me) and get the help you need.

Jeans

I'm still working on my Jalie jeans, but they are slow going.
Most of my sewing projects get done in small bits of time, 20 minutes stolen here and there, maybe 45 minutes during nap time. I've found that the jeans really require a lot more concentration.

The fly is done now and I'm feeling good about it.
I was worried that I didn't have the right size zipper, which freaked me out because I finally had carved out a good hour to work on it and then was disappointed that I hadn't bought a jeans zipper. I often don't buy all the supplies that a pattern calls for because I have such a huge amount of hand-me-down supplies and materials and random stuff.

As it turns out, I needn't have worried.
I had THIRTEEN metal zippers in my stash.
At least four were the right color and had the right size teeth.

So the zipper is in and the next step is to sew on the waistband, which includes cutting off the excess zipper at the top. I would have assumed that I could cut the excess off the bottom, but the pattern has you place the bottom zipper stop in just the right place so that the zipper stop takes all the stress, not the topstitching. Smart. And looking at my store-bought jeans now, I see they are done the same way.

Today I got a nice mention from Amy Karol on her blog Angry Chicken.
If you haven't seen it, I have a post over on the Bolt Blog regarding double needles.
And a post at Sew, Mama, Sew about tools for garment sewing.

It's been busy around here!

Hooded Sweatshirt class!

**Update**
Class starts next Tuesday (May 25th)
There is still space available!
***


Tuesday evenings, May 25th, June 1st and June 8th.
7pm-9pm

Learn to put together a raglan sleeve pattern, sew a zipper into stretchy fabric, sew on a hood, make kangaroo pockets, and have a ton of fun!