Site-Wide Activity

Thank you for your response. I’ve purchased a boucle fleece and will look for ultra suede. When it is done, I will post a picture.

Hello, that photo was inspiration only, from a vintage Bonnie Cashin cape. You can take our pattern and modify it to be similar to that style, but I don’t have specific details on the vintage item to give you. Yes, she bound a lot of her clothing in leather strips. You could experiment with similar fabric or with real leather. I’ve also seen a…[Read more]

Sorry for the delay. yes, the second photo is exactly what you should do. And it won’t affect your grainline–just choose one of the lines (above or below the split) and extend that to be your grainline. No problem. Looking good!

This photo shows what I think I need to do i.e line up the front seam (shown by the ruler) so that I can easily continue the side seam. The straight of grain line will not be continuous but the piece will still be straight. This seams to me to lengthen the front bodice but not alter any other aspects.

Thank you @lightningmcstitch for your replies and the link. I think I’ve now done the back bodice but I’m still unsure about the front bodice.
I think I may not have explained myself very well. I’m attaching a photo which I hope will explain better than I’ve managed with words alone. If the straight of grain continues across the inserted piece…[Read more]

Edit: of course it does matter how you line the pattern grain line up with the fabric grain. I worded that badly.
What I mean is that you lengthen your pattern first, using a cut that’s perpendicular to the line on the pattern tissue. That part is the same whether you’re dealing with a pattern piece cut on the grain (the back bodice) or off-grain…[Read more]

Hi @caroljohnson , there’s a nice blog post about lengthening patterns here:

lengthening and shortening a pattern

Use the grain line as it’s marked on the pattern to ensure that you spread your pattern pieces evenly. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the cut on the grain or on the bias when you lay…[Read more]

Thank you for your reply.
I’ve only just started, but unfortunately I’ve got a little stuck. I’m increasing the bodice length by 1 & 1/4″ along the lengthening line. I’ve never done this before & according to my sewing book & everything I read, I should keep the grainline straight through the separated pieces, but if I do this the seam lines are…[Read more]

Sounds like an issue for a repair person. I’m sure they can fix it easily.

I just tried that and it worked!! Thank you!!