BeckyinFL

I read recently a suggestion someone had for marking the shoulder line on the bubble dress. They sewed a basting stitch through the pattern and fabric together then clipped the threads to remove the pattern. There were thread bits left in the fabric that marked the line. I can’t remember if it was machine or hand basting, but I’d probably do it by…[Read more]

Gal, I don’t know about that, but I do love to talk about it!

I forgot to say to remove the basting after, but I’m sure you knew that. I was just thinking more about this, and I think with a smooth ribbon, this might possibly cause it to pucker some. I’ll have to try it to see, and of course it may depend on the ribbon. But it ought to work very well with lace or or flat piping or firm trims. Okay, just…[Read more]

I forgot to say to remove the basting after, but I’m sure you knew that. I was just thinking more about this, and I think with a smooth ribbon, this might possibly cause it to pucker some. I’ll have to try it to see, and of course it may depend on the ribbon. But it ought to work very well with lace or or flat piping (bias cut) or firm trims.…[Read more]

I was considering this very problem yesterday, and I have an idea, though I haven’t tried it yet. For the dress I’m making, I sew the bodice down last by topstitching it over the seam that attaches the lining to the skirt. I used to do the reverse, but in this pattern I’m good enough that I get very good topstitching on the lining side, too. Okay,…[Read more]

Wow! Thank you, all! That’s exactly what I needed to know. Lots of ideas and options now!

Rhythm, I have bought at least a dozen O+S patterns now, and I notice that I am a much better sewist after making them up. I learn new things with each one. The tutorials and the forum here help a lot, too. It’s been a great way to learn. Best of luck to you.

Thanks, Nicole. I’ll give that a try.

Just popping in here to say that I’ve been off-line due to a household move, and boy I’ve missed this site! Between unpackings I made a little sketchbook shirt and some of the layette pieces. Wow, there’s some interesting construction in that jacket. Will post picks later. Anyway, I’ve missed all the friendly voices here, the shared addiction to…[Read more]

Just popping in here to say that I’ve been off-line due to a household move, and boy I’ve missed this site! Between unpackings I made a little sketchbook shirt and some of the layette pieces. Wow, there’s some interesting construction in that jacket. Will post picks later. Anyway, I’ve missed all the friendly voices here, the shared addiction to…[Read more]

When I was young, my mother would send off to the Wright trim company for a package of lace and ribbon bits and pieces. I remember this vividly because I was so in love with this kind of thing. She also took old Christmas cards and punched holes around the edges to make sewing cards for me that I threaded with shoelaces and yarn (dip the cut ends…[Read more]

I don’t know how helpful this will be, but I just measured a size 7 Playdate dress, which has side-seam pockets. Measuring down from the shoulder seam, the opening for the pocket starts at 15″ and ends at 19.5″

LOL Robin. It’s good to know that we both employ the same “system”!

I decided to try to finish the outer edge of the pocket bag (Seashore Sundress) with French seams, and it worked! Yea!!!

Heidi, I’ll weigh in here… As I sew, I carefully sort the little stringy scraps from scraps that I could get, say about a 3″ x 4″ piece out of, or any straight strip, if it’s fabric I love. I put these in a big plastic bag, where they sit in the bottom of the guest room closet for a year or so. Then one day, when I’m cleaning house and feeling…[Read more]

lol

“seems there are little mini-hacks that people come up with on each project to solve tricky issues that come from their project’s unique combination of fabrics, patterns, tools, and workspace.”

Well put!