Liesl Gibson

Good pick up and very good question.
I’ve got one cut out and ready to sew for the first time.
You’re right that the instructions differ. The cut line drawn on the pattern is certainly at the 1&1/4″ distance from the fabric edge.

I tend to follow the written instructions and never look at photographed sew alongs, but now you’ve got me…[Read more]

Thank you @liesl! I feel as though you may be right with simpler being better! I’m going to try a C cup in Size 8 with the shoulders broadened again. Knowing it’s supposed to have a slightly dropped shoulder is helpful. I’ll let you know how it turns out in a couple of days. Thank you!!!

Hi Natalie, sorry for the late reply, I’ve been trying to find a moment to pull out my pattern.
I have the paper printed pattern and you’re absolutely right, the pocket pattern pieces for both views A&B are 1/8th of an inch longer on one side. (Size doesn’t matter for the pocket pattern pieces)
I certainly didn’t notice that when I sewed the…[Read more]

You know, that makes me think, Liesl — I hadn’t thought of how you could actually make the (essentially) bias tape into a loop before sewing it on at all. I was trying to work it out technically in my head — how I could make a loop without having an awkward lumpy seam at the top. Thanks @liesl and @lightningmcstitch!

Thank you @liesl!

I unpicked the 1/2 inch seam and sewed it with a 1/4 inch seam and it worked perfectly!

I found your Building Block dress book at our library a few weeks ago and have ordered my own copy because I like it so much! It led me to your website and I also found a copy of Little Things to Sew at Joann fabric store this week!

I…[Read more]

Looking at the instructions and pictures again, and checking the true 1″ wide facing strip, I can only conclude there’s an error…
@liesl ? It works perfectly with the instructions and illustrations if the strip were even 1/4″ wider…
Currently you sew 1/2″ inch, fold over 1/4″ and that only leaves 1/4″ to cover the seam allowances. Yet the…[Read more]

@lightningmcstitch yes I have the BB book !!! teehee and yep you totally beat @liesl I love your suggestions and it will take me out of my comfort zone and step p my game ( which is my 2018 sew goals) so yes I will start drafting and putting on my thinking cap. Thank you

Hi @florencetaylor “sorry” to have inspired you into this quandary 🙂

Here’s what my approach would be: start with the building block dress: do princess seams and dropped waist adjustments. At the dropped waist you can add the ruffles and pockets using the Seashore pattern as a guide.
Give it a neckline facing and copy across the Seashore’s…[Read more]

@liesl I see what you mean, I just opened the file and looked it over and I see what you mean, will I better get my thinking cap on or steer them to another pattern lol. Thank you for your help

@liesl thank you, ugh the girls swooned over it a few weeks ago and then were silent, well then someone posted it on the fb page and it was reawakened lol . Its cold in PA and they totally are begging me to make it sleeves lol. Is there a way to maybe modify another dress that has the dropped waist and hidden pockets ( the 2 factors they loves…[Read more]

@liesl yes! That’s what I need. Someone who has discipline, so I can simply glean from their beautiful choices. Thanks for the suggestion.

@motherof5 my hope is that the more I see with high-quality beautiful fabric, the more I’ll abstain from the “junk food”. But first I have to find the shops that don’t sell the junk. 😀🤔

@liesl, thanks for your response. It makes sense what you are saying and am glad that you do make a few anyway. Thank you!

@liesl I never would have thought of that, Liesl! Thanks so much for explaining, I’ll be trying the next size up soon!

Tara @4dfamily98 is he into small adult sizing?
Thread Theory (www.threadtheory.ca) make men’s patterns that tend to be a slimmer “athletic” fit and would probably suit a teenager. They are beautiful patterns and ones that I would rank as “up there with Oliver + S”.
They have just released their button down shirt in paper pattern.
But you know…[Read more]

Tara @4dfamily98 is he into small adult sizing?
Thread Theory (www.threadtheory.ca) make men’s patterns that tend to be a slimmer “athletic” fit and would probably suit a teenager. They are beautiful patterns and ones that I would rank as “up there with Oliver + S”.
They have just released their button down shirt in paper pattern.
But you know…[Read more]

Tara @4dfamily98 is he into small adult sizing?
Thread Theory (www.threadtheory.ca) make men’s patterns that tend to be a slimmer “athletic” fit and would probably suit a teenager. They are beautiful patterns and ones that I would rank as “up there with Oliver + S”.
They have just released they’re button down shirt in paper pattern.
But you know…[Read more]

Thanks @lightningmcstitch and @liesl it makes perfect sense. In fact I found a tutorial that actually pictorially explains it so all I need now is some time to actually implement it. Thanks again and yes pics are on there way too.

While I am not entirely confidant about the route I took to get here, I do believe I will be able to repeat the sewing process for my customized maritime top with relative success. I attached a quick photo of the finished garment here. The bottom hem stretched a bit but overall it fits well and I do like how the darts shape the front. I lowered…[Read more]