Nicole

Liesl, this made me laugh so much I almost choked on my drink. I was really excited to create samples for you of the “Desktop Wrist Rest Pattern”. I could not get those teeny, tiny oval eyes to have smooth edges. I went through all of the fabric you sent and then used some of my own trying to get 2 eyes that were the same.

What makes things…[Read more]

Here’s how I roll…

I learned to sew in 7th grade Home Economics class. I wasn’t particularly good and got a B (which was devastating to me). The summer before high school, I enrolled in a summer class at the high school for sewing. The pattern that I picked – a fully lined fitted blazer. I sewed it in a no-wale brown corduroy. I’m short,…[Read more]

Well, you’re practically reading my mind! Thanks for the feedback, and I think you’ll be happy with at least one of the fall patterns, then. xo

Ooh, well done @TamaraH! My mom sewed me a very similar prom dress: similar silhouette and fabric, but mine was strapless. I recall multiple fittings and many late nights on her part.

But think of the great memories she’ll have!

What’s on your “to tackle” list? Anything you’re really wanting to learn?

I’m thinking about looking for a heavy twill when I’m in London next week. I’ve realized there’s an outerwear gap in my closet: winter coats, rain coats, and nothing in between. What do most people wear when the weather turns too cool for a raincoat but before you need a full-on winter coat? I’d like something that travels well (i.e., not too bulky).

This has cracked me up. Metric is surely the only ‘sensible’ way to go?! Appart from when weighing babies, measuring seam allowances, or your own measurements… or miles but not feet or yards as they confuse me. And obviously pints (unless it’s wine, then it must be ml). Eek. We are a world of contradictions and habit, no?! Don’t even get me…[Read more]

Thanks! How about haberdashery?

The imperial measurement of babies makes no sense to me at all. I can much more easily visualise babies in kilograms. A large baby is like an average cat (4-4.5kg) – my second child. An average baby is like a small cat (3-4kg) – my first child.
And you @juliamom2009, on my reference scale, had a pair of guinea pigs! 😅
( I weigh these animals every…[Read more]

I moved from the US to Canada after my oldest two kids were born. All I knew was that my two preemie kids were 1150 grams (about 2.5 pounds) and 950 grams (about 2 pounds) at birth. So, when I’d go to the meat counter, I’d have to stop and think – did I want a Nathaniel’s worth of meat, or a Melissa’s worth of meat….I didn’t want to look like…[Read more]

Nice one @yirg 😃
@todd that cracked me up, your summation of the American psyche almost sounded like it came from a Canadian or Aussie! 😅
…. And made me realise a way in which metric may just pervade after all. Don’t you measure your guns in millimetres? I know nothing of guns but even I’ve heard of a 9mm pistol. How many sixteenths’ of an inch…[Read more]

Well, as a child of the seventies in the US I remember when President Ford announced we would be joining the rest of the world and going metric. And I remember getting a crash course in metric measurement in grade school.

And then, nothing…. The people spoke and said, “We don’t like change. And we like all this confusing non base ten stuff and…[Read more]

Well, as a child of the seventies in the US I remember when President Ford announced we would be joining the rest of the world and going metric. And I remember getting a crash course in metric measurement in grade school.

And then, nothing…. The people spoke and said, “We don’t like change. And we like all this confusing nonn base ten stuff…[Read more]

As frustrating as it is to sew for a fast growing/changing body, her having well fitting clothes is a blessing 🙂
I’m currently working on pants fitting.
I’ve had to redo my patterns as I’ve lost weight and can’t use my TNT. I was going to wait until I reached my goal weight to do it but the inches have come off much faster than I anticipated and…[Read more]

As frustrating as it is to sew for a fast growing/changing body, her having well fitting clothes is a blessing 🙂
I’m currently working on pants fitting.
I’ve had to redo my patterns as I’ve lost weight and can’t use my TNT. I was going to wait until I reached my goal weight to do it but the inches have come off much faster than I anticipated and…[Read more]

Hi @nathaliecarol I think it depends on the border print itself. If, like in Juliamom’s case the border is “soft”. Ie curved, floral or ill defined, then cut as per the pattern.
However, if the border print has a very defined, straight edge bottom, then I would adjust the pattern pieces and “square off” the hem. It’s as simple as lengthenening…[Read more]

Generally if the curved hem is slight you shouldn’t have a problem. As demonstrated by @juliamom2009!

Hi Nathalie – I used a border print and left the hemline as per the pattern piece…you can see it in this photo: