I've talked several times about my great class at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan last year. I haven't been able to give specific details about the things I have learned because obviously I didn't invent the techniques myself.
This most recent Sew News Magazine, March 2008, features Rosebud and a detailed How-To of Islander Sewing Systems Invisible Zipper Insertion on page 17. She goes thru Hand control, Preparation and Insertion, all the way to adding a Facing or a Lining.
Its a great way to get an introduction to the technique without spending the big bucks for the Easy Zippers! DVD by Janet Pray and Rosebud, though I think I should splurge. I learned 3 zippers techniques in my class, invisible, lapped and a standard, but I know that there are a few more in the DVD I could use some tips on!
The last Threads Magazine, January 2008, also featured Rosebud on pg. 65. They did the Lapped Zipper in Threads. Its another great presentation worth a look and learn.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
So, I went to an Estate Sale.
I'm not supposed to be going to Estate sales because I'm supposed to be decluttering here. BUT, my cousin called and told me that it had Dressforms! I need (want) another woman's dressform, I like to see the projects I'm working on hanging on them. And I always seem to have one less than I need.
This estate sale did not have a woman's form, but it did have this child's form. I didn't have a child's form!! So, now I do.... Hurray!
I also bought 6 vintage shirts to sell on another venue. Sigh, an addict!
This estate sale did not have a woman's form, but it did have this child's form. I didn't have a child's form!! So, now I do.... Hurray!
I also bought 6 vintage shirts to sell on another venue. Sigh, an addict!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
My Entries for the Project Runway Style Challenge at the red thread studio!
Last Wednesday I sent out 3 garments, my $5.00 entry fee and return shipping for the Project Runway Style Challenge at the red thread studio in Virginia.
Angelia will have pictures of all the entries at her blog.
I sent my favorite skirt,made from 4 pair of blue jeans. I think she'll travel the world!
A skirt made from 1 pair of jeans.
And a newly reconstructed sweater.
I can't wait to see how it all turns out....
Angelia will have pictures of all the entries at her blog.
I sent my favorite skirt,made from 4 pair of blue jeans. I think she'll travel the world!
A skirt made from 1 pair of jeans.
And a newly reconstructed sweater.
I can't wait to see how it all turns out....
Friday, January 25, 2008
Denim Refashioning and Project Runway
Now I know I'm not the first, and I also understand I won't be the last, but I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get more of my ideas done before they did the denim stuff on Project Runway! One thing I notice is that they seemed to be matching the denim and part of the fun for me is to use the different colors. I've only seen the show a couple of times, because we don't have Bravo, but I've been thinking of renting or buying some of the previous seasons.
A Yahoo! Group I read has been taking about the shows, thats how I know about the recent developments. I'm sure that now there will be more people inspired by the shows great designs and I'll not be alone in my crazy pastime of cutting apart jeans! I just made a big pile to work on too! I'll have to get a pic on Flickr.
I just bought a pattern to try out yesterday. Its not everything that I've been thinking of, but I've been burning to make a jacket out of the recycled denim and procrastinating because of the pattern work involved in making my own design. So, I purchased Butterick B0458 by Connie Crawford. I will only have to make the sleeve a two piece to make it fit on the jeans. Its a nice little Fitted Jacket and I can try out her patternmaking style. I do have her book Patternmaking for Fashion Design to make my own patterns. Connie is very well respected by everyone that I have ever heard mention her name.
A Yahoo! Group I read has been taking about the shows, thats how I know about the recent developments. I'm sure that now there will be more people inspired by the shows great designs and I'll not be alone in my crazy pastime of cutting apart jeans! I just made a big pile to work on too! I'll have to get a pic on Flickr.
I just bought a pattern to try out yesterday. Its not everything that I've been thinking of, but I've been burning to make a jacket out of the recycled denim and procrastinating because of the pattern work involved in making my own design. So, I purchased Butterick B0458 by Connie Crawford. I will only have to make the sleeve a two piece to make it fit on the jeans. Its a nice little Fitted Jacket and I can try out her patternmaking style. I do have her book Patternmaking for Fashion Design to make my own patterns. Connie is very well respected by everyone that I have ever heard mention her name.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Bernina 950 Industrial Sewing Machine Review
I purchased my semi-Industrial Bernina 950 machine in 2001. I don't remember the exact price, but I want to say I paid right around $1,700. (You can get one here: Click here for Bernina, Tacsew, Refrey Sewing Machines and Juki Sergers from AllBrands.com.
) I managed to get my local Bernina Dealer to get it for me for the price I would have had to pay to get it thru the mail from a catalogue. I used it daily for 3 or 4 years with no major problems. I was doing contract sewing that required me to straight stitch and then zig zag every seam, like a false flat felled seam. I was using the buttonhole on the jackets I was making at that time too.
This is considered a craft machine because it has decorative stitches and a built in buttonhole. I know that some people don't like it because it has plastic gears inside.
It is not as fast as a regular Industrial Machine and I don't use it as often right now because its slower than my Industrial straight stitch Pfaff.
A person I did Contract Sewing for had one, so that was how I was introduced to it. When I was waiting for my work to be finished, or if there was something she needed done right away before I went home for a week, I used hers. I got to the point in my sewing that I *needed* a faster machine. The first time I did a job on it, I finished so fast I was truly stunned.
Our machines both ended up with the same problem. The hand dial (I'm bad at names for stuff, its how you move the needle up and down) has a loosener for winding the bobbin, that wears out very quickly. I never saw hers work and mine wore out before the first year was thru. When I want to wind bobbins I have to take the bobbin case out, because I can't keep the needle from going up and down. This wasn't really a big deal when I sewed for her because we only used 2 or 3 thread colors and I could wind all the bobbins at once. You *can* wind a bobbin while you are sewing. I really don't even think about it, but it is an issue with the machine since we both had it happen. Mine was fixed once, but I've given up, I won't even ask to have it fixed again.
Overall, I really love the machine, I wish I had more to do on it. It is smooth and sturdy and comes with a bunch of feet (including an applique and zipper foot).
Bobbins are expensive, I think I had to pay 2.25 each.
Bernina Tacsew 950 Genuine Original Proprietary Solid Metal Empty Bobbins 330-026-030 - Pack of 10, with No Extra Holes On Either Side (Singer FW 221)
) I managed to get my local Bernina Dealer to get it for me for the price I would have had to pay to get it thru the mail from a catalogue. I used it daily for 3 or 4 years with no major problems. I was doing contract sewing that required me to straight stitch and then zig zag every seam, like a false flat felled seam. I was using the buttonhole on the jackets I was making at that time too.This is considered a craft machine because it has decorative stitches and a built in buttonhole. I know that some people don't like it because it has plastic gears inside.
It is not as fast as a regular Industrial Machine and I don't use it as often right now because its slower than my Industrial straight stitch Pfaff.
A person I did Contract Sewing for had one, so that was how I was introduced to it. When I was waiting for my work to be finished, or if there was something she needed done right away before I went home for a week, I used hers. I got to the point in my sewing that I *needed* a faster machine. The first time I did a job on it, I finished so fast I was truly stunned.
Our machines both ended up with the same problem. The hand dial (I'm bad at names for stuff, its how you move the needle up and down) has a loosener for winding the bobbin, that wears out very quickly. I never saw hers work and mine wore out before the first year was thru. When I want to wind bobbins I have to take the bobbin case out, because I can't keep the needle from going up and down. This wasn't really a big deal when I sewed for her because we only used 2 or 3 thread colors and I could wind all the bobbins at once. You *can* wind a bobbin while you are sewing. I really don't even think about it, but it is an issue with the machine since we both had it happen. Mine was fixed once, but I've given up, I won't even ask to have it fixed again.
Overall, I really love the machine, I wish I had more to do on it. It is smooth and sturdy and comes with a bunch of feet (including an applique and zipper foot).
Bobbins are expensive, I think I had to pay 2.25 each.
Bernina Tacsew 950 Genuine Original Proprietary Solid Metal Empty Bobbins 330-026-030 - Pack of 10, with No Extra Holes On Either Side (Singer FW 221)
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Banners, Etsy Forums and a Contest
Its easy to spend too much time on the Etsy Forums. I am guilty of it myself. But I do often find out about useful services and links this way. I'd never spend enough time browsing the internet myself and frankly wouldn't even know that they exist. Like blog patrol, for example, its a service that gives you free blog stats. I can check it and find out how many people visit my site in a given day and if they used a search engine, I can see which search words they used.
This week while browsing threads about blogs and blogging, the topic of banners came up. This Etsy sellers blog, little brown bird was complimented for her great banner. I've been wanting to learn to make my own banners, so I asked what program she used. She told me about Art Explosion Publisher Pro
. I looked it up on the internet, showed it to my husband (and told him I needed to buy it) and he tells me we already have it! He goes upstairs and brings it down. How is that for instant gratification? Turns out he bought Photo Explosion for me about 6 months ago and I made him take it back off the computer because I had trouble with how it took over my picture editing. Well this time I'm ready to learn about it and I've already been experimenting with banners in the new storefront I'm planning next year for selling all kinds of patterns.
Finally, in the forums again, I learned about a Project Runway Inspired Contest. The deadline for intent to participate is January 14th so I do need to make a decision soon. I would really like to try it. I could do some more denim refashioning, I know I'll enjoy it!
This week while browsing threads about blogs and blogging, the topic of banners came up. This Etsy sellers blog, little brown bird was complimented for her great banner. I've been wanting to learn to make my own banners, so I asked what program she used. She told me about Art Explosion Publisher Pro
. I looked it up on the internet, showed it to my husband (and told him I needed to buy it) and he tells me we already have it! He goes upstairs and brings it down. How is that for instant gratification? Turns out he bought Photo Explosion for me about 6 months ago and I made him take it back off the computer because I had trouble with how it took over my picture editing. Well this time I'm ready to learn about it and I've already been experimenting with banners in the new storefront I'm planning next year for selling all kinds of patterns.Finally, in the forums again, I learned about a Project Runway Inspired Contest. The deadline for intent to participate is January 14th so I do need to make a decision soon. I would really like to try it. I could do some more denim refashioning, I know I'll enjoy it!
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