Subscription feed for other players: . . . → Read More: Podcast: Only Own Beautiful Clothes Challenge]]>

In this podcast, I we continue our lessons from the Singer Sewing Book, published in 1949.  Today’s topic is the second lesson in making sure you are using the right fabric for your project.

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Only Own Beautiful Clothes Challenge Virtual Retreat

This virtual retreat and year-long challenge are inspired by Solano of the Vixen Vintage blog.  On December 5, she wrote:

Sometimes I get asked this question: “How do you manage to wear beautiful clothes everyday?”  Short answer: I only have beautiful clothes.  

The Only Own Beautiful Clothing Challenge Kick-off Event

"The Plus in Your Wardrobe" Hollywood Patterns advertisement; "Ladies' Home Journal" January 1945; Image courtesy of Salty Cotton on Flickr.com

Whether you spend your days primarily at home, at school or in an office, you deserve always feel confident in everything you wear.  I am challenging my readers and myself to only own beautiful or confidence-inducing clothes in 2012.

The Only Own Beautiful Clothing Challenge kick-off event is a virtual retreat. When you attend a virtual retreat, you get to stay in the safety and comfort of your own home while benefiting from the personal development of a retreat.  Participants “meet” via telephone conference call before going off to complete their task.  Then everyone comes back together for a conversation before going on to their next reflective task.  It sounds absolutely crazy but previous participants of my virtual retreats swear by the process!

During this retreat you will learn how to:

• Identify your style icon
• Create your own style that showcases your personality
• Outline a wardrobe plan the same way designers create their collections
• Assess your current wardrobe
• Develop a year-long game plan for only owning beautiful clothing that is in alignment with your budget

Cost: $25

Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012

Location: The Comfort of Your Own Home

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Pacific Standard Time

Please adjust the time for your own time zone

Click here to register at my secure shopping cart

Subscription feed for other players: . . . → Read More: Podcast: Is That Fabric Right For The Job?]]>

In this podcast, I we continue our lessons from the Singer Sewing Book, published in 1949.  Today’s topic is the first lesson in making sure you are using the right fabric for your project.

Click here to listen to the podcast via direct download.

Click here to subscribe in iTunes

Subscription feed for other players: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

Images:

Three Common Types of Weaves

Fabric Grain:

This was my textile identification assignment when I was in design school. I had to show that I knew what lengthwise and crosswise grains were, the weft and the warp, the selvage, and true bias. Click image to enlarge.

How to Tell Fibers Apart

How To Tell Fibers Apart (page 12) from Singer Sewing Book by Mary Brooks Picken, 1949. Click image to enlarge.

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Subscription feed for other players: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

Click here to subscribe in iTunes

Subscription feed for other players: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

A little bit of new lace . . . → Read More: Podcast: Who Is In Control? You or Your Machine?]]>

In this podcast, I talk about the very first lesson you should learn when sewing by machine…and any time you get a new machine.

Links

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Photos/Images:

A little bit of new lace and the slip is as good as new!

Go to Chocolate on my Cranium for a tutorial on sewing along lines (she even includes a PDF for practice):

From Chocolate on My Cranium's "Sewing Along Lines" tutorial

What kind of relationship do you have with your sewing machine?  Are you the one in charge of it?

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This was my textile identification assignment when I was in design school. I had to . . . → Read More: Podcast: Muslims, Muslins, and Salvaging Selvages]]>

In this podcast I discuss the difference between Muslims and muslins and selvage and salvage.

Links:

Click here to listen to the podcast via direct download

Click here to subscribe in iTunes

Subscription feed for other players: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

 Images:

This was my textile identification assignment when I was in design school. I had to show that I knew what lengthwise and crosswise grains were, the weft and the warp, the selvage, and true bias. (Click on the image to make it larger)

Test muslin 1.0; This is the muslin I made for the corselette using heavy weight muslin fabric to mimic the coutile that I used for the actual corselette.

Airjet looms are currently the fast looms around.  They can shoot about 900-1100 weft yarns (“picks”) through the loom per minute (as opposed to about 300 per minute for traditional looms).  In this video, you can’t actually see the yarn shot through but you can get a good idea of its speed and, about midway through, you can see the fabric right as it is created.  The speed is amazing!

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This is the pattern I used: Jalie . . . → Read More: Podcast: I’m Not Good At Sewing Under Pressure]]>

In this podcast, I talk about my adventures trying to find and then make a suit for a VIM (Very Important Meeting).

Links:

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Subscription feed for other players: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

Photos/Images:

This is the pattern I used: Jalie 25601

This is my version of Jalie 2560

Here is a side view of the skirt--I lightened up the photo so that you could see the kick pleats. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Here is a back view--I used the "antique" setting so that you could see the kick pleats easier. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Silhouettes by Peggy Sagers #3400 3-Piece Yoga Pant; Easy to make and amazingly flattering (use ponte roma fabric for the best outcome)

Have you used either the Jalie or the Silhouettes patterns?  Are you good at sewing on pressure?  If so, what tricks can you share with the rest of us?

I was looking at the current state of my wardrobe and realized I had fallen into the “student wardrobe” trap.  In this podcast, I describe what I’m currently sewing and how to go about creating a wardrobe using the same process I was taught in design school to create a “collection.”

Click here . . . → Read More: Podcast: Plan Your Sewing Like a Designer]]>

Dear Friends,

I was looking at the current state of my wardrobe and realized I had fallen into the “student wardrobe” trap.  In this podcast, I describe what I’m currently sewing and how to go about creating a wardrobe using the same process I was taught in design school to create a “collection.”

Click here to listen via direct download.

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Subscription feed for other players:  http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

Here is the front of Baby Alice’s dress:

I’m working on this for me:

Here are the pages from my “look book” for my Route 66 Road Trip wardrobe project (click on the image to enlarge it):

Cover Page

Mood or Inspiration Board--Assemble images that invoke your chosen theme to set the mood for your collection.

Customer Profile--How would a designer describe you as a customer?

Color and Fabric Story: What coordinating colors and fabrics will you use for your collection?

Technical sketches: Choose the coordinating garments and the fabrics and colors that are appropriate for each item.

What is your collection theme or story?  What garments would be appropriate for your collection?

Happy wardrobe sewing!

Dr. Julie-Ann

After a couple of months of furious sewing and finishing up my custom clothing certificate, I recorded a “catching up with you” type of podcast.

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RSS Feed for other players:  http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

In the podcast, . . . → Read More: Podcast: This and That]]>

Dear Friends,

After a couple of months of furious sewing and finishing up my custom clothing certificate, I recorded a “catching up with you” type of podcast.

Click here to listen to the podcast via direct streaming/download

Click here to subscribe to podcast via iTunes

RSS Feed for other players:  http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss

In the podcast, I mention The Mister’s bathrobe.  I used McCall’s M6231 for the pattern:

And this is how the finished product looked:

The Mister in his new robe (he doesn't like to show his face online...)

Your turn: What is your experience making bathrobes?

While working on The Mister’s bathrobe (you know, the Christmas present from 2010), I realized I needed to do some handwork.  So I decided to visit with you as I hemmed the bottom of his robe.

Click here to listen to podcast via direct download

Click here to listen to podcast via iTunes

Yes, the rumors are true.  Not only did I actually finish my mother’s 2009 Christmas present, but I actually produced a podcast about it, too!  No, seriously.  I did.

After all sorts of misadventures (you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out what they were), I finally sat down and sewed . . . → Read More: Podcast: My Mother’s Pajamas]]>

Dear Friends,

Yes, the rumors are true.  Not only did I actually finish my mother’s 2009 Christmas present, but I actually produced a podcast about it, too!  No, seriously.  I did.

After all sorts of misadventures (you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out what they were), I finally sat down and sewed them up this weekend in no time.

I highly recommend Simplicity 3935 as an easy to sew pajama pattern.

I needed to add about 4″ for ease at the waist, so I slashed the pattern along the extra-small cutting line.

Is thirty-year-old bias tape that I used on a dress for my youngest sister considered vintage?

The finished top

and a close-up where the yoke and front meet:

So…tell me…what was the latest you’ve ever been on a Christmas present (or any other present/project)?

Click here to listen to podcast via direct download

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Podcast feed/URL to subscribe in a player of your choice: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss