The pattern I'm using for my dress has large curvy princess seam "darts" that end up being trimmed down to regular seam allowance after stitching. Since I custom fit the pattern using the foundation I made first, mine are curvier than what was originally drafted.
The handbasting of the marked lining layer to the outer fabric layer makes it easier to sew them. (I did reinforce the handbasting with machine stitches inside the darts knowing I wanted a line of stitching to keep any possible fraying of the cut edges from getting too close to the actual seam.)
Since my altered pattern had been traced onto thicker paper with seam allowances removed, I cut the stitchlines of the darts on the paper to make tracing onto the fabric easier. I used a white Prismacolor pencil (chalk would never last long enough with handling).
I always sew darts by matching ends and any middle notches and then weaving pins through marks on both sides of the dart. Then I hold each pin in place as it gets close to the presser foot and allow the machine to pull the fabric off the pin. It allows for a lot of extra control and precision, and if I've pinned properly, I stitch perfectly through the lines on both sides.
Tomorrow when I have better lighting, I'll press everything open and cross-stitch the seam allowances to the inside layer of fabric to control the puffy tendency of this fabric.
#Butterick4731
I spent the day priming things for paint and then I remembered to shoot a quick video. #SewingStudioBuild
I started cutting all the edges while Janet was away yesterday morning. When she got back after lunch, she pulled out a roller and started filling in. I'll put a pic below in the comments. #SewingStudioBuild
We broke for lunch and then came back with a portal ac unit plugged in to an extention cord from the house. Can't wait until they finished hooking up all the electrical and we have the mini split cooling the room for us - it was stupid humid today! #SewingStudioBuild
I draped a really rough half-scale ruffle tail for one of the debutant dresses Janet & I are making. I just eyeballed and freehand cut a scrap of (un-ironed) muslin in a spiral and pinned it to my little dress form to make sure it was long enough to reach from hem to waist. Then I marked the folds and traced it onto graph paper and cleaned it up. The graph paper makes it easier to copy at 200% and tape the pieces back together.
I'll transfer the enlarged frankenstein paper pattern to brown paper when I'm back at the studio tomorrow or Friday and then make it out of the real fabric.
#ruffle #fiestabuild
I made 2 of these valentine garlands. Found the tutorial via Instagram and thought it would be perfect to send to Ashley, my daughter in Oregon, and Madison, my birth daughter in North Carolina.
Pics are from Ashley.
