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 finally finished the quilt for my daughter. I couldn’t take pictures of the entire thing (her room is a disaster zone), but here’s some of the patchwork and the embroidered square I made because I ended up being one short. I did learn that I’m going to need to find a better way to lay out any future quilts that are twin sized or larger, because I had to keep shifting it around the slightly too small area of our basement carpet and the backing ended up getting doubled up in multiple places. By the time I discovered it, I couldn’t bring myself to unpick that much of the quilting, so it’ll have to stay. But I think it’s going to be awhile before I do any more quilts. Between this and the patchwork jeans (which I did end up having to shorten some), I’m feeling burned out on big projects for now. I did cut out a basic knit tee, so hopefully that’ll be enough of a palate cleanser to get me over the lack of motivation to sew that I was feeling by the end of this.
