I’ve been trying to figure out how to make that delicate tissue paper last through endless pinnings as I make my new wardrobe, as well as how to use the same pattern piece to make a top and a dress.<\/p>\n
The DUH! hit me.\u00a0 I can trace the patterns directly onto the fabric and just cut ’em out that way.\u00a0 I mean, jaysus, I’ve actually drafted more than one outfit directly onto fabric and not used a paper pattern at all!\u00a0 I know, you really experienced seamstresses (hem! hem!<\/em>) can now laugh at me and ask what in hell pattern weights are made for in the first place.\u00a0 It makes the cutting out process a bit easier, really.\u00a0 Also, it’s keeping me honest in terms of marking my pattern pieces properly before I cut ’em out.\u00a0 I’m sometimes lazy about that, and then have to go hunting up the pattern piece to check out dots and darts.\u00a0 Of course<\/strong> I know better, but you know how it is!\u00a0 Cutting out is the part of sewing I tend to dislike the most. I’ll procrastinate for weeks on a project rather than cut it out.<\/p>\n I’m going to try to get a top and a skirt done today if I can.\u00a0 That sounds ambitious, but isn’t.\u00a0 This stuff is pretty easy to sew.\u00a0 The shell is just a tank top with bust darts and bias facing, and the skirt is really a tube with an elastic waistband<\/a>.\u00a0 The link has a waistband technique I adore because it’s not that stupid casing trick where you get a bunchy, uneven twisted band.\u00a0 You know, it’s more like what they do for sweatpants and such.\u00a0 I’ve been using it for years.\u00a0 In fact, I think that article appears in the only print version of that magazine that I own.<\/p>\n I’m finding Excel a great boon in keeping track of this project.\u00a0 I’ve got a spreadsheet that figures yardage for the total project, yardage per garment, how many garments I’ve sewn and of what sort and how many I have left to go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’ve been trying to figure out how to make that delicate tissue paper last through endless pinnings as I make my new wardrobe, as well as how to use the same pattern piece to make a top and a dress. The DUH! hit me.\u00a0 I can trace the patterns directly onto the fabric and just … <\/p>\n