oohh, I don't want to see my next credit bill...
I spent yesterday and today at the CreativFestival taking sewing classes and spending dollars. I was so glad I went, it was pretty fun and I picked up some new sewing skills. I did the 'Yes You Can, Making it Fit' class held by Robert Wylie, a class about getting garments to fit well, especially in two common trouble areas, the bust and crotch. The class I took today was 'Sewing Shortcuts: Apronology' by Rosebud, a class that teaches speed sewing, industrial shortcuts and how to sew without needles!
I met the lovely Denise my first day at the festival. She was representing (and owns) The Sewing Studio and had a row of Janome machines for anyone to come along and do a little project. One of the first things I did at the festival was sew a little zipper pouch cuff with her. What a super sweetheart. For those looking for sewing classes, The Sewing Studio has some good ones, check out their site. She just saw me wandering around and asked me over to try out a project! It was nice to test run a Janome. I have a Huskavarka Viking at home which is my baby, but how come no one ever told me how fricking easy it can be to put in button holes and buttons?? The Janomes had a special foot that did it all!! The buttonholes came out perfect everytime. I used a Pfaff (I think) in class today, also another completely different machine.
Carolyn Rohaly has written on more than one occasion about where to get dressforms... affordable ones... If you are in the market and can wait around for the spring or fall CreativFestival, (this time around at least) MacFab had nice adjustable ones $100 off!! I so bought one. I've been wanting one for months. Even though Fabricland had a sale back in March or so, I just wasn't comfortable at that point shelling out for something I wasn't %100 sure I'd use and wasn't ready to use yet. Waiting for a sale is the way to go!
Galligator at Shoeblog.com recently wrote about Project Runway sketchbooks and illustration books that she found at Toys R Us. Apparently they have a whole line of actual sewing and design tools as well! This weeknd I saw Project Runway rulers, seam gauges, needles, sewing kits, tracing paper, french curves......
Other stuff I bought this weekend at the festival:
-machine needles
-A book on sewing called: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing by Singer
-a fabric eraser (hate those marks all over my fabulous new clothes)
-some silk organza, to line a pair of pants and to use as a pressing cloth
-an instructional DVD on Industrial Shortcuts (part 2 to what I learned today in class) by Islander Sewing.
-a pressing stick (I didn't even know what this was before today! It's a rounded wooden stick that gets inserted into thin sewn strips (like apron strings or perhaps a tie or belt) so you can press your seam open before flipping it right side out.
-a project runway seam gauge
It's funny how something like a ruler... (or a seam gauge) can make a girl feel all giddy and special just because it says 'Project Runway' on the packaging.
I've also ordered another book a week or so ago called Concepts of Pattern Grading: Techniques for Manual and Computer Grading by: Carolyn L. Moore, Kathy K. Mullet, and Margaret Prevatt Young. This was one Carolyn advised to read on her blog.
Has anyone else seen Britney's new music video, Womanizer? Loves it. She's looking hot and the video reminds me of her Toxic video... I like the song too, of course. It's one of those songs I can listen to 100 times and keep enjoying it.
Apparently people like my fashion illustration... I am going to do some more soon and post them.
3 comments:
If you have an opportunity to go to the SewExpo in Puyallup, Washington, take it. It is a great show & now is a good time to plan since it is held during spring each year.
Thanks for the tip! I'll have to check that out.
Hi Andrea, What kind words! It was so great meeting you at the festival. Your passion for sewing and fashion is evident. I LOVE the Singer book you bought. It's one of my favourites!
(Great blog, btw!)
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