Pattern Review: Romper or Jumpsuit- Vogue 9260

Happy SewSew everyone,

Today is a quick review on a new commercial pattern that fits my way of dressing perfectly for summer heat.  It is a  new favorite for now.  How many times have we said this about a new pattern?  At the time of this posting, this is actually a favorite.  Later post will prove something new, so don't hold my feet to the fire please.

Week 3: Part 2- Designing More Skirts: Yokes, Gores, A-Lines & No Math Circle Skirt!!

Well happy Saturday SewDay!!!

Is it time to say, you know all you need to know about fitting and designing your skirts.  Or, is this where you tell me, you haven't been paying attention?  I have just two questions for you.

1. Did you know every possible skirt can be made from a basic straight skirt?
2. Did you also know a circle skirt will have an automatic Full Butt adjustment and needs no MATH and does not hike up in the back!!??

   

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WEEK 3- Part 1: Designing a Pencil Skirt from your basic skirt.

Week 3 Part 1: Skirt Designing Happiness!!!!

Aren't you glad we have been working systematically through fitting our skirts during this month.  YYYaaaayyy!!!  I am glad we are almost done, because that means we will be on to the show & tell next week.  I can't wait to share! I'm trying not to get ahead of myself though, because we still have a few videos you all haven't seen and a few things we have yet to discuss!!

I was able to knock out another great video for you on the topic of designing a pencil skirt and what to look for when shaping your seams to fit those lovely voluptuous curves of ours.  And I mean, you will be quite surprised at how easy it is to make such a fantastic skirt happen, with such simple changes.  You will even finally understand what an HBL is... uh I mean, a Horizontal Balance Line.  That's right, I'm throwing in a few technical terms just for the sake of stirring up your noggins, you call a brain.  HeHe.  Take it or leave it, we need to understand the jargon to be empowered.

Go take a look at the latest video here.  If the video isn't showing up in your browser or email... go here to watch.  If you are behind and want to see all the videos, then checkout this Skirt Fit-Along Video playlist here.

Looking Ahead to July:  

Planning is underway for the July Swimsuit Fit-Along.  I have even designed a swimsuit for the occasion.  So here is a video to help you stay up on that too.... here.

Happy Fitting!!!

P.S.  Don't forget, the next video is on Gores, yokes, and how to make a circle skirt with ZERO math!!  You will be so awesomely surprised at how easy it is to design your skirts!!!  

Skirt WEEK 2 pt2: Fitting The Pencil Skirt and New Video

Well Happy Friday everyone!!!
All right then, we have another great video added to our Skirt fitting playlist over on youtube in our wardrobe fit-along series. Thank you all for joining in as we are working during the month of June to fit our skirts.  Today, we had another surprise visit from my daughter, Jennifer, to get her skirt fitted. I am getting really spoiled to be receiving so much support and help from her this month for this series.  This really helps me to focus on the fitting and bringing you great tips.

If you are new to the blog or this series, please click here to see the complete playlist and descriptions of each video part for the Skirt Edition of this fit-along.  Thanks for using my hashtags:  #sewtofitalong and #skirttransformations

This weeks Livestream from last night, June 15, on YouTube here, was great and I certainly appreciate those who were able to join in live and get their questions answered while we discussed the topic of how fabric can change the actual fit and drape of the garments we make no matter the type of pattern we use.  The video is embedded below.  If it is not visible, click here.

SUPERFANS ShoutOUT!!!

Thanks to these folks for the SuperChat Donations during the livestream!!!
Olufun
Sonya
THANK YOU for supporting the channel as I work to continue bringing you GREAT content!!!

Upcoming Fit-Along Videos are scheduled for:

June 22nd Live on Youtube @ 8pm

June 29th Live on Youtube @ 8pm.

Check here for continued updates and a complete list of upcoming activities for the fit-along and make sure your are subscribed to my youtube channel here, to get updates on new videos.

Until next time:  sew some skirts!!

Skirt WEEK 2 pt1: Let's Talk Pattern, Fit, & Fabric - Video Scheduled

Hello and Happy Monday everyone,
Welcome to Week 2 of the Skirt Edition Fit-Along.  I think I may have gotten a few of you confused, and had you hunting down the week 1 topic.  It seems, in my excitement to have my daughter come over to do the live video fitting with us, I totally skipped to "Week 2" material, the fitting,  and failed to let you all in on the secret!  LOL   Please forgive me for that, I'm sure you preferred that surprise anyway and didn't even miss the beginning of the Fit-Along Notes that I had actually planned for you, right?

This week, Week 2,  we will back up a little and focus some on how we should systematically select and fit our skirt patterns by discussing a few extremely important points needed in any project no matter whether the pattern is a commercial pattern,  custom sized, like bootstrap, or an independent, like mine.  Make sure to add the event to your calendars for this Thursday at 8pm central standard time:  WEEK 2- The Skirt Fit-Along- 5 Tips for How to Evaluate a Pattern, fit and fabric

I have made three skirts in the last few days, and am very excited to share with you this week on what I think will help you in your skirt fitting.  I hope you can join in live, if not the video will be available later for your to watch at your convenience.

Sew Much Fabric discount code is still good until Friday, June 17th at midnight, so take advantage of a good deal.  15% off your total order, use CODE:  Skirts.

Thanks for using my hashtags:  #sewtofitalong and #skirttransformations

Happy fitting!!

Skirt WEEK 1 pt2: Fitting my Daughter's Pencil Skirt (Fitting Along June17)

Well hello everyone. I hope your week has been great. (Edited 6/10/17) Week 2 Week 1 is almost behind us in this skirt series edition of the wardrobe fit-along. Today I want to share with you the progress on fitting my daughter, Jennifer's pencil skirt. This is one of the skirts I am making as a thank you for her contributions to my live YouTube video demonstrations. Isn't she lucky!!

Google image.

First, let's talk about what a Pencil Skirt is compared to a basic straight skirt.  A pencil skirt is "pegged" at the hem and as a flat pattern is shaped like a bell.  The center back seam is usually gonna need a tad bit of shaping for the curvy figure, although, in this picture the back seam is straight.  This is a picture of a pencil skirt on me.  I made this a few years ago, here.

The difference between a pegged/ Pencil skirt and a basic Straight Skirt...

"A pencil skirt is a slim-fitting skirt with a straight, narrow cut. Generally the hem falls to, or is just below, the knee and is tailored for a close fit. It is named for its shape: long and slim like a pencil." (Wikipedia)

I have Jennifer's fitting and pattern alterations done and the skirt cut to sew up this weekend. We will discuss that on the video next Thursday.  For now, I wanted you to see what I have done, in case it might help you prep your skirt pattern before you decide on a fabric. I did a livestream video showing our complete tissue fitting process, here, along with a slash and spread alteration for fitting the curvy buttocks or derrière. Click here to watch the video playlist if it's not visible in this blog post:



We both have a fairly round rears...commonly referred to as a "prominent buttock".   This is an area that causes us problems in pants and sheath dresses like this one here. That's why a center back seam is our best friend no matter the style garment. I can include a sway back adjustment both on the skirt as well as the bodice top section without too many modifications.

In these pictures, I'm just showing some of the shots and pics I took during our fitting of the tissue. Actually, it is Swedish Tracing paper, you can find here. The difference with this paper is that you can sew with it and then take it apart and lay it out on the fabric and cut out the garment. This helps save yourself time and money on muslin fabric. Win Win!!

The above pictures are just some of the other shots where I show how to adjust the high hip which actually exaggerates the curving of the center back seam. This adjustment was needed to shorten the area above the hip or horizontal balance line. As long as the HBL is straight it really doesn't matter what the area above the hip is doing. You can have extra darts as well as a curved center seam in order to get the fit you desire.

P.S....  Don't forget you have a 15% discount with Sew Much Fabric as part of this fit-along, up until June 17th.  Use my special code:  Skirts 

Thanks for following along with me as I share my fitting fun. Please remember to check out the prior post if you want to join in and share about you Skirt projects on my Facebook Page here.

Skirt WEEK 1 pt1: Wardrobe Fit-Along- The Skirt Edition

I am on to another garment, the skirt, in my own personal wardrobe building series.  As with all the others, I will continue working alongside my "offline" sewing group to practice fitting and creating another very vital wardrobe basic, the pencil skirt. We are going to take it further and practice designing other styles from our basic skirt sloper or TNT patterns.  If you are new to the Sew-To-Fit Community, I welcome you!! Over the past couple of years, I have created many videos for the different projects I have attempted, along with a few random "viewer request" to help fellow sewcialist in their quest to fit their bodies.

This has become a "series", and I am humbled at how this has grown so tremendously since it's humble beginnings.  Also, I am really inspired by the number of you who have developed an interest in my youtube fitting videos.  And just to think, this all began as a project I started as a way to force myself to sew more with a plan, and to increase my wardrobe to a solid "uniform" closet I can be proud of everyday.

This time, I'm inviting you along, by creating an actual schedule for you to follow and giving you some history.  To help you understand the concept of this "fit-along", I have created a list documenting this challenge from the beginning here.  You are not behind, because all the blog post and videos are there for you to reference if you want to make the-
-Sheath dress 1 and
-Sheath dress 2, the
-white shirt, the
-a new take on the white shirt: the off the shoulder shirt, the
- knit top or t-shirt, knit/jersey dress, the curvy jersey dress, or the
-denim jacket, along with fitting videos and much more.
Each garment is just a rung in the ladder to a fantastic fitting wardrobe.

THE SKIRT Fit-Along-

Unlike the common "SEW-ALONGs", this is a "FIT-ALONG".  A fit-along is quite different in that I personally concentrate on sharing with you the pattern fitting issues I deal with when working with my sewing group member, a student, or maybe a family member.  I then try to offer some common and not so common adjustments I may use to make my garments fit perfectly for me, in this case the focus is skirt fitting.  I will try and make videos for the most common and upload them to my youtube channel.  In-depth instructional drawn out lessons can not possibly be covered in great detail on youtube or this blog, so those are reserved for my students during my monthly live Fit Friday classes. (see learn with me tab above.)

In the past I have had sewing group members participate and volunteer to be on the videos.  They also could sew, which saved me a great deal of prep and recording time.  This time around, I will be using my lovely daughter Jennifer, who has graciously joined in yet again as my stand-in for the curvy figure.  Unfortunately, SHE CANT and WONT sew!!!  Which means, I will do my best to present what I can....though much of the material will be in muslin and not completely finished garments.  Sorry.

As before, the "Sew-To-Fit Along" is video based, and all videos will be housed in a playlist on my YouTube channel called:  Skirt Fit-Along here.

Thank you all for making this such a popular online, as well as off event!!

Pattern:  Straight Skirt

You can use any basic pattern that has only darts in the front and back, a basic zipper, and has straight side seams.  Do not use anything with fancy design lines or closures.

I am using my very own Designing and Fitting Block for sale here.  I use this for my students to create patterns, slopers and to design my own garments.

Another option for skirts would be to use the Bootstrap fashions customized patterns.  (They need tweaking and fitting as well.)

Fabric Sponsor and 15% Discount!:

I am happy to extend the best offer Roz of Sew Much Fabric, has ever given me.  She is giving each of you a 15% discount on regular priced AND sale items on her site.  She has even created a special grouping of fabrics we can use for our skirts this month.  I AM EXCITED!!!.  Problem is, that offer comes with a limitation:  We must use it before June 17th, and we must use it all at once!  So make it count.

CODE:  Skirts

Fabric Considerations

Fit-Along Schedule:

INTRODUCTION:  June 1:  Welcome Video and Announcement:  Live Youtube Streaming

WEEK 1: June 5-11:  (Edited 6/10/17 - Video was more on fitting my Daughter due to here availability.)
Thursday: June 8 @8pm central:  Tissue Fitting on my Daughter: Live Youtube Streaming- Q&A

 ETA:  6/10/17- This week was more based on the availability of my daughter....since she was able to come over, the change was made based on her schedule.)

Videos-
**Various videos will be uploaded for prepping the pattern, cutting the muslin and beginning the fit alterations specific to skirts.    (Please note, some of these videos relate to previous fit-alongs, yet are relevant now, and have already been uploaded to the playlist.  They are linked for your reference.)

Video- Choosing a Commercial Pattern Size,
Video- How to measure to get an even hem on a dress or skirt.

WEEK 2: June 12-18:  
Thursday: June 15 @ 8pm central- 5 Tips for Evaluating a Pattern, Fit and Fabri with Fitting
ETA 6/15/2017- We had a surprise visit from my daughter again to do her fitting in her new skirt made of embroidered linen and we also discussed the importance of fabric in the fit of your skirt and tips for evaluating a pattern in relation to the fabric and how it affects the fit during this livestream fit-along discussion.  

WEEK 3: June 19-25:
Thursday: June 22 @ 8pm central- Skirt Variations: Yoked, Flaired etc...Q&A. (Live-steaming on YouTube.)
New videos that are added during the final two weeks will be livestream discussions that will relate to the current skirt project topics and include updates or Question and Answers.  You should be trying new styles with your basic TNT pattern or trying out new designs using other pattern styles or finishing your current skirt.

WEEK 4: June 26-July 2:
Thursday: June 29 @ 8pm central- RECAP!  Sew and Tell...Q&A. (Live-steaming on YouTube.)
Final recap of the months skirt projects and "Virtual Runway" of a items added to instagram and hash tagged #skirttransformations or #sewtofitalong

Supplies and Patternmaking tools:

You will need the following in order to do what I do on my videos. My Tool Box.

-Mechanical Pencils (This is my all time favorite because it has the white eraser twist top.)

-Polymer eraser

-C-Thru Ruler (18"x2")  

-Hip Curve or Designing Curve

-Tailors Chalk

-Tracing Paper

-Needle Tracing Wheel

Other supplies can be found in my toolbox and will be discussed as I used them on my videos.

Post Your Makes to my FaceBook page: HERE 

I am glad to welcome so many newcomers to the Sew-To-Fit community and would love it if you would please use my hashtag (#sewtofitalong and @sewtofit as you share your activities during this ongoing series of wardrobe building fit-alongs.

Thanks for joining in the fun.  Leave me any ideas for skirt pattern fitting topics in the comments and I will consider them during this month.