Pyramid Bag

I have to say when I ran into a photo of this bag here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8219451@N07/4357065237/  I hurriedly found the pattern and purchased it.  Most of what I have to say about this pattern is found here....http://www.noile.net/2010/05/hot-patterns-1092-nouveau-pyramid/

 I COULD NOT figure out parts of the pattern instructions. The shape looks adorable in the sketch. Besides the pattern and instructions being poorly written the bag is poorly executed for actual usage. I will be adding a couple of extra seems to make my bag a bag. I also put in a double ended zipper due to the size of the bag, thinking it would be useful to zip from either end. Eh, Not so much. But I can't figure out either, how the bag could be used with a one ended zipper. I am an experienced seamstress. I have to admit that bags are not the thing I sew a lot of. But believe me when I say I can navigate most anything I really want to sew. But this pattern is inadequate on both levels, the written words and the sketches. I applaud the independent pattern makers and do support them. I like to support them and am even thinking of starting a pattern business of my own. But I hope my pattern testers would stop me before letting something like this out the door.

At any rate here are my photos. I printed the flowers onto the finished bag to give it some more color. It looks so cute. Hopefully the bag will also be usable after some extra stitching.

I actually have been sewing

So something happens to me when I get going creatively. I just go. I don't actually forget that I would like to write in my blog, I just can't seem to get my brain to go there with me. I will look at it and see the same photo on top and think, "I really should update that". And I go on, in this case drafting patterns. I drafted a fabulous skirt that I gave to my sister-in-law for christmas. I had my brother's family to give a gift to.  I was sewing and my sweet SIL wanted something Original from me. So she got the gift. The whole gift. The other family members get to see her happily wearing the family gift. Here is the link to my flicker account with the few things I had just finished up along with Amy's skirt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets/72157623498189353/

I also made a couple of darling dresses for my granddaughter who is 4 1/2. She loves dresses and loves pink. Here is the link to those pictures. So sorry I'm not on the computer that has the photos. Darn. But I decided it was better to write and update a bit while I am willing and feeling the grove to do so.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets/72157623496728481/

See if you can figure out which dress was made from a piece of "ugly" fabric I had on hand. I am taking a designer techniques class at Canada College fashion dept. and got the inspiration to use that piece of fabric for a dress. Before this class I couldn't imagine ever taking the fabric and having something come out so darling with it. I learned to make the collar, easy BTW, and then inspired by pockets made the pockets out of matching collar fabric. My granddaughter LOVES it as did I. My daughter has issue with the pink and blue gauze dress because of the added rick rack. I happen to think the rick rack adds to the otherwise somewhat boring dress. What is your opinion? Do you add things into your sewing projects that take them from ordinary to extraordinary? Next post I'll put up pictures of my mobius band scarf that I knitted while I needed a few days break from making a princess seam pattern for myself. It can become tedious when trying to get fitting correct and having to remake several muslins. The end result it worth the time - just getting there can be exhausting. I'll also post pictures of my first project I made for my techniques class from a self drafted pattern as well.

I had a personal panty party!!

Remember I told you I had taken a lingerie construction class last semester? Well, here are some examples of what I learned to do. They are so fun to make and very easy! So the other day I made these...

Le Fred's Clio pattern

My new favorite ready made pattern is the Clio blouse from Le Fred. http://www.lafred.com/store_product_info.php?id=502

This is my first one made directly from the envelope with a linen/rayon fabric as suggested.

Here is my crepe de chine version. I took out the center seams and made the skirt fabric from pin-tucking it. I also like this fabric with the one layered underneath the skirt.  I also wanted a v neck and wanted a more flowy drape.

I also added a lightweight stretchy elastic across the back bodice seam for more waist shaping. It's not the best photo. I took it after wearing without pressing it.

Now I wanted to try it with a cowl neck. The first one below is a polyester chiffon. This final version is some silk chiffon, two layered skirts with the top skirt shorter. It is lined with silk charmeuse. I LOVE this pattern and have several more ideas for manipulating it with even more fabric types. 

Thanks Fred for your great "Clio" pattern!!

For more photos including the backs of these check out my flicker site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets/

I have been away

I have been sewing actually quite a lot in the past few months. But because I have been taking classes at Canada college in their fashion department, (http://canadacollege.net/fashion/) I haven't made time for postings. My classes this past semester were not intuitive for me making them much more time consuming. I was taking "Techniques of Fit" and "Advanced Flat pattern". I also took a short class on lingerie construction only lasting a few weeks and was easy fun play time. I did take many photos of things I've been working on and those are posted on my flicker account http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets I think you will still find it fun to look at even though I decided not to try to play catch up.

The very exciting thing from the Fit class is that I now know how to fit people and have a sloper for fitting myself. Did you realize that it is not a blob of fat or a boney figure you have there but a figure variation? Every part of your body is in some way a body variation. We all have them, not one single person is exempt. And yet we wonder why we can't buy a pattern or a piece of clothing and really have it fit. No two bodies are the same. No article of clothing by its nature can fit every figure type. And sizes, let's not get started on the mystery of the number. People want to buy the smallest number they possibly can. Just yesterday I saw a personal shopper talking about size. She stated that she has been with women who will buy things that don't fit well because they wanted the smaller size. Clothing will look so much more attractive and complementary when it FITS. This woman also said that all women should have a good, trusted alteration person so they get the best fit. Let's be honest here it simply isn't in everyone's budget. But you can buy clothes that fit and are attractive no matter what your purchasing budget is.  I know I've been guilty of trying to squeeze into the smaller size also.....I hope to be doing better as I am more educated.

Advanced pattern was my favorite class. I feel like I could spend a full year at least in this class. We took slopers and developed patterns from them for woven fabrics. We tested patterns in full scale to make sure we were developing the patterns correctly. For our midterm we were given line drawings of fashions and then made the patterns without notes. I was successful but I will say that in real life I will  be happy to have reference material available to me.
 I skipped over the beginning pattern class. Doing so was good and bad. Bad because I had to come up to speed. Good because I was challenged and was able to learn more. It took me quite a few hours to complete my homework each week as I wanted to make sure it was done correctly and I was very particular about my pattern drafts. For my final original garment I was able to use my completed sloper (from the fit class) to create an outfit for myself. Between the fit and pattern class I think I will no longer be able to buy off the rack again. (except knits) During the semester I had purchased a very lovely silk charmeuse blouse. When I tried it on there was plenty of fabric but the fit was all wrong. Before this class I would have just thought, " well, it's not great but I don't know why and it does go around me." Now I know why, all those figure variations that the original pattern wasn't designed for. Patterns are designed for the "ideal" figure which I learned doesn't even really exist. I have a new found respect for the runway models, they can't eat and fit into those clothes. The industry does need to change in this regard.

I'll work on posting more about the things I'm doing as I do them. School starts back up this Thursday for me. I am ready to get back to it.