I'd like to introduce you to my first self-drafted coat pattern that actually went together correctly. I'm pretty good with tee shirts, pants and hats, but jackets are always throw-it-across-the-sewing-room-and-pout for me. They come out right eventually, but it's always a tense situation. I know, I know, I should do a muslin first. I know I should.
Anyway, that all changed when Erin from Children's Fashion Workshop contacted me and asked me to try her product. Honestly, I was going to say no because I'm ridiculously busy, but when I clicked over to the website I was intrigued.
I'm so glad I said yes! Y'all, I had been adding ease to jacket sleeves incorrectly forever. That's what you get for being self-taught. When I read through the sleeves lesson and looked at the photos a major light bulb went off in my head.
I traced the base pattern, then added ease, seam allowances, and all the other little details that go into drafting a pattern. The whole time I was thinking 'there is no way this is going to all go together right, I will not be that lucky.' But it totally did.
Can you believe I'm crazy enough not to use a muslin first? I cut into these beautiful fabrics (Amy Butler Sketchbook and Carolyn Friedlander Architextures) not knowing whether or not this whole thing was going to work out.
It fits her perfectly.
And she loves it.
I even got crazy and added a pleat in the back to make it a little more tapered in the back.
I made the sleeves extra long so I could cuff them and she can grow with it. My kids love to have a growth spurt right after I've made them some awesome, tedious piece of clothing. Do yours do that?
Sorry for the scraggly dress up dress pic, I wanted to style it with skinny jeans and cowboy boots but this princess was having none of that.
***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Would you like to win a free basic pattern and two lessons? Do you have a project you want to make but don't know quite how to do it? This is your chance! Simply comment on this blog post and answer this question:
Would you like to win a free basic pattern and two lessons? Do you have a project you want to make but don't know quite how to do it? This is your chance! Simply comment on this blog post and answer this question:
What sewing skill still baffles you? Mine is using the blind hem stitch on my sewing machine!
***Please note that my blog comments are moderated, which means they won't show up until I approve them. So if you check back and don't see your comment don't worry! It's there I just haven't gotten to approving it yet.***
***Please note that my blog comments are moderated, which means they won't show up until I approve them. So if you check back and don't see your comment don't worry! It's there I just haven't gotten to approving it yet.***
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I've never inserted a regular zipper before! I've inserted lots invisible zippers but I have no idea how to put in a regular zipper.
ReplyDeleteReally I have to pick one? Blind hem stitching, zippers and some days everything baffles me!
ReplyDeleteI love this coat. The color of the buttons, the contrasting fabric, it is all perfect.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
I would love to be able to draft a coat myself.
The jacket came out really lovely! Such pretty fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI just recently decided to use the roll hem foot on my sewing machine and I think I'm a MORON for not doing it earlier. It's so funny how these little tips help SO much and yet us self taughters insist we know a better way haha.
One thing I need work on is arm hole sizing. I seem to get the shoulders right, but the arm put area is always more snug than I'd like. I'm sure there's a simple method that I'm missing out on ;)
Buttonholes. The worst part is that my machine has a one-step-buttonhole thingy but I'll be damned if I can get it to work. I can do a lot of other things, including draft a semi-decent pattern but if it has to have a buttonhole, it's going to be substituted wherever possible!
ReplyDeleteSewing knit hemlines....yuck! chickadeejess@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteJessica - try a twin needle - it makes all the difference in the world!!! You can also put tissue paper underneath or use a walking foot if you are having problems with stretch, but usually all I need is the twin needle!
DeleteHonestly, since I've been sewing for almost 45 years, there isn't too much that baffles me. I even made my wedding dress & 2 of my bridesmaids' dresses. But so I don't sound like I'm above learning new things, I'd just say that using some of the fancy embroidery stitches on my machine sort of get my sweat glands working. (Hah!)
ReplyDeleteLove your coat. Looks so sweet on her! Great job...keep sewing!!!
I would love to win this! It looks fantastic! I too have issues with the blind hem stitch and also using my new ruffler foot. That thing drives me nuts!
ReplyDeletethe jacket is GORGEOUS!!! You did an amazing job, and I love all the unique details like the back pleat!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm - skill that alludes me, can I say cutting? I can't cut a true square or rectangle to save my life... this is why I am not a quilter ;op I also am slightly scared of computerized machines, I've used my mom's a few times, but honestly I like the control I have over my beat up old Bernina ;op
"Baffles" is probably the wrong word, but I can definitely use more practice with stretchy and slippery fabric.
ReplyDeleteI love that gorgeous coat! I've been learing how to sew my children's clothing for about a year now, and one thing that still baffles me is collars. It doesn't matter size or shape or technique, I somehow always screw it up! Thanks for introducing us to this awesome workshop, can't wait to try it out! hpickett183(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThat coat is so beautiful! I'd love to win a pattern! I need help sewing with knit, blind hem stitching, and zippers kind of scare me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful coat! Love the fabric! The one thing that I have the most difficulty with is my narrow hem foot. I know it just takes practice, but I still haven't produced anything with it that I am 100% happy with.
ReplyDeleteI am awful at putting zips in! I have done it before but never very well. What a lovely coat!
ReplyDeletebuttons and button holes. i'm too scared to even try. i've read the directions for my machine and it still doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteThat coat is absolutely gorgeous, Alida!! So perfect for the spring!
ReplyDeletei'm not really baffled by much as i have been sewing for years....but with that said....with all of the amazing things on the internet i have learned soooo many new techniques that is what i would consider "baffling".....people are so clever and i'm so grateful that they share what they know!
ReplyDeletei'd love to win that, because, guess what! i can't draft a pattern to save my life. Oh, and darts. I'm afraid of them.
ReplyDeleteI still have not braved button holes...just too intimidated! But as for baffled: drafting patterns!
ReplyDeletewow, i would love to win! i still quite a beginner in sewing and there are just so many things that i would love to get better in. (zippers, ease stitching, working with knits...) (annikaferk@googlemail.com)
ReplyDeleteLove your fabrics! I need to get the blind hem down too. I would like to be a better collar drafter when it come to patterns
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing coat :). I'm baffled by loads of sewing things and try to blunder through anyway .. the thing I'm most scared of is making clothes for myself... such gorgeous fabrics that I'm worried I will ruin. I can never seem to measure myself properly and get an item to work !!! I've always wanted to draft my own patterns, it would be amazing ;) thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteSlippery knit hemlines. Im never altering for family members again! :P
ReplyDeleteDrafting my own patterns baffles me! Invisible zippers scare me.
ReplyDeleteSorry it posts hubby's name
aldwedgi at hotmail dot com
Love the coat!! I'm still trying to figure out my narrow rolled hem foot :)
ReplyDeleteI have sewing for years but I have entered new territory with a little boy. Honestly, sleeve and shirt plackets get me. I have even watched YouTube videos. I could probably fake it. I haven't dared try.
ReplyDeleteSleeve and shirt plackets are a puzzle to me. I have even watched YouTube videos. My eyes just sort of glaze over. I could probably fake it if I concentrated really hard.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful coat, Alida, and an even more beautiful smile on your daughter. I would love to learn how to sew better with more delicate fabrics.
ReplyDeleteButton holes are one but there are so many more!
ReplyDeleteHow to get interfacing to behave! I can line a garment, but if it calls for interfacing instead, it looks all wonky!
ReplyDelete~Michelle
The jacket looks awesome. Love the color combo! I am still baffled by the whole stand with the collar thing. I always struggle with that, which makes me think that I smprobably doing it wrong.
ReplyDeleteKnits, I'm kinda afraid of knits. And I really need help with clothing zippers.
ReplyDeleteThe coat is simply amazing!!!!!
I am ALWAYS learning something new with sewing! Today at work I was trying to master sewing a rolled hem on a sewing machine, going over seams, and making it look right. It's so tricky! I'm not sure I will ever get it done right! ha!
ReplyDeleteI just adore this coat!!!
Vanessa (at) DesignsBySessa.com
There are tons of things I haven't tried, but I think pattern drafting is the most baffling. I understand how to use clothes to make a pattern but not how to make one for something my boys don't already have (like cute little sports coats or pea coats).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
OMG that spring coat is beautiful! I am learning how to sew so the technique of making a pattern and cutting the fabric is my problem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win this great prizes!
nelda34(live)dot(com
Pretty much every sewing skill still baffles me, but I think my skill I am lacking the most in is taking my time. I always rush so much, and end up making silly mistakes.
ReplyDeleteKelly
I agree with blind hem stitch and button holes!
ReplyDeleteKnits are a sewing block for me as well as trying to grade a pattern in different places for my varied measurements.
ReplyDeletethe notched collar on jackets. I still can't seem to get them looking smooth. ~Major Moma
ReplyDeletethis is awesome! hahahaha! muslins--yup! ain't nobody got time for dat!
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn to hem a circle skirt perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the list of those who don't know how to use the blind stitch. I'm also very wary of lightweight knits which don't seem to behave for me no matter what tricks I try. Even though I've sewed for years, my drafting experience is very minimal. I'd like to learn how to enlarge a pattern.
ReplyDeleteErin's site and her creations are inspiring!
Love this so much! & she is gorgeous!! Love the ain't nobody got time for that too-lol! That's the best!
ReplyDelete