Garment sewing

Fashion design is my passion.  If you sew clothing you know that is so difficult now to find fabric to fit all your ideas and patterns. 

I got an app for my ipad called Sewing Kit HD and it lets me keep all my patterns and info in one place so all I have to do is carry the ipad to the fabric store.  It shows the front pattern cover photo and I take a photo of the back with all the yardage and notions requirements.  It takes time to load when you have hundreds of patterns as I do, but it is worth it.

On facebook, I saw this French viscose fabric and thought it would be beautiful for a Vogue pattern that I owned. I wasn’t even shopping for fabric at the time.  The NYC company Elliott Berman Textiles has a great site for designer fabrics from all over the world. Customer service was excellent also…when I found a little hole in the middle of the fabric, they sent me a replacement yard to that was enough to finish my dress.

This is Vogue 1234 by Sandra Betzina.  Because I used a large busy print, you can not see the seamlines and this dress was an architectural feat! I had to number all the dots for pivoting and the notches since the pieces were so unconventional but the instructions were so well written that it was relatively easy. Even though this is a viscose knit, it wasn’t hard to make but it is not for beginner sewers.  I think it fits well and is easy to wear. It was too long for my 5 ft 4” and I had to take off 8 inches from the bottom therefore losing the slit in the back but it didn’t bother me.

I think I’d like to make it again but with solids so you can see the seaming and maybe color blocked for more interest. I just love the side drape.

I actually wore it a few days after it was finished to an art quilt gallery opening reception and then out to dinner!