Drafting Blocks is Hard Work

Following on from last week's update I've just about finished putting the final touches to my bodice block, with my much simpler skirt block soon to follow. Here it is so far, only the waist shaping to draft on, which of course, depends on what I'm making out of it later...

I'm so excited to get started again, as I've not been doing much sewing recently. I haven't quite thought about what I want to start with, but these are some of my favourites from my Pinterest board:

Recently I've been wanting things with slightly more fabric in, as I love the flow and the weight of the garments whilst you're wearing them. Obviously with the tops I would have to put sleeves in them, as I truly am very good at getting cold!

As I was scrolling through my Clothing Inspiration (to follow me on Pinterest click the 'Pinterest' link on the toolbar above this post, then click the red 'Follow' button in the top right hand corner. It will ask you to log in if you're not already, if you haven't got an account you'll need one.) I thought it might be a good idea to have a specific 'Sewing for the Blog' board, which can now be found here.

I have a period of pattern drafting ahead of me...wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side!

Toni

Autumn/Winter Back to Basics

I guess this isn't a sewing update, but today I noticed that there is hallowe'en fabric in the fabric shops. And that means one thing, autumn's nearly here!

Fortunately I am the proud owner of  4 metres by 2m wide beautiful swathe of tartan, plaids and tweeds to boot. I love sewing for autumn, it's just cold enough to get away with wearing something warm and cosy, warm enough to see occasional exposed calves under fantastic tweed miniskirts.

I guess now is the time to mention that I've only made something from a pattern I have bought maybe three times in my life. Pretty quickly I realised that being nearly six foot and leggy wasn't ideal for commercial patterns, and in that in the time that it took to make the necessary changes to them so they would fit me I could draft my own from a block, or a sloper, from my own measurements, using a book I happened to have tucked away in my bookcase.

Sloper: (noun) a basic pattern, developed on paper by drafting, or on cloth by draping, but with seam allowances omitted, used as a tool to create other patterns. (Dictionary.com)

Now it has been a long time since I've drafted myself a bodice and a skirt block, so before anything else I really think I need to get that sorted out, don't you?

My drafting bible is a beautiful book - it's Metric Pattern Cutting for Women's Wear by Winifred Aldrich. I think the first edition was published in the mid seventies or something, but I've not come across anything out of date yet. Genuinely, this book has saved me from packing sewing in completely. Many times. On your next pay check, get yourself one. You won't regret it.

I'm going to get started on my blocks now, if you want to try one out yourself go try this link. I think it's the same as in the book yet I think the waist shaping is a little different. It will give you a rough idea about how to draft your own blocks, which will fit you a lot better than any other pattern you can buy if the increments used by the pattern makers don't fit you very well. Drafting a block is time consuming, especially as you have to draft yourself a pattern from it afterwards, but if you put the effort in and you do it right, you'll be rewarded.

And if you don't grow anymore, unlike some, you can keep drafting patterns off of that block for life. see the appeal?

Toni

The Curtains Are Complete

I completed the curtains, yes! They were so much easier than I thought they'd be, if I'm honest. I'm sure there are many people out there that start sewing curtains as their first project, rather than one a few years down the line, but I guess that I can now tick them off of my sewing list.

They don't let the light in, and they match well with the colours of the walls (as you can see here!) so I guess as curtains go, they're pretty successful. Tom seemed pretty happy with them.

So next up I'm going to start sewing for autumn/winter. I know it seems early but I don't have much time to sew! Also I'm thinking of sewing a shirt for Nathan once I can get my hands on a pattern. I don't really have the time to draft one now it's September, so I might buy one. Are there any good ones out there?

Toni