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Sewing April 30th, 2003
I’ve heard that it’s fabulous and the non-American patterns are cut differently so that the pattern line is actually the sew line, which many people prefer. So…
1) Have you used the Burda Magazine patterns and do you prefer their layout to other American patterns?
2) Does the magazine come with these patterns or is it essentially a catalog for ordering these patterns from overseas (is it Germany?)?
and 3) Does anyone really buy the Vogue Pattern mag? Being a knitter, I’m frustrated that the magazine doesn’t actually contain the pattern to make anything.
Please, sound off…
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Sewing April 28th, 2003
This was definitely a learning experience for me. I love the pattern and I’m happy with the way it turned out even though there were a couple mishaps! For starters, and I just have to laugh at myself for this, the arms are on backwards. You can’t really tell when I’m wearing it, but the elbow dart is in the front instead of the back - who knew? I thought that dart was supposed to help the sleeve bend forward. So I learned to carefully study all the pictures (the only one that showed this, and illustrations are very important to the newbie, was a drawing of the back of the finished shirt on the back side of the pattern package).
The other mishap was not so funny. I had just finished diligently finishing all my seams (thank you for the advice Barbara - they were fraying almost faster than I could zig zag them up!) when I noticed that I had accidentally sliced a great big “V” in the back near the side seam. It’s not that visible since it’s under my arm, but jeez, that was a drag.
On to the next thing… 
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Sewing April 24th, 2003
While buying fabric at the giant Fabric Depot down the street (lucky for me just 15 blocks away), I couldn’t resist all the beautiful quilting fabrics. Of course, they were having a 40%-off-everything-in-the-store sale so I had to make the most of it. And so it begins…
I’m using a technique from the book Stitch ‘n Flip Quilts. It’s the perfect type of quilt for letting your creativity flow. The basic idea is that you start with one small, misshapen piece of fabric (a focal point) and you sew randomly shaped pieces around the circumference until you reach 6 (or 9 or 12, whatever) inches around and then you square it off. Sew several of these together and you have your quilt. The one on the cover of the book was my inspiration.
So these are my fabrics:
I must have spent 4 hours matching all of these - I’m calling it the Secret Garden quilt.
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Sewing April 22nd, 2003
Designer days
I’m becoming very discerning in my sewing pattern choices. Not that I really know anything yet, but looking at the patterns available from Vogue, I’m learning that Ann Klein’s designs are very classic, Donna Karan is grown-up sexy with added style and Calvin Klein is laid back cool. I’m looking for good staples in the all-in-one patterns too. More samples from my wish list (can you tell, I’m almost as excited as when I first started knitting): DKNY, Bill Blass, Guy Laroche. Of course I would never be able to afford these cloths from the store, but someday I hope to be able to sew well enough to make them myself.
Does anyone have any advice on sewing designers/companies they like best and why? Also, I’m wondering as I feel like I’m sending this question out into the abyss, how many people out there are knitters as well as seamstresses? (oops, besides Barbara - just saw your comment - thank you!
