It's September so it's "National Sewing Month!"
Happy National Sewing Day to all my sewing peeps! For the last couple of years, I've celebrated this month with a variety of giveaways, blog posts and discounts. Y'all while I loved doing that, it was a lot of work and this year I didn't feel up to it. I just wanted to sew to celebrate the month.
One thing I would like to do this month is highlight a few of my favorite sewing blogs. I have two to share today...
Mainleymenswear ~
Honestly I mostly follow Duane on Instagram. I love the shirts he sews as well as love following his journey when he's making pants or coats. He makes sewing menswear look so easy...a definite sign of his talent...cause I know it's not!
La Sewista! ~
Bunny has been sewing a long time and has the skills to prove it! I read her blog for pearls of wisdom because there is always more to learn. She has a unique eye and sewing perspective that I love.
If you have a moment, surf on over and check them out, you won't be sorry!
Otherwise this post is a hodge podge of things I was thinking about as I worked on cutting out my next garments...
It's All in the Details ~
In a number of posts I've talked about how I've complicated simple designs by adding construction techniques and details to the garments. As I was finishing up this last round of garments, I realized that adding those details was what made the sewing fun.
I look forward to dreaming up the details, thinking about how to make them work, and adding them to my garments. I think these details give my garments distinction, pop, individuality and make them pretty...even if it's in places only I can see!
You know I love piping. Or as Gaylen says, it's become my trademark. I've added it to several of the recent Myosotsis maxi dresses and I know I'm lucky to have access to the garment district with the ability to purchase piping in various colors, widths and types. But on my Simplicity dress I made my own piping to get a perfect fabric match.
This seems to have become the summer of piping and border prints. My love of both has been reflected in the garments I've made this summer.
I also like bias binding. I think it's really relaxing to cut and make binding. I love the process...so I do tend to add home made, as well as, store bought binding to things. Happily using the stash of bias binding I have on hand, too!
Another detail that I do ALOT is I change garments without any closures to one that either has a zipper or button closures. As an older sewist who sits alot in my day job and is adverse to exercise (yeah I know), I've noticed the dexterity I had as a younger woman is not there any more. So buttons and zippers which give my garments easier access is important to me. I will change or add that detail to a garment in a heartbeat!
A Cut Pile ~
One more thing that's working for me lately is a cut pile. I don't know if it's actually a detail but I'm adding it to this post. I love having a cut pile now. I love taking the time to make the alterations to a pattern, cutting it out and walking away to leave sewing for another day. Knowing that when I'm ready to sew that the prep work was done and I can just sit down and sew.
I've spent part of this Labor Day weekend working on a cut pile. Figuring out what I want to sew next, pulling fabrics and trims and getting everything ready to sew. Which I will be doing for the next couple of days since I go back to work on Wednesday.
My pile has three shirts, one top, one maxi dress and I'm adding one more dress and a tunic. This pile will let me sew for the rest of the month without having to spend time on prep work. This is a pretty large cut pile for me but I'm diving in with both feet since it's been working so well this summer.
Finally, I do have a work in progress...
It's McCalls 7774 in a border print for a fall maxi. I've alternately hated and loved it. It needs a zipper and a hem and it will be done but it's on time out right now. It's keeping Daphne company until I'm moved to work on it again. LOL!
As SNL would say, this is my Weekend Update! Hope you're getting some sewing done too!
...as always more later!