Series 1800 has started to air for free online each week on the official It's Sew Easy TV website, www.itseweasytv.com. Each week I'll preview the newest show and include extra material and information for your sewing pleasure. The theme for series 1800 is Whatever the Weather. This season is full of projects to take you through every season in style!
Season 1800 kicks off with Angela Wolf's new sew-along, her new Chloe trench pattern.
Angela starts by recommending the making of a "muslin" otherwise known as a trial garment. I'm a big fan of this idea although I admit I don't always practice what I preach. Generally, when my fabric is pricey or the garment/pattern is really unlike anything I've previously made, I do take the time to sew a trial garment. The key when doing this is to pick fabric that is pretty similar in weight, drape, stretch, etc., otherwise you're not performing a "real" test. Therefore, the term muslin really applies more to Check out this article HERE for more thoughts about making a muslin or toile as it is sometimes called.
You'll also see her technique for binding seams on the unlined version of the jacket. This bias binding trim is easy to do if you have the right foot for the job.
In the photo above you see the Brother binder foot, part No. SA109. You can use 1/4" double fold or 1/2" wide single fold pre-purchased bias for this technique. Keep in mind, this isn't as thin or as pretty as bias from a snazzy contrast fabric like you see in Angela's jackets.
CLICK HERE and you'll find written instructions directly from Brother for using this foot. HERE is a short video demonstrating the entire process on a Brother machine.
CLICK HERE and you'll find written instructions directly from Brother for using this foot. HERE is a short video demonstrating the entire process on a Brother machine.
Next up, is the couched and quilted vest from show 1801. To say I had fun making this is an understatement. I had a blast! The hardest part was hunting for a pattern. I bought hree different ones but settled on Simplicity 1499. If you're interested in the pattern I would suggest you snatch it while you can. As of right now it is still available but seasonal patterns like this aren't always around for long.
In this segment you'll get some tips for doing a trial fitting, see options for binding the front edge, learn how to shorten a separating zipper from the top edge, and embellish the back of the vest with embroidered yarn couching.
It is possible to trace a simple motif on your fabric and create a couched design using yarn on the sewing side of the machine. You'll find a video with some ideas for couching on the sewing side of your machine HERE. If you decide to use this method consider using a contiuous line quilting design as your pattern. Quilt style line art would be ideal for the contiuous flow of yarn. Basically, you want a design without a complicated pattern to follow.
The embroidered motif I stitched on the back of the vest was accomplished with a special upgrade kit that included a couching attachment and unique designs such as the two butterfly motifs featured on the show. These butterflies are part of a unique collection of 40 yarn couched patterns for the Brother XP1 Luminaire machine. Once the machine is set up with the couching attachment in embroidery mode a diamond-like stitch anchors worsted weight yarn in place to form the pattern. It's quite amazing to see it take shape!
Visit your local Brother dealer for more information on this item. You'll find a feature sheet HERE with more details about the kit.
Visit your local Brother dealer for more information on this item. You'll find a feature sheet HERE with more details about the kit.
Visit www.itsseweasytv.com to watch this show. Enjoy!
RSS Feed