Volume 93, the July/August issue of DiME, Designs in Machine Embroidery is hot off the press! This is the "official" black & white issue with a majority of the articles featuring garments, crafts, and home decor stitched in black and white. You'll find a mixture of embroidery on quick to stitch blanks and on items that are sewn from scratch. This issue includes lots of fun and interesting projects to learn from, that's for sure!
Are you a regular reader of the magazine? Did you know that subscribers are treated to a FREE digital version each month in addition to their hard copy? Now you can relax and read on most of your mobile devices too! If you'd like to pick up one magazine issue at a time I suggest you visit your local sewing machine shop to see if they carry Designs in Machine Embroidery.
Are you a regular reader of the magazine? Did you know that subscribers are treated to a FREE digital version each month in addition to their hard copy? Now you can relax and read on most of your mobile devices too! If you'd like to pick up one magazine issue at a time I suggest you visit your local sewing machine shop to see if they carry Designs in Machine Embroidery.
The last time I embroidered for the black and white issue was a while back, in Volume 69.
For this article I used Indygo Junction's Garden Party Pullover pattern to stitch a warm weather blouse.
For this article I used Indygo Junction's Garden Party Pullover pattern to stitch a warm weather blouse.
This top is cool and comfortable and of course goes great with my favorite wardrobe basic - black pants. The embroidery designs on this blouse are from the Little Black Tee collection from DiME.
When I got the call that there was another B&W issue in the works I jumped at the chance to participate. In preparation for this current issue I mulled over several ideas for my all time favorite color combo. I settled on a T-shirt top that I thought would be up to date style wise, but also be a classic garment one could wear for some time to come.
In my Classic, Chic, and Timeless article you'll find lots of stitching tips and pattern pointers, including "how to" steps for creating the color block sections. Feel free to substitute your own favorite combination of high contrast colors. The main idea here is to use darker colors for the side and sleeves. The result is a slimming, "fool the eye" figure enhancement trick.
In my Classic, Chic, and Timeless article you'll find lots of stitching tips and pattern pointers, including "how to" steps for creating the color block sections. Feel free to substitute your own favorite combination of high contrast colors. The main idea here is to use darker colors for the side and sleeves. The result is a slimming, "fool the eye" figure enhancement trick.
The featured T-shirt pattern (V8151) is one of Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue patterns. This top includes a dart, which may seem unusual for a T-shirt but this makes a huge difference in achieving a flattering fit. Darts are essential for fitting any body area with curves. Without a dart the fullness bunches up somewhere on the shirt, usually in the armhole area. While this may not be objectionable for a really casual top, a darted T-shirt makes for a much better looking garment and elevates it to the status of a top rather than just a tee.
This pattern is designed for knits and knits can vary in stretch factor. To fine-tune the fit I added an inch of ease to the arm muscle area of the sleeves, a common alteration for me. For the rest of the pattern I went by my usual bust, waist, and hip measurements. The Today's Fit pattern group has an entirely different sizing standard when compared with a typical Vogue pattern. In my experience Sandra's Today's Fit patterns run true to size. Aside from great innovative styling, that's another reason I like them. Plus, inside the pattern you'll find special tips written by Sandra herself.
This pattern is designed for knits and knits can vary in stretch factor. To fine-tune the fit I added an inch of ease to the arm muscle area of the sleeves, a common alteration for me. For the rest of the pattern I went by my usual bust, waist, and hip measurements. The Today's Fit pattern group has an entirely different sizing standard when compared with a typical Vogue pattern. In my experience Sandra's Today's Fit patterns run true to size. Aside from great innovative styling, that's another reason I like them. Plus, inside the pattern you'll find special tips written by Sandra herself.
The two coordinating embroidery designs were carefully selected from the Wrapped In Embroidery design CD. Although I am very fond of all the designs from the book, I think I've used and re-used these two motifs more than any other in the collection. They are shown in a multi color thread scheme in the book and this was the first time I thought to stitch them in solid black. They proved to be just the right (classic) elements for the yoke and front border design.
You'll find that a well fitting T-shirt style pattern is worth its weight in gold, so be sure to make a trial garment first. It's important to take time for this, especially when you're adding the extra effort of machine embroidered embellishment. Adding embroidery takes a bit more time but this puts the garment into what I consider designer category. This rendition proves that a Tee top can go beyond casual and flow into an almost dressy mode. Armed with a refined pattern you can make a T-shirt in almost the time it takes to go shopping for one that fits!
Isn't that why many of us love to sew . . . we get "WHAT we want, WHEN we want it, HOW we want it" . . . and gain something unique and special at the same time!
Isn't that why many of us love to sew . . . we get "WHAT we want, WHEN we want it, HOW we want it" . . . and gain something unique and special at the same time!
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