New Patterns

While at Expo I decided to purchase a few patterns. One pattern I decided to purchase was for the purpose that men's dress shirts are on my list of things to work on this year. This particular pattern is a mother/son design. I am looking forward to playing with it later in the year.


Just before heading down to Seattle, the new Lisette patterns were released. I was looking forward to seeing the patterns up close and personal and to talk to the Simplicity pattern company on the design and make up of the patterns. Lisette patterns are designed by Liesl Gibson who is the designer of the Oliver + S patterns.


Here is a new shawl pattern I am hoping to make up this year. Very pretty and the shape of it is a spiral, just like the Salsa Skirt pattern only a bit different and much longer.

Lots of sewing on my mind in the midst of the happenings of life. :)

Good-night,

Carol

Fabric Printing Software and Notions

Here's an assortment of tools I purchased and took home with me from Expo.

First of all, have you ever wanted to design your own fabric? I have thought about this lots, lately, and one of the classes I was able to take at expo gave me the inspiration I need to get started on this adventure. After taking the class, I purchased the software, Fabric Studio Deluxe which allows you to design and print your own fabric. You can print off your own printer, OR you can design and send off your fabric to have yardage of your fabric printed off. This year, I am hoping to get some of my own fabric designed and printed....that should be fun!



Fold over elastic, have you ever used it? I have started using fold over elastic and I love it. If you have not used this product before, you may want to give it a try. It comes in a few different widths. I have used the 1" fold over, meaning it's a 1/2" once it is folded over. At Expo, I purchased 5/8" fold over elastic, which means when folded over it will be just over 2/8". Fold over elastic has two sides to it, the shiny side and the dull side. I have used both sides, depending on what I am using the elastic on and what I want for the desired outcome. Here is a picture of the elastic with the shiny and then the dull side.





Cotton lace is a favorite of mine. Wide cotton lace in particular, calls my name. One of the sellers comes back year after year, bringing lots of wonderful laces, including beautifully embroidered, cotton laces of various widths. His name is Luc and I always appreciate doing business with him. Luc is from the Netherlands. He informed us this year that the wider width cotton laces are no longer being manufactured, by the same company he has purchased from for years. This was a family owned and operated business and they decided to close down. Luc has a supply for the next couple of years, but then that's it. :(





Lots of projects dancing around in my head. I will have to organize it all so I can prioritize and *remember* what it is I want to accomplish. ;)

Carol

Pendleton Wool + Oliver +S pattern = pretty!

Here are two pieces of wool I purchased from Pendleton Wool, just a few minutes before the Expo was over. Rather than thinking what I would like to make with this wool, I am taking my cue from Pendleton and the display they had at Expo. They used the Oliver + S Sunday Brunch pattern and made the jacket from the plaid and the skirt from the solid wool. I loved the colours and Olivia liked them too. So, if all goes well, that is what we will do with these pieces of wool. Pendleton had a great price on their wool at the show and on Sunday, there was a bonus coupon for an additional 5% off. The price of the wool pieces were very reasonable. My wool is washed and ready to dive into, when I have a bit of time. ;)



I picked up these two pieces of light, dress weight wool for $5 a yard, plus 5% off. I had just looked at this fabric the day before and it was much more expensive. I lucked out on the last day of the expo. Nice wool for my 'stash'. :)

More on expo tomorrow.

Sleep well....

Carol

Back from Sewing Expo!

Last week I was in Sewing School. :)

For the past several years, at this time of year, I head down to the Seattle area, Puyallup, to be exact, to attend the Sewing Expo. While there, I book myself full with classes. Some of my classes are 45 minutes long, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 2.5 hours and then there are the 4 hour classes. Lots to do and learn. I come home with my head so full of new ideas, techniques learned, some re-learned, confidence for trying new, more complicated for me things....and a wonderful time with my sisters, sharing in a love of the art of sewing. This year, my sister Mary was unable to attend with us. Mary is still undergoing her radiation treatment for breast cancer, but we hope and pray she will be with us next year.

Olivia joined me on the trip again this year, which was great fun! While she spent most of the time with my mum at her home, on the last day of classes, she attended a class with me on draping, with the instructor, Jan Bones. Olivia got to see how you drape a pattern piece, on a body, to create a garment. It was fun. Olivia has a little doll sized dress form that she can attempt to drape and practice her skills. Olivia was at the Expo all day. She did very well and enjoyed herself. She is asking to attend again next year! Music to my ears. :)

In the coming days, I hope to share a few of the things I learned and saw at the Expo. It's truly a wonderful place to take classes. This particular expo is well known for the focus on garment sewing. I feel incredibly blessed to attend this event. I am thankful!

Off to read up on some patterns I purchased and start a list on what I want and need to do first. :)

Sleep well,

Carol