Sunday, March 7, 2010

Luck of the Un-Irish!

Lori had a give-away a few days ago, and I am tbe lucky recepient of these beautiful napkins that she made.
These are just beautiful and not just on the front.  She lined them with a print fabric.   Amazingly, they are perfect colors for my home.  All the walls in our house are dark--hunter green, dark rust, dark purple, dark wood flooring.  I'll display these napkins on the dining table.  Thank you, Lori!

I made pants.  Plain, basic, fly-front. straight-leg, black pants.  I'll not even try to photograph them.  They fit very well.  I have fabric to make navy and brown pants, using this pattern.  I'll be working on them this week.  Since I only wear a plain, basic pant, its pretty boring, like making T-shirts.  Boring but necessary.  I'll be glad to get the pants made so I can move on to something more interesting.


I got all caught up in the hype and just HAD to order this book. "Design It Yourself Clothes" by Cal Patch.  Like ordering fabric, you never know exactly what you're going to get.
After I read through it quickly,  this book will be given away.  The pants draft and the shirt draft instructions have no darts.  None.  Zip.  Now, that's ok if you want to make a yoga pant and maybe a big shirt.  But otherwise, most of us need a dart or two.  It's a very bare-bones drafting book. 

I have several drafting books that I often use just to redesign an existing pattern.  These are the two I use most often:
Patternmaking Made Easy" by Connie Crawford is her textbook for the college courses she teaches.  It's thorough but easily  understood.  "Make Your Own Dress Patterns" by Adele Margolis is a wonderful reference about dart manipulation and changing darts to fullness.  These two books I go to time and time again.

Monday is a day away.  Have a good one!

16 Talk to me:

Faye Lewis said...

I've been wondering about the new book myself. Thank you for the review of it and for the suggestions on the others.

Sheila said...

Congrats on receiving the lovely table napkins. Lori has inspired me to return to home dec sewing.

My plan this year is to make tailored pants and know I will definitely need darts... now if I could stop procrastinating :)

Thanks for review on the reference books and will be checking Amazon for Margolis' Make Your Own Dress Patterns.

Rhoto said...

Gwen, as RED as your hair is, you can SURELY be an "honourary" Irish woman ;)
Soft hug,
1/2 Irish & 1/2 English Rhonda in Montreal

Linda T said...

Those are beautiful napkins! Congratulations! And thanks for introducing me to her Blog. I like doing Home Dec sewing also.

I want to learn pattern drafting and draping this year. Thanks for the book suggestions.

That McCall's pant pattern makes a good pants sloper pattern too. Used it just a few weeks ago for a couple of students. Need to do one for myself now. I have a terrible time fitting pants.

Vernon Fashion Studio

KID, MD said...

I agree with you about the Cal Patch book. I was disappointed in the basic shirt pattern, although I may try out the tee. I'm a total novice to drafting, so I'm starting with easy. I'm going to have to look into those two books you mentioned!

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

Beautiful napkins. I love the colors.

Lori said...

Thanks for the information on the book. It is hard to order books and fabric online, easy than going to the store but sometimes you just don't know what you are getting.

Aminat said...

Those are beautiful napkins congratulations. Thanks also for the great review of the book. I will check it out too.

Bunny said...

Those napkins are so pretty. I really need that book by Adele and have been eyeing it for some time. Just never think of it. Hmmmmmm,,,I have an Amazon gift card.

Karin said...

Hello Gwen, Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's good to find your blog too! It looks like you have a lot of experience sewing. I've been peaking through your old posts. I love learning new things.

I assume it is OK for me to put you on my blog role so I can see when you have a new post right away.

Linda T said...

Thanks for the heads up on the book. I'll pass that one by. Napkins--so pretty!

Julia said...

Those napkins are really pretty. What luck that they go so well with you home!

Jean said...

Thank you for your book recommendations!

Kat said...

Boy, isn't Adele Margolis' book a gem! I have a 1972 copy I think? It is so plain English that it's really a must-have. Connie's book really interests me, too, but it isn't yet in my library. It's probably more plain English than Helen Armstrong's book, but I like those as a reference too.

Thanks for the info on Cal Patch's book. Yeah, without darts it's not going to be a fave, nor destined to take up space in my sewing library.

Diana said...

Thank you Gwen for commenting on my blog and thanks for the info on these books. I use Fitting Savvy by Sandra Betzina constantly for any fitting problems I encounter. It' a great resource.

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

Always fun to get nice mail - the napkins are pretty! I sew mostly for my 6 year old son - so that probably puts me in the boring, but necessary department too! He hates store bought clothing. I will look into the drafting books - I am annoyed at some of my recent pattern picks for myself - might as well make my own if I have to make so many adjustments!

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