Classes

Ron Collins Class

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I was looking through the calendar of classes offered by Central Sewing  and saw one I just had to take. Pattern Alterations and Body Measurements for the Right Fit.  The photo is from the Central website.

This was a great class, and Ron is just wonderful! He took us through a number of common adjustments, and also a few that weren’t in the course material but we either asked about, or he knew we needed.

One example of that was when he mentioned sloping shoulders and looked right at me. What? I didn’t know I had sloping shoulders. Turns out I do have one. Yeah, not both, just one. 

I came home and looked in the mirror. Yup. I do. Thankfully he covered that alteration.

Other alterations were FBA, SBA (small bust adjustment) which was something I’ve never done, flat seat, full butt, large arm. There were more too.

 The last part of the class was all of us measuring one another and writing down our measurements.

Armed with my measurements, knowing how much ease is in fitted, semi-fitted, and loose garments – all that was covered too. I’m feeling ready to work on my pants pattern again.

Ron even recommended a jeans pattern for me. Pull on style, which is exactly what I was wanting. I’ll be trying the Elenora jeans by Jalie soon. I’ll finish my Halla pants first. 

I’ll also be looking at the calendar again to see when Ron is back. I loved his class, and he’s a fantastic instructor. 

Happy creating!  

Such a Sweet Shelley

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

After the beginner class I taught last month, there was enough demand for another class. So I scheduled a Shelley class.

Jeanette (Bra Making Academy) had left her Shelley bra set at the store, and I could use it on the display to show just how pretty the Shelley pattern is. 

Although this is a really adorable set, I wanted to put my own mark on things, so to speak, so sewed up the cutest little Shelley.

I went through my stash and found just enough lace to go with some platinum duoplex and adorable pink findings kit. This was a quick sew, or at least it felt that way for me. I’m used to sewing a larger size.

Using the form’s measurements (which I got over the phone!) I made up a 2.75 BCD with a 26″ band. I have to say I didn’t do too badly on the size. I think I could go up one cup size to get an even better fit, but this is pretty close.

Here’s the full display at the store. She’s wearing a lovely new Shelley bra, with the most adorable little Veronica panties 

Isn’t that the cutest? Just one more photo. I love this lace I used for this demo Shelley.   It makes me think of Spring. I’m ready for Spring. How about you?

I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t even looked at my pants pattern this week. I will re-look at it though. I’m determined! 

Happy creating!

Beginner Bra Making Class

~ Michelle ~ 4 Comments

January also saw a Beginner Bra Class at Central sewing.

I had eight women sign up, so we had a full class. And everyone left with at least one bra completed. Some of the ladies finished two bras and left with a well-fitting bra and pattern.

We had sizes from 2.25 to 7.5 in the class. So a very varied class size-wise. But something I’ve learned is size doesn’t matter when it comes to fitting. Women of all sizes have problems finding a well-fitting bra.

I have to say this was a dedicated group! On my way in to teach the first day, I went by a sign showing the temperature. It was -42 Celsius! If I hadn’t had a class, I would not have left home that day.

The class had only been over for one day when I received an email from one of the students. She had finished a bra on her own. The next day she sent me a second photo of her second bra she’d sewn. I’d say she’s off to a great start! Isn’t this gorgeous? She made this using her adjusted pattern, and a really lovely kit from Margieb.ca.

As if that bra isn’t gorgeous enough, she also made this bra.This is another lovely kit from Margieb.ca.

I think she’s done wonderfully! She has a well-fitting bra from class, and two ever better fitting bras she’s made on her own. Well done!

I have another class later in February, so I’ll let you know how that class goes as well.

You know what I’m sewing next, don’t you? Yes, back to pants, but I’m already missing bra-making seeing these lovely makes.

Happy creating!

The Bra Making Academy

~ Michelle

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard me mention Jeanette. I took all my professional classes with Jeanette, and I have the honor of still working with her on occasion.

Well, Jeanette has just opened The Bra Making Academy online.

purple girl sew uplifitng bramaking academy

Now you can take classes with Jeanette too. 

I loved taking courses with Jeanette. Her classes are full of little tips that are wonderful to learn – and honestly I already knew how to sew a bra, so those tips meant even more to me. I still use many of them now.

You keep your classes forever, Once you sign up, you have instant access too. You can also subscribe to receive updates for new classes if you don’t see what you’re looking for right now.

Follow for more on Facebook. 

Happy creating & learning!

Creative Bug Tap Pants

~ Michelle

I had learned about Creative Bug a few years ago, but really didn’t take advantage of the classes on there. Madalynne has a few classes on there. Gretchen Hirsch also has one – the Tap Pants class.Aren’t these just darling?

I had a very old culotte slip I wanted to replace. I thought this class would be the perfect jumping off place to replace that sad well-worn slip.

For my slip, I decided that I would use some special fabric I had. Lilypa had brought in some gorgeous stretch silk. I felt confident that I would get a well fitting slip because the class take you through drafting your pattern from your measurements.   Isn’t that lovely? When I first saw it, I just had to have some. And I thought this project would be perfect for this material. I love them! One thing I didn’t realize when I bought the material is the map isn’t all ‘right side up’. The continents are both right side up, and upside down. So if you see this and fall in love, be aware of this.

If you’re making a smaller garment, you may be able to get everything right side up. Otherwise, this is just the design. I made a mistake that was quite upsetting. I couldn’t believe I did it really. One of the class suggestions was to use pinking shears to keep the edges from fraying. Well, I love my rotary pinking blade and use it often to trim seams on panties. I just love the look.

So I happily grabbed my pinking rotary cutter and trimmed all my seams with it. Then. Somehow. I didn’t feel I had more fabric under one of my seams. I cut through the back of the slip! There’s nothing to be done about it now.

I’ve found a supplier for tricot with rave reviews. I plan to make a few more of these but can’t make them all out of silk.

Happy creating!

Reviewing Porcelynne’s Bra Making and Fitting Course

~ Michelle

Hello! I’m back. I haven’t been doing a lot of sewing but I have done some. Mostly what I’ve been sewing is a fitting band and cups. I’ve been reviewing Porcelynne’s Bra Making and Fitting Course.

If you go there right away you’ll just get a message that the course is being tested. The course is due to be re-released the beginning of June, so I’ll let you know before that. 

As part of the review,  I went through all of the steps in the course. I followed it as if I was a beginner bra maker. I have to be honest, there were many things about the course that really impressed me. But I’m going to make you wait to hear about them all.

For now, I’ll just show you my final fitting band with cups.This is actually two different sized cups. I was testing to see which I preferred.

This next photo is showing something I’ve never heard before. And if you ask me I think it’s brilliant. I’m not going to say more – you have to wait until my next blog post on the course. You tell me what you think is happening here.Lastly, for this post anyway, the back.Have you made a fitting band? I’m already planning to test some other cups in this. I’m also planning to go through Porcelynne’s Eve Sloper Creation course to change the shape of these cups. The volume is perfect – and I cant’ wait to share more on that with you. 

Happy creating!

No Sewing This Week

~ Michelle

I haven’t been sewing this week, nor last week. In fact, much of my summer sewing was all geared to getting ready for teaching classes. Yes, I’ve started holding bra sewing classes.

The whole time the Bra Bee was on I was sewing 22 fitting bras. The rest of the summer was spent finishing those bras and getting ready.

Twenty two bras! I learned to sew them assembly-line style.

My classes are at the same store where I took my professional classes: Central Sewing Machines.

However, I’m not at the same location. I’m teaching at the West End store.It’s a treat it is to teach in this store. They just had their grand opening at the end of June. It’s a beautiful new facility. One of the best features is the classroom is on the main floor. First thing when you enter the store, there’s a mannequin advertising the bra and panty classes wearing the tiniest bra and panty set.

At the back of the store is the classroom. The classroom was all set up and ready for us! We had our fittings there behind the screen.

I’m starting the classes with the PUG Classic pattern. It a basic pattern, so a good place for beginners to start.Four women signed up, and I was happy they all left with well-fitting bras.One woman was really having a problem with her fit. No matter what we did,  her bra wasn’t fitting. After two attempts with alterations both times,  and the end of the class nearing I suggested flexi-wires. Once we put the flexi-wires in her bra it fit her perfectly. It was amazing the difference the wires made in her bra fitting. 

Another woman was also having wire troubles. We shortened a wire for her, but it’s a lot of work to cut them, file them, and then put the heat shrink tubing on them. We also tried the flexi-wires for her. They fit into her bra perfectly, and she was happy with how comfortable her bra was.

I’m already looking forward to the next class!

Happy creating!

Drafting at the Stitches Conference

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

Again, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, but I thought I’d share a little of what I’ve been doing.

I haven’t done any sewing, and I am missing it. My energy is coming back, so I’m thinking sewing will happen soon. I have a wonderful new BMS pattern, and a great kit from B,Wear to make my own Dreamcatcher knockoff.  However, before I started work on fitting a new pattern, there was the Stitches Conference.

I’ve linked the Haus of Stitches because so many people said they didn’t know about the conference, or Beverly teaching at this conference. Sign up for the newsletter and you’ll hear if she’ll be doing this again next year.

This year the Stitches Conference offered in-person classes, hybrid class that were both in-person and online, and there was one class that was online only: Bra Design and Draft with Beverly Johnson. As soon as I heard about that class, I said to my husband that I would have loved to take that class. He said, ‘Why don’t you take it?. Sign up.’ I jumped on that opportunity!

It was great! There were 16 of us in the class, and even though I’ve done drafting before, I still picked up so many tips. It inspired me to break out my pencils and paper and get some drafting done again.

 Another very exciting bra event is coming up soon. The International Bra Sewing Bee.

bra-bee-logo

The Bee may not be on right away, but it is available to purchase. Right now there is an Early Bird Special. I plan to attend this again too. I love these virtual conferences!

Hopefully, next time I write, I’ll have some sewing to show! Happy creating!

Progress on Drafting

~ Michelle

I’ve shown you a very little bit of the new drafting course I’m taking. It’s Bare Essentials by Porcelynne, and it’s different from what I’ve done before.

The first thing we do in this course is the root trace. I also shared with you how I didn’t really think I needed that. It turns out I did.I knew my wires weren’t perfect, but the 38s pinched, and the 40s seemed a little too big. As it turns out, the 40s are just a little too big around the base, and the 38s are a touch too narrow at the top.

The next step is to draft a band. That wasn’t very different from what I’ve done before.

Something that is very different is Jennifer has a calculator on her blog that is used in conjunction with the 3rd Bare Essentials book, and the drafting course. It’s very interesting.There is more to the calculator, but this is just a glimpse. Take a look. It really is very interesting.

I asked about drafting for an Omega cup because with the drafting method I’d learned previously, I needed two sets of wires. One for drafting the frame (my actual wire size), and one for drafting the cups (the wire that’s usually corresponds to my cup size).

However, with the Bare Essential’s method, the cups’ curves are built into the calculator. I don’t need that second wire to draft the cups. This will be totally new to me.

As well as the calculator, there’s another tool available. Jane’s Foundations has one too. This one you have to purchase, but it’s been made with input and support from Porcelynne’s. You can find it here.

Here’s what Jane’s Foundation’s calculator looks like.

This aspect of drafting is all new to me. It’s seems much more in depth and detailed. I’ll let you know how things are going when I complete more of my course.

Happy drafting & creating!