Craftsy is coming back! They’re hoping on or around September 1st.
Don’t expect all your classes to be there on the 1st though, and because they’re not able to do that, But to make up for that, they’re giving 45 days free access to ALL classes!
Just so you know, I’m not planning on becoming an affiliate again, but I still love Craftsy and know so many of you do too.
I took advantage of the Craftsy two-week trial Membership. Have you?
A new lingerie class came out. I bought it as it wasn’t part of the Membership. However, the next day it was. At first, I thought, ‘Well, I’m sure I’ll want to have this class anyway.’ 
This was a class I started to watch right away. Then something unexpected happened. I quickly went through the class and then returned the class the same day. I thought you might want to hear some of my thoughts on the class.
The class, Lingerie Essentials: Bralettes with Alison Smith was a bit of a disappointment for me, and I really didn’t want it to be a disappointment.
I have most of Alison’s classes and I love them. I love her style of teaching and all the details she includes in her classes.
It was too soon for there to be any reviews for this class at the time of this writing. The class had only been out for a few days.
Here’s the lesson outline.
This class may be great for a beginner because Alison does take her time and explain a lot about the materials, how to handle them, cut them out, and sew them – all in great detail.
She also explains about the difference between measuring for a bra and a bralette. It was about here, I became disappointed with the class.
What could possibly be disappointing? Well, the class comes with a pattern. The pattern Alison has designed for this class is for a B/C cup. She does show how to grade up two sizes, or down a size, but that’s it. I’m still outside that size range; and disappointed.
As well, the pattern does go to a 42, but I don’t need a bigger band. The larger cup/smaller band fit was never addressed.
Here’s a screen shot from the class showing how to grade up two sizes from the B cup. Unfortunately, there was no mention at all what to do if you fall outside that range. I knew then, this class just isn’t for me.
Here’s the bralette on a model.
My disappointment over the pattern being said, there were positive aspects to the class. So, if you’re a B/C cup, or even a D, you may just love the class.
Alison shows how to make the bralette a few different ways: Unlined lace, lined lace, and stretch jersey, shown in the photo above. I really liked the different ideas she covered with information on each material.
Alison is a wonderful teacher. She has a calm manner, and explains everything very well.
Alison does show some great ideas for how to use lace to embellish your bralette, and I did like that. Isn’t this lace detail on the back lovely?
The last lesson in the class shows how to make some matching knickers and suspenders (panties and garter belt). Both of these patterns are included in sizes S – L. Alison does say you can make the patterns larger, but doesn’t give a lot of detail on just how to do that.
Here are the knickers Alison makes in the class.
And here are the suspenders.
Personal RecommendationsAlison is a lovely teacher. I really like her style and think she has a lot to share with us. If you’ve never made a bralette, this could be a great first class to learn some basics.
As well, if you aren’t an A, B, C, or D cup, then the bralette pattern will likely be disappointing.
I bought this class and returned it. I was disappointed. There are other lovely bralette patterns out there with a fuller range of sizes, like the Sweet Sixteen pattern I just made.
Here’s the size guide (from Beverly Johnson’s blog) for the Sweet Sixteen bralette pattern:
It goes up to an M cup! And the band goes up to a 38, but it fits loose, so probably more like a 40 or 42 band. So, conservatively that’s a range of 28 A – 40 M! That is a size range!
If you’re taking advantage of Craftsy’s two-week free trial Membership that’s available when you first sign up, then I’m sure there are things to take away from watching this class.
Happy creating!
This class by Alison Smith just came out, and I also came across a Craftsy ad for a sale price. I couldn’t resist!
If you’re wondering, I checked to see if this class was part of the Unlimited membership trial, it is.
To make sewing your bralettes even easier, Bra-Makers Supply now has bralette finding kits.
You can get the finding kits for bralettes here.
I realized very early on in my lingerie-making journey that I wanted ALL the lingerie patterns and books out there. I wanted them all so I could learn something from each one, and also have a very nice pattern stash.
That hasn’t changed a lot. I’m still buying patterns, even ones I said I’d probably not buy (she says, thinking of the new Harriet pattern – that is really similar to 2 other patterns she already has!)
Yup. I bought the Harriet pattern just so I can have it and look at it, and I’m sure, learn from it. It was just too pretty to pass up.
However, I’m not making a Harriet right now. I’ve still been working on my draft.
The pattern I’m trying now is an adorable pattern for panties or undies as the designer calls them.
Aren’t these just adorable? These are Rad Patterns’ Panel Undies. I’m looking at these and wishing I could find some adorable cotton Lycra (CL) in a print like that.
For now, I’m using some very basic CLs I have, both in a basic beige. I have two different tones, and decided to play on Paint to see which way I wanted to use them.
I have a lighter beige and a darker beige. I like them both, but am thinking of putting them together with the darker beige in the middle as shown on the high cut brief shown above.
Here’s the first look at them, and I like the color blocking look to it.
However, looking at them once they were sewn together, they looked even huger than normal. Have you ever made your own panties? Everyone warned me they’d look huge before they were sewn up. These looked huge even after I sewn them.
Before I went any further with them, I pulled out a pair that do fit me.
These aren’t going to work out. My next step is going to be to take my Master Pattern from Sewing Panties: Construction & Fit and use that to make a similar style. I know that way they’ll fit.
So, it’s back to the panty drawing board for now. I do have something to share about a future project that’s in the works. Here’s a little peek.
I love these fabrics! It’s Canada’s 150th birthday this year, and I’m celebrating. You’ll have to wait for a bit to see the finished project though.
Happy creating!
I’ve made my drafted pattern, but I want to check how it will fit before I sew up a bra.
Testing
There are a couple of ways I can test the fit before I start sewing up a whole bra. In Beverly’s Craftsy class, Foam, Lace & Beyond, she shows how to convert your Classic pattern from a diagonal seam to a horizontal seam. I did this to compare the two patterns because the original pattern I made from the draft was a horizontal seam.
It’s looking pretty good on paper and I’m feeling encouraged.
Alterations
Even though I’m encouraged by my pattern, I still want to make a tester cup. There are no alterations done to this basic pattern, and I have a list I usually need: make the underarm smaller, a flat spot adjustment, check the bridge height and bottom width. Then there are the Omega considerations. Making a test cup is simply one more confirmation for me.
This tester cup is looking good too.
Here’s the dart I pinched out. I’ll adjust the pattern and then it’s time to cut out a new bra! I’m going to adjust the strap and upper cup at the side too. You can see both in the photo below.
A Trial Bra
My sewing was going along nice and smoothly, and then a tiny snag. I pulled the elastic out of the finding kit and it was the ‘old’ elastic. There’s been a change in elastics and the newer one is 20% less stretchy. It’s a good thing the Fairy Bra Mother blogs. I went over to Beverly’s blog and used her information to take out that extra width I’d added to my band. You can read her post here.
I not only looked that up, but also her post on sewing a Gothic Arch because it’s such a comfortable alteration.
New Bra
Here’s my new bra. It fits so well, and I’m so excited about it! I think I’m more excited about this bra than any bra I’ve made in the past.
Here’s the side view. You can see there are a couple of little alterations I want to make.
The pin there? I want to take a little more out from the underarm there. As well, I’ll want to raise the side there 1/4-inch. The wire is coming to the top of the elastic, that’s why I didn’t finish it there.
The back is fine. Taking out that 20% makes it fit perfectly.
Here’s the Gothic arch I added. It is such a comfortable pattern alteration.
All in all, I’m thrilled with my new bra, and the drafting experience.
Happy creating!
P.S. You may want to look at A Review of Sewing Bras: Foam, Lace & Beyond.
It’s time for another Craftsy class review.
This review is for Coverstitch: Basics & Beyond with Gail Yellen.
I’m on my own for reviews at the moment, as Marsha and Naomi have other pressing engagements.
Reviews
This is a fairly new class, so it doesn’t have the amount of reviews as some of the other classes I’ve reviewed. At the time of this writing, there were only 35 reviews, and a few of them were less than favorable.
A few reviewers expressed a desire to have had more information that fit the ‘Beyond’ category.
If you notice the Instructor rating, Gail gets her highest rating there, and I agree! I had a couple of questions and Gail answered really quickly – I’m talking the same day – and her answers were very helpful. Gail deserves that high rating.
Outline
First Thoughts on the Class
I was really happy this class came out. I’ve been purchasing a Janome Cover Pro 1000CP from a friend. It had been staying at my house, and I decided I wanted it. Thankfully, my friend is being very patient in my paying it off.
Seeing as this was a brand new machine to me, I knew nothing about how to work a Coverstitch machine and wanted a class that started with the basics. This class did that.
In the class, Gail shows both the designated Coverstitch machine, and the Serger/Coverstitch combination machine. She goes through how to change the needles on both machines, and how to set the needles for different stitch widths. For a complete beginner, that is great!
Gail also gives us ideas on how to use these different stitches and demonstrates them on a few projects.
In the above collage, all taken from screen shots from the class, Gail shows how to make a tassel, sew a flat fell seam, and install a zipper – all with the Coverstitch machine. I would never have thought of using this machine for any of those. Honestly, I really thought it was just for hemming. So, this was all much more ‘Beyond’ than I was expecting.
Gail also shows how to hem an unbound neckline.
This is a lovely neckline. Hmm, this is a pretty idea to try on my next tee. I know I’ve wanted to hem a few things using the Coverstitch machine. I hadn’t even thought of necklines.
Disappointments?
There were a number of reviewers who expressed they wanted more and there wasn’t enough beyond the very basics. So was I disappointed? Well, no. Looking at the class, I can’t say I am. The class does cover a lot. More than I thought or expected.
There was only thing I wanted to see and didn’t – the foot shown below. My machine doesn’t have a regular presser foot (I have one on order), but it has a Center Guide foot, much like a Stitch-in-the-Ditch foot. I did realize I can take that center guide off, and I have a see-through foot. So, I’m happier with this foot now.
Feet
Let’s go over the machine feet Gail does cover in the class: the regular pressing foot, a curved pressing foot, a see-through pressing foot, and a narrow chain stitch foot. She also covers a belt loop binder, and a down turn feller, and seam guides. She even gives an idea for how to make a seam guide using a Post-it note pad.
I thought this was a neat idea, and tried it twice. The first time the pad moved, and I was also sewing a curved hem. That whole thing didn’t work out. The second time, I really pushed on the pad to make sure it was good and stuck down. I had no problems at all. It’s a great little trick if you don’t have a seam guide. (I want one of those too!)
Recommendations
I do recommend this class. It’s a great class, with a lot of very good basic information in it, and some not-so-basic information too. This class made the difference in me bringing out my CoverPro machine and using it rather than letting it sit like it had been.
What I Made
Well just before I go there let me tell you one really great thing about Coverstitch machines: I learned if you make a mistake, you can very easily rip out the stitches – from the last stitch back to the first. I needed to use that tip. It took me a minute or two to find the right thread to pull, but once I found it – those stitches came out so smoothly and easily! What a nice feature.
So what did I make? I made a very sloppy looking hem! I don’t think a curved uneven hem is the first thing I want to try sewing and showing from my machine. I pulled those stitches out.
I also planned to hem a gorgeous Maxi skirt I wore once and then the hem started coming out. It’s been sitting in a mending pile for the better part of a year waiting for me to learn to use this machine. I got it out and… it’s a blind hem on it! (Rolls eyes!)
I did shorten my favorite pants. I’ve been wearing them too long for over a year, but every time I put them in a mending pile, well, they just couldn’t stay there – they’re my favorite. This time, I did hem them using Gail’s Post-it Note pad idea!
If you have a Coverstitch machine, and haven’t used it, I do recommend Gail’s class to give you a great base to learn how to use your machine.
See below for a coupon for this class.
Happy creating!
P.S. You might want to look at Another Perfect T-Shirt.
It’s time for my Craftsy class review again.
This month, I’m reviewing Sew Better, Sew Faster: Garment Industry Secrets with Janet Pray.
Marsha and Naomi couldn’t join me for this review. Unfortunately, I don’t know when they’ll be able to join me again right now. We’re all still good together, just all busy working on different projects.
Basic Information on the Class.
Janet’s class has quite a few reviews compared to the last class I reviewed. This one has 170 reviewers, and only a couple didn’t completely love the class and give it Five-stars. It has a 4.8 rating. That’s still really good. That’s a lot of love.
Here’s the Lesson outline.
My First Thoughts.
I’ve watched through the class. I bought the class in mid-December and it’s now mid-February and I only received the pattern two day ago. I contacted Janet’s company, Islander Sewing Systems and they sent a second pattern. Unfortunately, as a reviewer, I can only share my thoughts after watching. I can’t give an opinion on the pattern or pattern instructions because there just wasn’t time to even begin a project.
No Pins.
Janet emphasizes that no pins are used in making the class project. I know she’s not alone in her no-pins philosophy. However, I had a neck/arm injury years ago and although I’ve recovered quite a bit, I’m not where I was before the injury. No pins and using my hands more isn’t a selling point for me.
I did try the no-pins a little though. I tried it on the Raspberry Ripple handbag I was sewing. Yup. I tried it. Then I ripped the seam out again because I only caught part of the fabric underneath. Then I pinned it the second time. So, if you have any reasons of your own why you need to use pins, then follow your own wisdom.
I will say though, after watching how Janet does her no-pins on a long straight stretch of fabric, if you don’t have any hand/arm issues, try it! It does look simple, easy and very efficient.
Helpful Class Features
Something I’m finding very helpful in Janet’s class is after explaining each part of the jacket construction, she shows you exactly which pieces you’re working on.
Here’s a screen shot from the class showing the pattern pieces that were pressed at this stage of construction.
That is such a helpful part of the class. I haven’t seen this done in any other classes.
Panties
This class is all about techniques used while constructing a jacket. I’m sure you’re all wondering how panties fit in with this.
Well, when Janet is showing us how she does the inside shoulders on the jacket, I’m thinking panty construction. She gets things twisted around so the seam is enclosed once it’s sewn. It’s the same as when we’re using the burrito method for our panties. Just take a look at how twisted the material is for sewing this seam. I love it! I definitely want a few pins though.
This sewing method also produces a great finish that is just as neat as the burrito method is on panties.
More Burritos
Imagine my surprise when just a little later in the class, Janet is demonstrating The Burrito Technique! She tells us ‘we will know it’s a burrito because of the filling. If we don’t have any filling, it’s just a tortilla.’ It makes more sense when you see it, but it is another great technique to make a really nicely finished garment.
Here’s the photo showing everything all nicely encased in the cuff using The Burrito Technique.
Personal Recommendation
So, do I recommend this class? Even though I wasn’t able to sew along and make the jacket, I do recommend this class. I think Janet really knows her stuff and I learned a lot of great tips and tricks watching her class. Some of them I will incorporate, and some of them I will not. I’m mainly thinking of the no-pins.
Other than that one point where I have personal reasons for not following Janet’s tips, all of her tips were great! The jacket she makes is lovely too.
Happy creating!
It’s time for my monthly Craftsy class review. If you missed our first review of Design & Sew an A-Line Skirt, you can read it here.
Marsha and I agreed, with Christmas, holidays, and the New Year being such a busy season, we’d be a little easier on ourselves and review a cooking class this month.
A friend of mine had this class before I did and I heard so many great things about it from her, I had to buy it too. I was not disappointed. (Thanks, Naomi!)
What is this great class? It’s Vietnamese Classics: Pho, Noodles & Beyond with Andrea Nguyen.
Great reviews.
This class has 35 reviews, which isn’t a lot, but… of those 35 reviews, only one review wasn’t a Five-Star review. That one was a Four-star.
There are so many reviews that say ‘Love this class’. I love it too. If you read my last review, I had a little trouble with my feelings towards the class. I have no trouble at all with this class! I not only bought this class, but also Andrea’s Favorite Asian Dumplings from Scratch. I didn’t even think about it.
A personal comment.
Just a personal comment here. Andrea really has to be great because I can’t have gluten and I bought her dumpling class! I will share more on that when I review the class.
Class content.
There are a number of lessons in this class I was thrilled to try, starting with lesson One. I love Rice Paper Rolls, and Andrea shows how to make them, and make them so they present well too.
Aren’t these lovely? This is a screen shot from the class. Mine didn’t look that nice, but no one here was complaining about them. They were delicious!
Andrea shows us how to make these, with tips on displaying the shrimp and making the rolls look pretty and delicious. It’s little touches like this, that make this class great. As well, Andrea is so engaging.
Pho, Pho, and more Pho.
From the Rice Paper Rolls, Andrea takes us right into making Pho. In fact, she shows us Pho four ways. We start with a shortcut Chicken Pho, which I haven’t tried yet, but have heard it’s really good. Then right on to full traditional Chicken Pho, Beef Pho, and Grilled Pork Rice Noodle bowl.
Last month in our teaser posts, Marsha and I each made one of the Pho recipes. You can read Marsha’s recipe review here. You can read mine here.
For my recipe review, I made rice paper rolls and traditional Beef Pho. All I can say is my house smelled so good! And there were no leftovers. My family was delighted with the recipes I tried.
Recommendations
So, would I recommend this class? Yes! I have no hesitation in recommending this class. It’s really great. From the lessons, to the recipes, to how engaging Andrea is, in my opinion this class is one of the best classes Craftsy has to offer and I’d love to see more classes with Andrea!
For a frame of reference, I previewed almost every cooking class Craftsy offered in October 2015 when they had a monthly pass. There are a lot of good cooking classes, and really good recipes, but I can’t say all the instructors are as engaging as Andrea.
I’m going to head over to Marsha’s post now to read her review. Let me know if you have this class and have a favorite recipe too. Of if you don’t have this class, what is your favorite cooking class on Craftsy?
Happy creating!
I don’t make many resolutions, but as I began my sewing year this year with messes all around me, I made one. I’ve decided that this year I’m going to finish a lot of the unfinished projects that are all around me.
Let me give you a few examples of what I’m going to work on.
Footstool
Our footstool is often used and looked like it. The top had split along all four seams, and my wonderful hubby suggests I make a new cover for it.
I got as far as cutting the old top off.
Then after another month or more, I tried some material on it to see how it would look.
I even cut out material to make a band all around it. All I have to do is sew it. Yet it sits there, with half my pins in it.
It’s been sitting there for two or more months just waiting for me. Part of the problem for that is I’m not 100% sure just how I want to finish it. The other part of the problem is I want fresh and new projects all the time.
Purses
Do you remember when I’d met a sewing friend a year or so ago? She had made her own handbag, and I complimented her on it. She also gave me three handbags that she’d cut out and interfaced! All I have to do is sew them! But I haven’t yet.
They’re all cut out! And interfaced!
That is one of my UFO projects I’m going to do this year. In fact, I’m not packing them all back up and putting them all away again. I’m keeping one of them out to sew up.
Pants
More specifically, hemming pants. I have a favorite pair of pants that I love, but hate to wear because they’re too long. Every time I put them on, I thinking I’m ruining them because they need hemming. Pretty much weekly, they make it to my mending pile, only to be taken back out again.
We won’t even bother going into mending…
Enough!
Craftsy Classes
I love Craftsy, and unfortunately I have a lot of classes I haven’t watched yet. I’m changing that. Once a month, I’m going to review a Craftsy class. Since I’ll have to watch them to review them… You get my logic here. I win, and hopefully, you win too with the reviews. I’ll say here, although I am an affiliate with Craftsy, any class I review will be my honest opinion.
Let me go back to those favorite pants for a minute. And while I’m there address something else – my CoverPro machine. One of the reasons I hadn’t hemmed my pants was because I have this wonderful CoverPro machine and I wanted to use it to hem the pants. But… I didn’t know how to use it!
So I bought a Craftsy class on that. Coverstitch: Basics & Beyond. I’ve watched it, and hopefully, with my new resolve to finish some UFOs, I’ll use the class info and my machine to hem my favorite pants. I think there’s another pair of pants and a skirt in that hemming pile too. Yup, it’s time to get around to this.
So, I’m trying to plan out my sewing and blogging for the year. My goals so far are to do a class review once a month. I was thinking if I also do one UFO each month, that leaves me two weeks to play with new things, which are much more motivating for me.
So, we’re into our second week of January. Did I start? I did! I repaired a blouse I’d bought. It’s a stretch knit, with chiffon below the hem. As pretty as it looked, the chiffon had no stretch but the rest of the top did. Here’s the photo from the website. There’s a link in it too.
Well, because it didn’t stretch at all at the hips, it wasn’t fitting very well. I opened those seams and did an overlock stitch along them. There! The first of my mending pile/UFOs done. The chiffon is now vented giving me that little bit of extra room where I needed it.
Do you have a UFO pile? How about your Craftsy classes? Are you getting through them? Did you make any sewing resolutions this year? I’d love to hear!
Happy creating!
I made some panties to go with my new bra. I used my self-drafted panty pattern from Beverly Johnson’s Sewing Panties: Construction & Fit class.
I have to say, the only thing I like better than making my own panties, and making matching panties, is making them from a pattern I drafted myself. That is the best panty-making experience. Ever.
These are indigo cotton Lycra from Bra-Makers Supply and navy stretch lace trim from Frog Feathers on Etsy. I had hoped to use the same lace I used on for the bra for the whole front panel of the panties, but this lace isn’t a stretch lace. No stretch, no front lace panel. So, I’ll save my lace for future bras and just use little bits of the left over lace to embellish my panties. Like this partial rosette on the hip shown below.
Here is my set together:
I’m really happy with this. The navy may become my new ‘black’, or at least they will until I make myself a new black set.
Do you remember I mentioned a nasty little sharp spot on the hooks and eyes? Linda Crawford, a profession bra-maker in Ontario, Canada (Linda was part of our Canada Cups tour) shared this tidbit with me on how to fix that problem:
“What I do to help with those sharp edges on the hook and eye is I put a piece of cut and sew foam under the eyes, and tiny zigzag all round the edges, then trim it so there is 1/8″ – 1/4″ left. It helps stop that scratch and it is comfy too!”
Thanks, Linda! That’s a great idea.
Back to my panties. These panties are very similar to an old favorite of mine – a pair of La Vie En Rose panties that were discontinued. I loved those. They are also similar to another favorite. Kwik Sew 2286.
After I drafted my panty pattern, I started looking for more panty-making resources. One can’t have too many resources! It wasn’t long after I took Beverly’s class that Margreet, the owner of Merckwaerdigh on Etsy, brought out her own Mini Panty course to design your own panties. One of the things I love in this mini course is how Margreet shows the original master pattern in her sketches and then the altered one. I really like seeing both images together. It’s helps me understand the changes. A comment I recently read on one of the bra-making forums on Facebook had this to say about Margreet’s designs: “The brains behind Merckwaerdigh has a talent for making the female form look exceptional.” I agree!
Here’s a video glimpse into her course from the Merckwaerdigh Facebook page (used with permission):
It’s a great mini course, and Margreet’s designs really are lovely!
As much as I wanted to make a second pair of panties to go with my new bra, I’ve had to work on some sewing for gifts. That second pair will have to wait.
Happy creating!