More on that balance thing

Ta-da!

So lately I have been sewing some simple things for myself to have something to wear in cooler weather. Simple sewing is good not only for filling small annoying gaps in my wardrobe, but also for pondering some complex sewing matters ( because simple sewing does not engage my brain ).

This time my thoughts were with the balance. How many garments – I thought – can fit so much better if this simple thing is observed from the start. Maybe, half of all people doing flat seat adjustments don’t actually have flat seats? All the ladies complaining about their skirts riding up to their armpits are blaming the lack of waistline, when the problem is in the balance. Why is such a fundamental issue not getting the attention it deserves?

So I decided to write another post on the subject of balance.

Let’s figure out our balance, shall we?

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All about body measurements

Have you ever made a garment that didn’t fit?

What was it – the back was too tight, the shoulder was too long, not enough room at the bust, too much at the waist, or all of the above?

All this time and resources wasted cutting and sewing a muslin that was flawed from the start. Multiple fittings follow to fix all the fit flaws, until you get fed up and eventually give up. Sewing for other people is simply out of question, you are not confident enough in your sewing skills.

How do the professionals do it? How do they manage to see the client 1-2 times and produce a beautifully fitting jacket or trousers in such a short time??

I can tell you how. I have sewn numerous garments for myself and clients with minimum fittings. I even sew clothes for a client in another country, with no fittings at all!
I didn’t learn this overnight, of course. Like you, I had a long time struggle with ill-fitting, unwearable clothes. I, too, have a dozen or so books on measurement taking – each of them has different approach, in some way incomplete and often leaves me with more questions than answers.
The frustration pushed me to study and compare all these approaches and develop one set of measurements that works for me every time.

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I have been sewing for over a decade and made more custom clothes than I can recall.
Only thorough understanding of the measurements gave me confidence to start sewing for other people.
Without a doubt, getting this fundamental skill right will result in:

  • Better patterns
  • Beautifully fitting garments with less effort
  • Less disappointments and UFOs ( unfinished objects )
  • Boosting your confidence as a dressmaker
  • More time to explore the creative side of dressmaking
  • Better understanding of your figure will allow to choose patterns that suit you best
  • Less money wasted on styles that are plain wrong for your figure

Let me introduce you my “All about measurements” eBook.
It is not a 200 page book with wide margins and generous white spaces. This eBook has 20 pages packed full of information on the fundamental skill you can’t afford not to have.

This is what you are going to learn:

Lesson 1 Anthropometric points and their location – main points on any body ( women, men or children ) that determine the position of your measuring tape. I have included photos in this lesson, not drawings, to make the position of the points as clear as possible.

Lesson 2 Taking Measurements. 41 measurement named and described in a table. Including 4 measurements of the Bust, the right way to measure your waist, full hip measurement ( that includes your tummy ), shoulder slope and width measurements, balance measurements and more.

Lesson 3 includes 11 formulas you have likely never heard about. Formulas that allow you to check your measurements and calculate most difficult ones. It features :

  • Armscye width and depth calculation – using Bust or Arm measurement
  • Bust dart calculation – find out immediately if your pattern’s dart is too large or too small
  • How to calculate body balance – for non-standard figures
  • Back and Chest width calculation

and more.

This eBook also includes free body measurements table to make sure you never forget to take an important measurement ever again. Just print out as many copies as you wish and have one handy every time you start a new project.

You can get this e-Book with 20% off until 15 of April 2012, after which it will return to it’s original price of $9.95

Discount code name is Promo

Download your copy today!
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P.S. Remember, you can get this book for $7.96 only while offer is valid untill 15 of April 2012, so make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity

My soft spot for clean simple lines

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A Walk in the Park by Sven-Anton Svensson

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Essential sewing

I am still in a process of evaluation of my wardrobe, many gaps have been found and are currently being filled.
I want one of those super wardrobes where every single items works with others, all accessories are just right and there is nothing to wear but pure fabulousness. Fortunately I am in a position where I can achieve that.

Being a mother to a toddler also dictates certain very important wardrobe rules:

  • all clothes must be as comfortable as  possible while still being au courant ( no builder’s cracks or muffin tops please )
  • all clothes must be machine washable
  • all clothes must work for as many occasions as possible

With all those in mind I made two items that seemed to have integrated with others seamlessly.

First one is a striped sweater. The fabric is merino knit, a bit itchy, but I love the colours and feel of it.

The second one is cheater’s skinny jeans. Why cheater’s do you ask? Because they are skinny in all the right places but still allow normal blood circulation around the hips. I have raised them to my natural waist line at the back and lowered in front so I don’t feel like I am wearing grandpa’s pants. I can sit without getting a wicked wedgie, showing my crack to the world and I don’t have Monobutt either.

Severe case of Monobutt

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Bella Swan’s wedding gown

Do you think Bella’s gown ( yes, “Twilight” ) is going to be the next big thing since Pippa’s dress?

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And here is the video showing the process of making this dress designed by Carolina Herrera (and some nice close-up shots )

 

Your thoughts?