Regardless of the temperatures, it’s very much time for all of us to begin our regular “new season” sewing.  I’d like to recommend you check out our recently re-vamped PatternsThatFitYou site for dozens of great patterns.

Sewing for plus size children can be the hardest thing to do as there can rarely be anything found that will fit the overweight children.  PatternsThatFitYou has pattern making classes and regular packaged patterns for those hard to fit children.

If you’re looking for something for yourself, whether a regular size or full figure, PatternsThatFitYou has pattern classes designed just for you.  There are classes for slacks/shorts, blouses, dresses, sport bra and many others.

I’m so excited about getting my spring/summer wardrobe made and already have fabrics lined up for myself as well as for my grandchldren.

Let us know what YOUR sewing projects are!  Happy Sewing!

*  If you have a pattern piece that says “cut four”, it might be best to photocopy that piece or make one out of pattern paper, and transfer all the markings so that you’ll have 2 of them, and therefore won’t forget to cut 4 from the one piece.  (We’re creatures of habit you know – lay the pattern piece on the fabric and cut 2!)

* When using a pants pattern the first time, it is wise to make 1″ seam allowances rather than the usual 5/8″ — this will allow a little extra for fine-tuning the final fit of the pants.

*When using one of the “multi-view” patterns, it will be much easier to locate the individual pieces needed for a certain view if you will first re-fold the pattern pieces so that the “view” number or letter is facing out.

*To transfer an exact dot from a pattern to the fabric, make a small cross over the center of the dot.

*Since the bodice of most dress patterns is the most difficult to fit, it is wise to choose your dress pattern size according to the bust measurement and make the necessary adjustments to the skirt.

*If you extend the grainlines on your patterns all the way to the top and bottom of the pattern pieces, it will give you greater accuracy when you begin cutting.

* Raglan and dolman type sleeve styles flatter a small bust, as well as helping to minimize heavy arms and broad shoulders.

* To hide a tummy, keep the waistband loose on all slim skirts.  Keep the band 3/4″ to 1″ larger than your waist size.  (Try cinching in a waistband tight around your waist and see what it does to your tummy!)

If you have other pattern “tricks” to make cutting and sewing easier and quicker, we’d love to hear from you, so we can post those tips for our readers.

Awhile back we had a lot of our readers write to us to let us know how they were using our men / women pajama and nightshirt patterns and making jogging outfits and shorts outfits out of them, and now we’ve had another round of creative ideas using another of our patterns — the Sports Bra.

While we have considered the Sports Bra to be an undergarment to replace a regular bra for comfort and ease of wear,  dozens of you have written to us to let us know that you’re using that pattern as a great fitting top for a bathing suit, a top to wear under those oversized t-shirts, AND that they are being used just as a top.  Because the sports bra class is available in both regular sizes as well as plus sizes, you all are going to town making the various garments out of it.  Here are a couple of pictures of the sports bra so you can see what I’m talking about.
     

The question most of you are asking, is where you can get  spandex to make them.  I recommend  Fays Fabrics – she carries spandex in a variety of styles and colors, AND she even has value-packs of end rolls of spandex where you can get an even cheaper price.   I want to mention here that for those of you in a sewing business, you can buy lace, trims and the spandex from Fays Fabrics at such a good price you’ll be able to make a little extra profit on your sewing.

Keep on sending us your creative ideas and we’ll be happy to pass them along to our readers.

Most seamstresses shy away from sewing for men — it seems like men’s clothing garments would be harder to make and harder to fit than sewing for children or women.  But have you thought about doing some basic sewing for men, especially those who are big, tall and husky that can’t find anything to fit them.

You could start with pajamas or nightshirts that are designed to fit the big and tall men that are available at BigBeautifulPeople.com.  These outfits could then be re-made into elastic waist sport pants and shirts for those same big, tall and husky men.

                            

Each of the ready made patterns come in two size ranges – 1X – 6X and S-XL.  The patterns make up easily and quickly, and you could even make up a set of the short sleeve/short pants and nightshirt to put into your customer waiting area.  Make a set using obvious pajama/nightshirt fabric, and make a second set out of a sportswear type fabric, just to let your customers know that you can outfit those big husky men as well as your women and children customers.  Who knows, you might be getting into a whole new niche of sewing in your area, and bring in orders and customers that will be a pleasant surprise to you!

Nice looking stylish maternity patterns and maternity clothing are usually very hard to find – especially if you’re not an “average” size.   Petite maternity clothing or plus size maternity clothing are very difficult to match the size you really need.  Even if the size is available, how many different “styles” of maternity clothes are available.  Pregnant women usually have very little to choose from, and if you’d like to have “modest” styles, there is almost nothing available.

Changing  regular “store bought” patterns into maternity styles is exactly what it sounds like — take the normal patterns that you like to use, and have on hand and change them so they can be used as maternity patterns.  Our practice blouse begins with a simple top that has a back neck zipper closure.

This first pattern is using any back zipper closing top that you like to wear.  We’re going to add the yoke and fullness to make it into a maternity style.

1.  To determine where to begin the “yoke” portion, measure up 4.5 cm (1 3/4″) from the horizontal lower armhole line, as indicated above.  If your blouse pattern doesn’t have a horizontal lower armhole line, simply draw in your own line, then use that line as a guide to position the cutting line for the yoke.  Extend the new yoke line 7 cm (2 3/4″) out as shown on both the front and back bodice pieces (this will be the extra allowance for the gathers.

2.  At the lower front measure down 3 cm (1 1/4″) to allow for the tummy expansion, and draw in the new slightly curved line.

3.  At the lower armhole point measure out .5 cm (1/4″) to give the extra room needed in the armhole area.  (NOTE:  If you’re using a pattern that has sleeves, you’ll want to measure out the .5 cm (1/4″) on the lower sleeve edges as well, and re-draw the curve on the sleeve (if you neglect to do this, the sleeve won’t fit into the opening.)

4.  When finished drawing in the new “yoke” line and adjusting the armhole edges, etc, you are ready to cut the paper pattern pieces.  After cutting the yoke portion from the remainder of the front bodice, it is necessary to “remove” the dart.

5.  On the paper pattern draw a short vertical line from the bust point to the yoke.  Next cut the short vertical line to the bust point (this is done on the paper pattern, NOT on the fabric!).  Fold the original dart together.  As you fold the original dart, it will spread the “cut” line on the pattern and will get rid of the original dart, as well as make a little extra room for gathers.

6.  The back yoke is drawn and cut from the bottom part of the pattern in the same manner as the front.

7.  When you pin the pattern pieces to the fabric, be sure to leave enough room between yoke and lower bodice to draw in the new 5/8″ seam lines (shown here with dashed lines).

8.  When doing the sewing of the garment, of course you’ll be putting the front pattern piece and the yoke on a fold, and the back yoke and lower pattern piece will be along a selvage edge because of the zipper closure.

9.  Pin and sew the front and back lower bodice pieces to the respective yokes, gathering the lower bodice onto the yoke.  After this part is finished you can follow the pattern package sewing directions for the remainder of the of the blouse.

You can see how easy it is to change a store bought pattern into a maternity blouse.  Just a few simple changes to the patterns will give you a huge wardrobe of maternity clothes!  In addition, many of the maternity clothes can be changed back into regular clothing after the baby is born! Whether you’re looking for maternity dresses, maternity evening wear, maternity bridal gowns, maternity pants or whatever type of maternity clothes and maternity wear you’d like, this on line downloadable sewing class is all you need to get started on your sewing projects. There are two “converting store bought patterns into maternity styles”  classes available – one for the regular S-XL size ranges, and the Full Figure class for those who are 1X – 8X size ranges.

 MAT101 – Converting Store-Bought Patterns into Maternity Patterns – $14.95

MATF-101 – Converting Store-Bought Patterns into Full Figure Maternity Patterns – $14.95