Carla Fredd

Contemporary Romance Author

Sewing

What I’ve been up to…

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Hi There,

I know it’s been a while but I have been knitting and sewing.

On the knitting front…

I finished Jessica’s scarf

Jessica's Scarf
Jessica

I finished fetching

My Fetching
My Fetching

I also finished my first sock.  This is a sample sock so it will not have a mate to it.  Like I said…it’s a sample.  I will cast on using my brown/black/grey Sockotta yarn tonight.

My first sock
My first sock

On the sewing front…

I made a muslin of Kwik Sew 2740 view B.  Sorry, no pictures 🙂  I have to make a few changes.  First, the shoulder length needs to be shortened by 1/2 inch and I added waaaayyy too much length on the sleeves.  They need to be shortened too.  This is a very easy pattern and I think It’s going to be a TNT for me.

Well that’s it for now.  I hope to get a lot of sewing done during the Christmas break.

What’s a clapper

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Judy asked “What’s a clapper?”

Threads posted a great article titled Five Must-Have Sewing Tools.  Point presser/clapper  is number five on the list.  The article explains how to use it and provides pictures.  I wish I’d know about this tool years ago.

This tool call also be called a tailor’s clapper (read the last to paragraphs), combination clapper and point turner (scroll down to find the reference).

Here’s a good picture from sews.com where you can order your own clapper.   Nancy’s Notions sales a tailor board & pad that I might get instead.

Carla

Revised Sewing Wish List (Again)

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A few months ago, I published my Revised Sewing Wish List. Well, it has changed.

I bought a serger a few months ago.

My first serger
My first serger

It’s a Singer Merrittlock 14U Model 14U46B. I like it. It was relatively inexpensive because I bought it used from a local sewing machine store. I’m still learning the ins and outs of it but I like it. After hearing so many people complain about threading their serger, I was a little apprehensive. Threading my serger isn’t bad at all.

With my new/used serger, here’s my revised (again) wish list.

Here’s my list of sewing items to buy

  1. Rotary cutter mat (big one to go on cutting table)
  2. Pattern weights of some kind
  3. Dress form
  4. Sewing table
  5. Clapper

Progress

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Hello there,

I know it seems like I haven’t been sewing but I have.  I just haven’t made anything that I could wear in publc.  Right now I’m working on Vogue V7903 View C.  I’ve make countless muslins of this pattern. My issues are: 1- learning how to do a FBA 2) sleeve fitting.

My journey to knowledge – Full Bust Adjustments – FBA

I have the book Fit for Real People and I tried to follow the instructions but it didn’t work for me.  The whole tissue fitting by myself made me really want a custom dressform.   I’ve read all the information on Patternreview and still I couldn’t figure out FBA.  I think sometimes you have to just keep trying until it all comes together.  I think I finally got it when I checked out Every Sewer’s Guide to the Perfect Fit by Mary Morris and Sally McCann.  i’ve tried their method and traced the front of the pattern.  I haven’t made a muslin yet but I will. Stay tuned for the results.

The other problem I have is with the sleeves.  They are fine when my arms are at my side but when a raise them a little, the sleeves are tight.  I’ll have to find out what that’s all about next.

I haven’t made another skirt but that’s next after the blouse.

My sewing goals are:

1. Master the FBA

2. Figure out what’s going on with my sleeves.

3. Make a skirt based on drafted pattern.

4.  Make two blouses with V7903 that fit well.

That’s it for now.

My new machine

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My sewing teacher, Deanne Smith, has sung the praises of her Bernina sewing machine. At first, I didn’t really pay attention to her because I had a good machine. Then, I went to the Bernina dealer and test drove the Bernina 1008. That machine is SWEET! It’s like driving a fully loaded Caddy after years of driving a Pinto. I must admit had had SEWING MACHINE ENVY. At the next sewing class, Deanne mention that Ashby Sewing Machine Company had an older model Bernina. Well…I went to the store and tried the machine. It wasn’t the 1008 but it was close. I traded in my old machine and got this.

Front of the Bernina 1000 special
Front of the Bernina 1000 special
Rear view of Bernina 1000 Special
Rear view of Bernina 1000 Special

It came with several presser feet (0, 3,4,5, 37, walking foot)

Some of the accessories that came with the machine
Some of the accessories that came with the machine

I really like it. It sews great. It even sews well using a twin needle on knit fabric something my old machine had problems with. I’m a happy girl. Now, if I could just understand why my sleeves don’t fit in the blouse I’m making.

Finally a skirt that fits…

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I’ve been having fitting issues. Nothing I’ve sewn so far has fit. I’m now taking a beginning sewing class and I’m learning a lot. But back to fitting issues. I got tired of it so I pulled out my Jones of New York red skirt that fits me very well. Measured it and looked at the measure measurements of New Look 6395. They were almost an exact match. My red skirt is very different from the New Look. New Look skirt is cut on a bias so it kind of floaty. The fabric of my red skirt is cut on the grain. This weekend I made the muslin and it fit!

This wasn’t a slam dunk. I had really hard time with that darn zipper. I must have taken it out at least seven times and I’m not joking. The instructions for the lap zipper are awful!!!! I finally end up searching Youtube. and found this video. It’s great and after watching it several times, I inserted my zipper.

I’m not posting a picture of the muslin. I hope to make a skirt this week. A skirt that I can actually wear.