What was one of my highlights of the American Sewing Guild annual convention? Meeting Lori, of course!I was thrilled to meet fellow sewing blogger Lori in person at the ASG convention. I love everything she makes; in fact, I frequently beg her to just please make duplicate versions of her clothes for me, though in a bigger size 'cause Lori's much skinnier than I am. She wowed pattern designer Christine Jonson with her BWOF poet's blouse in white cotton, and I loved the BWOF top she has on in this photo.
Lori and I had a great time talking. We bonded over the fact that we were among the youngest attendees there, even at our advanced ages. (I'll go into that more in another post this week.)
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Interfacing: A number of you asked about alternatives to Pellon interfacing, which my instructors absolutely lambasted. Pellon keeps making icky, stiff interfacing because that is what the home sewing market has been conditioned to think it wants, according to industry expert Connie Crawford. Uh-uh. We don't want this stuff. Look at your better RTW: You won't find stiff interfacing.
In fact, it's often hard to tell where the interfacing is or if there is any interfacing at all in good RTW. Peggy Sagers says we use interfacing more than we need to; when in doubt she likes fusible knit interfacing. But there are times when our garments could use a little more body. Quality interfacing is very soft to the touch. In her class on interfacing, Connie Crawford gave us all samples of different interfacing and explained their usage. She recommends (and sells) four types of interfacing:
- Fusible tricot for knits
- Polyester fusible tricot for sheers, georgettes and very lightweight fabric
- Weft interfacing in a nylon/rayon blend for jackets and dress-weight fabrics
- All purpose polyester/nylon that works with almost any fabric and has a special glue designed for rayon and other hard-to-fuse fabrics
- Sew Exciting
- Peggy Sagers
- Connie Crawford
- Mood Fabrics in NYC
- Greenberg & Hammer
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Here I am with designer Christine Jonson. I bought the pattern I have in my hands, and Christine is holding up a new dress pattern of hers that will be out in about a month. Check it out, because I think this is a dress that's going to be very flattering on a lot of us, regardless of age and body type.
12 comments:
You made a comment in your last post about using a longer stitch. What was their reason for this, other than it's easier to rip out!
Nancy K, Peggy Sagers recommends the longer stitch length because it's faster to sew, easier to rip out, and because if you go with a smaller stitch your fabric will tear if your seams happen to come apart due to stress on them. If you use a longer stitch on your seams the thread will break (if stressed hard enough) and not your fabric. You want the thread to break and not the fabric. Make sense?
I got to hear Conni Crawford at a Martha Pullen Sewing Workshop a few years ago. (Actually, Peggy Sagers was there, too, but I missed her classes.) Conni was talking then about interfacing and selling what she recommends. I can't remember if she ran out of interfacing or I ran out of money, but I came away without any, anyway. Since then I've gone back to sewn-in interfacing and am much happier with it.
sounds like a great time!
You'll love that princess top - It's well drafted and a great addition to my wardrobe. I have plans to make several more.
Good info on the interfacing too.
I finally ditched (threw away, be still my mother's depression era beating heart if she reads this) some old cheap interfacings I had. I'm getting ready to order the sample set from Sew Exciting that Liana is so happy with.
I can tell you though, the Euro Hymo from Greenberg and Hammer is excellent and awesome stuff. I included that in the sample packs that went out to TGCSA members who requested it, and I was so impressed with the weight and quality that I ordered it for my own projects.
Ok. You just sold 10 yards of interfacing. Last night I was sewing and used at 3.5 inch too. And today I'm wearing a skirt with a nasty bubbled waistband from interfacing. No more cheap and nasty!
You certainly had a good time! Nice to hear the stories.
May I add a couple more suggestions about interfacing sources? www.palmerpletsch.com offers very nice stuff that I've ordered and reordered. Today, my new goodies from Pamela Erny at www.sewexciting.blogspot.com arrived, and this interfacing looks fantastic. Louise at www.fabriccollections.com also carries only the best quality. There's no reason to have to settle for the junk that chain stores try to push on us! And no, I'm not getting a penny from any of these sources...though I'm certainly open to an offer. ;-)
Lindsay, I just can't believe it that you ladies were among the youngest there! That almost seems like a sad commentary on the art of sewing these days. And that fact alone (of the ages) may contribute to the industry thinking we want the icky pellon. Because that's what so many sewers used in the past.
While there are some very forward thinking senior sewers (I personally know some at our local Sew and Vac), there are many more that shun the advances. That concerns me greatly. I worry that my friend's daughter (age 14) has been turned off from sewing because of this. I cringed when I learned what she was doing in her sewing class. It seems now her young daughter has set her sights on quilting, but I'm trying to turn her back to her original interest of garment sewing (nothing against quilting though).
And that CJ pattern you're holding...that's my first CJ pattern I bought :) . Well the only one actually--I still have to make something from it but I have the fabric in mind for it.
I am loving all this feedback on your trip. Seems like I am doing the interfacing thing correctly with my own choices, a fusible tricot, a weft insertion, and a cotton fusible. 2 out 3 aint' bad! Not sure I can justify the 3.5 stitch length from a time standpoint. We have got to talking seconds here, that is unless it is reverse sewing! I think if the fit is on and the fabric has been properly sewn, it shouldn't rip. Doesn't that mean it's too tight? I have no memory, long term or short, of ripping a seam and I use 2.0 and 2.5 nearly always. JMHO. Can't wait to hear the rest of your class and trip fun.
July 15, 2008 5:56 PM
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Hi Lindsey,
It sounds like you had a great time at the American Sewing Guild conference in Chicago and got to take a some great classes and to meet Lori. I also attended the ASG conference in Chicago and had a great time meeting everyone from presidents to memmbers. I also took a class from Peggy Sagers. There were sewer's from 14 - 80+ there. I was inspired by the fashion show on Friday night. I am the president of our chapter in Bend, OR and we won the small chapter of the year award. I am looking forward to the ASG conference next year in Albuquerque and hope to get a chance to meet you.
Laurie
sewaloha.wordpress.com
Because of the local unavailability of better interfacings, I generally only use sew-in rather than fusible. This also follows my penchant for sewing from vintage patterns.
What are good brands for non-fusible interfacings?
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