craf·te·ra·ti » sewing

On Sewing Costumes

Lorene — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:43:07 +0000

I have a lot of experience making costumes from making Halloween costumes to costumes for plays and musicals. The most important thing when making a costume is how it looks, not how its made.

So I’m not quite sure how my mom convinced me that I should line the dress I’m making for my halloween costume. I just cut it out last night. Hopefully I will get it sewn tonight.

Custom Printed Fabric at Spoonflower

Lorene — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:23:04 +0000

Lincy sent me a link to a new website yesterday called Spoonflower. You upload an image file and they custom print fabric for you. Pretty nifty! Right now it’s in beta so you need an invite, but I signed up last night and got one this morning so there doesn’t seem to be much of a wait.

It’s relatively pricey ($18/yd) but it’s bespoke fabric!

Simplicity’s Project Runway patterns

Lorene — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:53:54 +0000

I was looking at Simplicity’s website when I noticed a big banner for their Project Runway patterns. They say they are “inspired by Project Runway” but I fail to see the connection. There are 24 patterns (including a few for kids) and don’t see one that looks anything like the designs on PR. There are a couple of cute patterns, but for the most part it looks like your typical Simplicity stuff.

RIP Rag Shop

Lorene — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:20:06 +0000

When Rag Shop closed its doors recently I didn’t really lament the loss. I had long since become a AC Moore convert due to their better prices and selection. So I was sad to realize this weekend that when I needed a zipper for a dress I am making I would have to drive all the way to Ledgewood. That’s a good 30+ minutes. Our local Rag Shop was 5 minutes.

Then I realized I did have an alternative – albeit a choice I didn’t want to make. Yesterday I broke down and went to the Land of Evil (aka walmart) to buy my zipper. I hate Walmart. I guess they won this battle.

Where is my pedal?

Lorene — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:34:56 +0000

I needed to use my mom’s Huskylock serger last week for the skirt I’m working on. Then I discovered the foot controller was busted. I took it to the Viking dealer to be fixed. They didn’t have the part in stock so I’m waiting for it to come in so I can use the serger. Patience is not one of my virtues.

Open Source Sewing Patterns

Lorene — Sun, 20 May 2007 23:16:11 +0000

My friend wants to make a dress in a similar shape a Chanel dress that Sarah Michelle Gellar wore the 2007 Chanel Resort Line show. So we started searching for patterns and finally found a Burda pattern that will do the trick with some modification. Yay.

So while I was doing some searching I came across the website for Burda Style – http://www.sewopen.org It’s a sewing community started by Burda that offers up open source sewing patterns. They happen to offer the one we need too! And it seems like it’s a pretty cool community. I just joined and we’ll see how it goes. I’ve had the itch to start sewing lately. I also found out from their about me that their offices are in the same building as etsy.com. Interesting.
I just bought and cut some pink brocade to make a knock off Luella skirt. It should cost me $25 rather than $1500, and I only had to do some slight mods to a New Look pattern. Too bad my sewing machine is in NJ. A couple of more weeks and we’ll both be in the same state!