Innehållsförteckning för No. 25-6 från Australian Stitches

We mentioned change in our last editor’s letter, and a lot has changed in the last few weeks at Australian Stitches magazine - there will be more to come in coming issues too! We have some old faces returning to the team and others such as Eddi and Judith ramping up their involvement in the magazine. This issue, we take a journey in time with fashion and make some creative changes to a beaufiful pattern by Simplicity. There’s a great feature on altering the waist of your jeans and an amazing book cover for you to make. We have plenty of fashion ideas and sewing tips for you to enjoy this issue. Make sure you take a peep at our new product and fabric sections of the magazine. We welcome…

You know the one; the problem that is so big in your head that it takes over your whole sewing life and you avoid many a sewing journey because you dread the tension that comes with fitting a new garment. Why are you continuing to put yourself through the stress of fitting each and every pattern you buy? Somewhere in your stash you will have a BASIC SHIFT PATTERN that, with a little bit of tweaking, will fit you perfectly. Making something new is exciting but usually fraught with anxiety because there is always that fitting problem that pops up. You know the one; the problem that is so big in your head that it takes over your whole sewing life and you avoid many a sewing journey because you…

Coats used to be sensible, solid, functional things that were designed primarily to keep out the cold, but they offer so much more fashion bang for the buck these days. One of the fastest and easiest ways to inject some modern style into your outerwear is with SHAPE. We’ve noted that the general fashion silhouette is definitely easing up, and that means a new generosity, swagger and scale in coats to wrap yourself up in. The wonderfully relaxed design by New Look on this page signifies everything we’re talking about, with its subtle ‘cocoon’ shape, dramatically draped collar, dropped shoulder seams and voluminous sleeves. It is just the thing to throw over that knit top and leggings or jeans to instantly dress them up when you’re heading out … Colour…

DENIM DREAMS Try out a new style with these lightweight printed denim fabrics. Suitable for tops, skirts, dresses, pants and more! Available from Emerald Fabric Boutique. RRP from $18.60/m to $30.80/m Emerald Fabric Boutique Website: www.emfab.com.au Address: Shop 3/107 Clermont Street, Emerald QLD 4720 AFRICAN COTTON These stunning waxed African Cotton fabrics have beautiful earthy colours and patterns. Available from Astratex. RRP $38.00/m Astratex Website: www.astratex.com.au Address: 273 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121 Phone: (03) 9427 9877 LOVELY LINING A beautiful collection of patterned and printed viscose lining. These fabrics will add that extra something to your next sewing project. Available from Astratex. RRP $16.00/m Astratex Website: www.astratex.com.au Address: 273 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121 Phone: (03) 9427 9877 NOVELTY PRINTS These bright and fun patterned fabrics available from Fabric…

Is there an easy way to get a commercial pattern to fit your unique shape? You choose the latest style in a commercial pattern. You read the back of the pattern envelope and choose the size that seems to be most appropriate for your body. You then you sew it up with great anticipation, only not to have it fit in the end. How disappointing! Enter the personal sloper! With the Sure-Fit Designs™ fitting system, we prefer to call this your body blueprint because that’s what it does…it blueprints your unique shape and size. The industry refers to this as a sloper or a basic block, which can be a bodice, skirt or pants block. Whatever the name, it performs the same role. Your body blueprint is drawn to your…

Originally Simplicity ‘Designer’s pattern’ no. 8364 from 1950, this re-issued shirtmaker dress is flattering on numerous body types due to its ‘fit and flare’ style. A centre back seam on the skirt also allows you to control its fullness. We decided to go with View B which is the sleeveless version of this pattern, seen at right … however you could have fun with the detachable contrast collar and cuffs on View A, by sewing them up in a contrasting print or colour as opposed to the classic white. The three-quarter length sleeve of that style is also quite fashionable again and needs no alteration in length. The great thing about these vintage re-issues is that they are printed on more substantial paper than the very fragile tissue of…

We have been offering our customers beautiful fashion and patchwork fabrics for nearly 14 years. We supply a huge range of fabrics which covers your basic needs right through to high end fashion. Our range includes natural cottons, linens and denims suitable for our climate and heaps of knit fabrics in printed and plains. Our bridal selection includes laces, sheers and a variety of heavy satins. Great evening fabrics too. Instore we have dressmaking patterns from McCall’s through to Simplicity and the rest. Our fabric prices range from economical for the beginner sewer through to our advanced sewers who want something special. We have a machine technician instore, as well as Elna sewing machines and overlockers. Our friendly staff Gitana, Fran, Christine, Evelyn and owners Shayne and Jenita welcome you…

20’s Fashion time travels through the decades of the 20th century to inspire the latest looks of our time… and of the season! The popularity of vintage or ‘retro’ style patterns has exploded in recent years … And while the latest shown here are styled in all their retro glory, there are some elements from each decade that you can adapt to any modern look. Freed of restricting corsets and fussy frippery, the 1920’s roared in greyhound-sleek silhouettes, resplendent in slithery fabrics and graphic Art Deco patterns. The 21st Century takeaways: • Sleek, angular tunic shapes, in blouses, jackets and coats. • Asymmetrical wrapping and draping. • Rich jewel tones and dark prints. • Luxe touches of fur trim and jewelled fastenings add more opulence. 30’s Even though there was…

It can be quite frustrating not being able to find the right colour, size, choice of fabric or styles that flatter your skin colour or body shape. Or even worse, finding the right style, colour, fabric and size but doesn’t accommodate your bust size! • Do you have a unique vision? • Are you drawn to designs that are different? • Do you love exploiting the diversity of fabrics, bringing to life creations bursting with imagination? Well then, let your creativity and perception of fashion take the lead! Our courses provide the foundation for your creative vision and desire for authenticity. They allow you to re-interpret and experiment with fashion. We have now launched our very own template – the result of years of patient research enabling us to address…

Materials • A digital camera or smart phone with camera. (Photo 1)• A photo editing program such as Photo Gallery that installs free as part of Windows Live Essentials or iPhoto that ships free with the Mac OS. (Photo 2)• A graphics drawing and editing program such as Paint that ships free with Windows or Paintbrush, a free downloadable program for the Mac OS. (Photo 3) Read all instructions before beginning! We often need photos for posting to a business website or for selling items on EBay, Craftster, or Etsy. Digital photos can also be used for tracing sewing patterns into CAD programs quickly and accurately and for evaluating the fit of garments. But, few of us are professional photographers. Not to worry though - the best thing about photos from your digital…

#1: Mixed Prints We live in an age of instant gratification, where almost anything is available at the click of a button … With that attitude in mind, why wait for spring to freshen up your wardrobe? Here are four of the hottest transeasonal looks to sew and wear right now … and later! Prints have been a big thing in fashion for quite a while now, but the freshest way to wear them now (and next season) is to mix them! It’s not as scary as you think, as there is an easy, never-fail equation to use when it comes to mixing prints:- Stick to the same or similar shades in those patterns, but vary the scale of them. A monochromatic palette, such as the black and white looks…

‘A Sense Of Timeless Style With A Modern Sensibility…’ Add another hot Australian designer name to the illustrious list of internationally renowned talents who have created distinguished collections for Vogue Patterns! While she still considers herself, ‘definitely a Sydney girl at heart’ with a bustling flagship boutique in the Sydney suburb of Mosman and a strong presence in the department store David Jones, her six year old label was first based in the UK and launched in Paris, where it achieved instant acclaim overseas, immediately securing accounts with the venerable UK retailers Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Having shown at New York Fashion Week for the past few years, where the label was picked up by such influential e-tailers as net-a-porter.com, the label is definitely now becoming one of Australia’s…

TOP During the pattern grading process a garment pattern will increase in width and length, which means that the shoulder width increases as well (a 1/4in each size). This isn’t such a problem if you are making a top for yourself, particularly if working with a multi-sized pattern, because you can adjust the shoulder width accordingly. If you have purchased a top, this may mean a lot of alterations to get the shoulders fitting correctly. The types of alterations that would be required are: • Raising the sleeve to the correct shoulder position • Shortening the sleeve length • Shortening the hem length. PINNING Shoulder Lift the sleeve so the seam is sitting at the correct position at the end of the shoulder and pin in place. Starting at the…

An exceptional and sought-after teacher, Susan established The Couture Sewing School in 1993 and regularly conducts classes across the USA. At the beginning of this year, the Australian Sewing Guild was pleased to collaborate with Susan to bring her on tour in Australia. Susan held a series of workshops in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Participants had the opportunity to construct a garment of their choice using couture techniques, create a classic French jacket, a guipure lace skirt or simply spend 2 days creating samples of various couture techniques. Attention to detail is the key to success in constructing garments of excellence and it starts with laying out your pattern. (Photo 1 and Photo 2.) Matching of stripes and checks, placement of design and balance of colour must be considered, and…

Capes will not mess up a nicely pressed blouse and they are much simpler to just slide into than a coat or jacket. Let’s put functionality to one side though and talk fashion. A cape can transform an outfit, elevating it from casual to chic in a flash. Jeans, dress trousers and even skirts can all be teamed well with the right cape. So before hunting around for a winter coat, why not consider adding a gorgeous cape to your wardrobe? Which cape is right for me? A cape is such a versatile addition to your wardrobe; perfect for layering and great for warmth. In the heart of winter a cape will often be layered with some cosy knitwear. For warmer, trans-seasonal months a cape can be layered with a…

 We extolled the virtues of THE JUMPSUIT for evening last season… and its evolution continues, especially with more interesting colours and fabrics than the standard black jersey or crepe. Why not go for rich coppers and russet browns? The spectrum of browns - from camel to copper to chocolate - will definitely be the colours to covet next year, and never look fresher than they do at night, as we see in the delicious number from Butterick on the facing page, (note the soft rolled collar, raised waist and wider, softer leg… all signals of what’s to come!) Both sides of the silk charmeuse on this jumpsuit were used for subtle contrast - the shiny side for the collar and midriff, and the matte side for the pants. A silk…

Hand Measuring Aid Practical tailor aid for measuring with a stitch counter. This neat little product is ideal for laying hems and folds. Made from a flexible and washable plastic – every sewer needs one in their tool box. For more information and stockists, visit www.guetermann.com SEWING THREAD NOTEBOOK Appealing storage notebook with 42 reels of Sew-all Thread 100 m. For thread storage or as an appealing gift idea. Contains 42 shades of Gutterman polyester sew all thread on 100m reels. Stored in an attractive, compact, innovative hardbacked wallet. For more information and stockists, visit www.guetermann.com NS35 COMPUTERISED SEWING MACHINE If handmade craft and sewing is your hobby, you want an easy to use, reliable machine with features to suit your sewing style - the NS35 offers fantastic…

Connie was a professional patternmaker and designer in the “ready to wear” industry. She gained a great deal of experience and then taught fashion design and pattern making in one of the largest fashion colleges in the USA – The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). Connie has also written three textbooks, which are used at FIDM and many other design colleges around the world. In short, Connie knows pattern making and fit. After retiring from teaching, Connie turned her attention to the home sewing industry. She saw how poorly many dress patterns fit, so she set about developing a range of patterns that would actually fit women, without us having to make a whole bunch of alterations! I know that sounds implausible. I know we all have problems…

Materials • Notebook (I used a standard exercise book)• 2 x calico 45cm x 30cm• 1 x parlan 45cm x 30cm• 1 x Vliesofix 45cm x 30cm• 10 assorted fabric strips varying widths of 5- 10cm• 1 x contrast fat quarter for lining and flaps• Assorted Brother Embroidery and Metallic threads• Metal open toe foot (F060) Optional: • Brother USB 001 for Embroidery• 2 x Soluble Vilene 25cm x 30cm• Bobbin work bobbin case and 2mm metallic ribbon or heavy weight metallic thread• Open toe free motion foot (F061) Preparation: STEP ONE Fuse parlan to 1 piece of calico. STEP TWO Place second piece of calico under fused calico making a “sandwich”. STEP THREE Decide on your fabrics and sequence. I’ve used a batik jelly roll (Photo 1) but this is a great project to use up scraps. Use a variety of…

Stylish Sewing: 35 Patterns And Instructions For Clothes, Toys And Home Accessories By Laura Wilhelm Stylish Sewing is a great book for homemakers and crafters alike who are looking to be inspired by new designs. This book features 35 stylish and contemporary designs for home accessories, toys, totes and clothes. Each project takes up a 2-page spread, and includes a complete list of materials, a clear set of instructions, a photo of the finished project and a difficulty rating, as well as diagrams where needed. Because this book doesn’t just focus on one type of pattern, there is something for everyone in the family (including the boys!) to enjoy. In addition to the beautiful patterns, you will be provided with fresh ideas on how to mix and match colours and…