Innehållsförteckning för No26-3 från Australian Stitches

The fashionable side of the fitness wear industry has taken flight. It’s a clothing category that has infiltrated almost every other area of our closets, with hoodies, yoga pants and the like now seen on the street as much as, if not more than, in a gym. But what’s out there seems to be tailor-made only for bodies that look like our super-fit model on these pages. What‘s the less-than-lithe to do? Charlott Kisvarda, director of Australian active lifestyle brand ‘Fit Image’, offers some handy tips and tricks on these four pages to use when sewing stylish workout wear that suits your OWN shape, because looking fabulous while getting fit should be for Every Body … PANTS Pants are the most important component of any activewear look, and they are…

As women age, they tend to put on an extra amount of weight around the middle section of the body, making it a difficult area to fit without increasing the armhole and bust area. Here we show you an alteration first brought to us by Sandra Beztina, which adds fullness without affecting the armhole. 1. To determine how much you need to expand the pattern, measure your body 7.5cm (3in) above and below your natural waistline. Use the larger measurement as your reference measurement. Add 10cm-15cm (4in-6in) of ease to this measurement. A drapey fabric, which is slightly more generous in the oversized area will be more flattering than a skimpy cut. See diagram 1. 2. Compare your full-bust measurement to the pattern size you are using. Measure the pattern…

Measuring the body Prepare the body! This means get your outer gear off and measuring key body parts while in your underwear. You now need to measure in inches across the width of your shoulders, waist and hipline (or thighs if wider than hips). Please note the term width – do not measure the circumference of these body parts. To simplify measuring the waist, tie a ribbon or twill tape at the exact location of this body part. See diagram 1 for further assistance with this concept. Notice that we started by measuring in inches – there is a reason for this. Once you have these three separate measurements in inches, divide each by 2.5. This will give you a smaller number that is in centimetres. These three smaller numbers…

JACKETS & VESTS 6251: Jacket and vest for men and women with zippered front and pockets. Women's jacket and vest feature princess seams for a tapered look. For activewear knits, double-faced fleece, double knit, fleece, sweatshirt fleece, terry knit, or velour. Misses’ sizes: 8 – 18, Unisex sizes: XS – XL. Similar pants for him & her: 6142. Also in Unisex sizes: XS – XL. New Look patterns at www.simplicity.com…

The first thing to do is to work out how much is required for the dress to fit and where the best position would be for the added panels. In this instance the neckline, armhole and sleeve were fine, the problem was the bust, waist and hip areas. Once the client’s measurements were taken, the mannequin was reconfigured to these amounts. Colour-blocking can be achieved by adding a panel down the centre front and back or at the sides. As the neckline, armholes and sleeves fitted, it made sense to create a princess-line panel front and back using a medium-weight two-way stretch black knit similar to the fashion fabric of the dress. To add the side panels, unpick the side seams and the entire hemline. On the sleeve seams, measure…

DROPPED WAISTLINE SEAM FALLS BETWEEN NATURAL WAISTLINE AND HIP FOR COMFORT AND EASE OF WEARING PRINCESS SEAMS FOLLOW THE CONTOURS OF THE BODY FOR A SMOOTH FIT Amazing Fit 1537: Misses' and Plus Size dress in three lengths and sleeve variations. Individual patterns included for slim, average and curvy fit and cup sizes B, C, D for miss and C, D, DD for plus. Misses'/Women’s sizes: 10 – 28W. GENTLY FLARED SKIRT FLATTERS HIPS AND THIGHS www.simplicity.com…

Wanting to offer customers value for money and something different to other stores in the region, prompted Maria Tresols, owner of The Fabric Shop in Queensland's Gold Coast, to start importing fabrics directly from Europe. The Fabric Shop's autumn/ winter range has reflected this change with customers delighted with the quality and price of the stock on offer. At a recent Fashion Parade held in the store, customers were treated to a viewing of dozens of garments made in the store's exclusive fabrics. Additionally, these were complemented by some locally sourced quality fabrics. The result was an exciting blend of the latest European trends with a local twist, resulting in quality fabrics delivering exciting beautiful garments. Garments were "modelled" by staff and customers, with the message clear: wearable fabrics made…

Think the early 1970s and Pucci and this style of print comes to mind – psychedelic was in! Now you, too, can have the same look but with a twist; these colours are a little bit more muted than the hottest pink on the planet (which was all the rage back then) and now much more wearable. But just in case you want something a bit more classic in toning then navy, black and cream might be more to your liking. And, as always, Knitwit fabrics go anywhere, never crease and are ‘dead-easy’ to sew. Get to it girls before it sells out! Note: At Stitches we can vouch for the non-crease fabrics because when Wendy sends us parcels of garments to photograph, they are crammed into postal bags so…

This series of articles focuses on various areas of garment construction, offering different methods to those detailed in the pattern guide sheet. The ability to personalise garments is a great benefit of being able to sew. Adding in-seam pockets can provide both functional and decorative elements to many garments. In-seam pockets can be incorporated in a new garment or added to an existing garment. When deciding to add an in-seam pocket, consider the most comfortable and useable placement position and the weight of the garment fabric. Pattern pieces provided for in-seam pockets in dresses or jackets, see photo 1, usually state ‘Cut 4’ from garment fabric. If the fabric is heavier, for example in a jacket or coat, it is good idea to cut two from the garment fabric and…

Just look at the newest interiors and the newest hues in makeup and you’ll see a common thread – a common metallic thread influencing women’s dressing, cosmetics and our homes. For the home – it may just be the added touch of a metallic cushion or a metallic thread through a sheer curtain. In the world of cosmetics it may be a metallic-shaded eyelid or blush! However, when it comes to fashion it’s all out Metallics. And all with a golden touch – from white gold, to yellow gold to rose gold to old gold and done via various techniques including metallic disc work, metallic thread and sequins combined with cobweb effects, through to woven metallic thread on a mesh base. Luxe fabrics for luxe wear! So, go all out,…

6975 Dress: Also with sleeves. Women's sizes: 34 – 46. 6983 Tunic dress: Knit with fur or panne velvet skirt. Women's sizes: 36 – 50. 7036 Obi belt: Five other belt styles in pattern. Women's sizes: 32 – 44. 6984 Blouse: Also in sleeveless version. Women's sizes: 34 – 46. 6989 Jacket: Two lengths. Also in vest version. Women's sizes: 34/36 to 54/56. Fashion is back in the black ... sharpened up in slick, graphic shapes, enriched with glossy textures or even energised with the occasional flash of white.…

1. Rainbow lace, 100% polyester, colour: Aqua, 150cm wide, $24.99m. 2. SSH1807, 100% silk, colour: Turquoise, 112cm wide, $39.99m. 3. Beaded Trim, colour: Turquoise, $7.99m. 4. SSTC 085 digital print, 100% polyester, colour: 03, 137cm wide, $49.99m. 5. Matka Heavy, 100% silk, colour: Jacaranda multi, 115cm wide, $79.99m. 6. Mauve flowers – Fox 41 (continuous: each flower approximately 10cm x 10cm), $21.99m. 7. Matka SSX119 chiffon, 100% polyester, colour: C, 145cm wide, $24.99m. 8. Ribbons: Ruban Mousseline, colour: 321 (Mauve), 38mm wide, $3m. Vandoros Misty 25TQ, colour: Turquoise, 25mm wide, $2m. And as always, Sckafs Fabrics will email you suggested pattern numbers plus a photo of any fabrics, trims, buttons and colour scheme on request. Now that’s service! Imagine having friendly expert advice on hand to help you decide on…

Sometimes we are contacted and asked if anyone would be interested in making some items, these can be very specific as in the case of vests for children who have autism. Dee Why Group was asked to make these and fill pockets with sand as the children like the comfort of feeling some weight on their shoulders but often cannot bear to be cuddled when they are upset. Hospitals are often in need of things which would just make life a little easier for patients. Guild members have made bags for holding drip liquids, much nicer than carrying around a plastic bag. When a baby does not survive, a small quilt can be an incredible comfort to the parents. Premature babies are often too small for the commercially available clothing…

BUFFI’S DRESS DESIGNS — Sew 30 Fun Styles By Buffi Jashanmal In this fun, easy-to-follow guide, Project Runway contestant Buffi Jashanmal shows you how to design and make your own custom-fitted dresses from start to finish. You’ll learn how to create custom patterns for three basic dress shapes – the shift, the sheath, and the princess seam – and how to make them rock by exploring nine variations for each basic shape. Buffi also shows you how to revamp second-hand and vintage dresses, for a total of 30 unique and stylish dress designs. Your dresses will fit your body, suit your taste, and express your individual style like nothing you can buy in a store! RRP: $24.99 ISBN: 978-1-61212-030-0 Publisher: Storey Publishing CREATIVE FASHION DESIGN with Illustrator By Kevin Tallon…

V8963 – JACKET, TOP, DRESS, SKIRT AND PANTS: Fitted, lined jacket has shoulder pads, princess seams, and two-piece sleeves. Bias, pullover top or dress (fitted through bust) has side back seams, and flutter sleeves. Semi-fitted skirt has back zip. Straight-legged pants have waistband and invisible side zip. Jacket, pants and skirt for tropical wool crepe or ponte knit. Jacket also for sweater knits or tweeds. Dress and top for crepe-back satin or crepe de chine. Misses’ sizes: 6 – 22. www.voguepatterns.com…

LIFESTYLE WARDROBE B5965: Lined princess-seamed jacket with front hook-and-eye closing, pullover top or dress, skirt with waistband and hemline slit, straight-legged pants with waistband, side pockets and mock-fly zipper. All are semi-fitted. Sew jacket, pants and skirt in gabardine, crepe, linen or tweed; Dress and top in crepe de chine, challis, faille. Misses’/Womens’ sizes: 8 – 24W.…

Pattern Butterick B5889 view D is one of the easiest patterns to construct and lends itself to such an interesting fabric as this one. It is loose, cool, easy-to-make and stunning when made up. The pattern is for a top and tunic that we have lengthened into a long kaftan length. TIP: As there are more top options in the pattern books, consider lengthening the pattern to make a dress. Kerryn’s other favourite top pattern that is suitable for turning into a dress is New Look 6213. Fabric Animal prints are always very popular and sell very well at Kerryn’s, but people either love them or hate them. Those who love them will generally have lots of different prints in their wardrobe. The fabric is printed polyester georgette, 150cm wide,…

Hi Lynn and Cate, I’ve been meaning to send you an email for a while, but hadn’t got around to it, so when I saw your plea in today’s magazine I thought I’d send you one! I just love your magazine and count down the weeks to when it arrives. I’ve been sewing for 50 years and thought I could sew fairly well but since subscribing to your magazine my techniques and skills have improved out of sight. You are both doing a great job. We’re moving house on Saturday, and my lovely well-stocked sewing room was the first room to be packed up two weeks ago. Well, on Friday I had withdrawals from not sewing for all that time, so I unpacked my machine and some material and made…