Which sewing machine would you recommend?

Somewhere in December last year my sewing machine was out of order. I was posting about the issues here and about back here

Husqvarna Viking Emerald 203

Sewing D2N tops I have already noticed issue … here

I thing that the broken below hook grip in my sewing machine was a result of something which is incorrect somewhere else.
I try to sew on it but probably I will be forced to buy a new sewing machine soon … very soon. No Husqvarna this time –I have to say I am very disappointed with this model.

What would you advice? Which sewing machine you use?

Red Point Tailor

Sweet surprises

After busy days of traveling for my work and then being sick it was difficult to pick up old schema. And these two summers days are not helping as well – I just want to enjoy of them. Who knows – there could be the last summer days in this year in NL.

Checking my blog I was surprised with two nominations:

MontanaDesigns and tailorfairy nominated my blog with Super Sweet Blogging Award!

How super sweet ! Thank you!

Lovely surprises

It is nice to come home and it is even nicer to find out that all ordered goodies were delivered.

From the American Duchess the shoes clips holders arrived. Isn’t this small bag cute?
Soon the new accessories will be available in my web shop – Red Point Tailor.

 

BVK evening workshop

One of the first sewing blogs I followed was THE SEWING DIVAS sewing, design, fashion. It was run by few bloggers and one of them was Els – member of Branchevereniging van Kleermakers & Modevakscholen – BVK (Dutch Association of Tailor and Fashion Design Schools) – “It is an organisation which focuses on the interests of clothing manufacturers, tailors and directors of fashion design schools. It also provides consumer information. Among its members the BvK has, self-employed, men and women’s [tailored] clothing manufacturers, couturiers, tailors employed by couturiers, designers and manufacturers of costumes for the stage as well as those who own a clothing repair shop and various other fashion studios. Members also include a large number of fashion design schools.“

I knew they organise all kind of interesting challenges, events and regional meetings where they share knowledge on tailoring.
I was often checking the agenda with these regional meetings as I was interested in joining such meeting. However very often it was at the same time when I had to leave for my work. This time I had luck! I contacted the regional coordinator  -Marijke and I was glad to hear I could join it even though I am not a member.

The topic of this meeting was – draping a collar by Anneke Smeets.
After short introduction round Anneke started to drape a collar of a jacket.

 

Pant fitting – another muslin

Well, I am still busy with my – so far – last pants muslin. One of the stretch jeans muslin I have finished and wearing them – mostly at home. The last one is from cotton and I will make ii as wearable muslin as well.

This whole pants soap really exhausted me and took energy away. I was planning to make a jacket for my DH in May – no way. I am too addicted to the fitting.

As I wrote before I have follow the Craftsy class Pant Fitting Techniques online course by Sandra Betzina. I was not so glad with it. I did not learn a lot. I learned actually nothing new at all. I think I have learned more from the books I have. So it was nice surprise when I got my mony back from  Craftsy. I can spend them on other class

In the end I have bought the book – following advice of a lot of bloggers (what a great community – thanks a lot!) – Pants for Real People: Fit and Sew for Any Body – by Marta Alto, Pati Palmer. This is the book! Actually I expected the Craftsy course to be as this book – showing each amendments on a model.

This book is a must in every sewing library! It shows in a very structure way how to achieve a proper fitting trousers.

First chapters are showing more general approach – step by step, clearly with very handy tips. Then next chapters show fitting on real people. Each fitting issue is in picture and each adjustment is explained and then there is a picture after.  Wonderful, helpful, handy. It is making fitting own pants much easier. It helps to understand the whole process. The authors are as well honest in telling that it is a long process but you will reach the end goal! I am very glad I have bought this book – the only think I am sorry about is that I have bought electronic version. I think I will still buy regular one.

Following the advise from this book I will have to sew 5 pants within a week to exercise fitting. Well, I have enough fabric in my stash for this! Another good project for 2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long

Wonderful Craftsy Surprise!

It was such a surprise when I got an e-mail from Craftsy offering me to take a class with huge discount. I just could not say no, could I?

I will follow ‘The Couture Dress’ class by Susan Khalje! Great!
It was on my wish list for a long time.

It fits perfect in the 2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long.

I was missing something today…

Yes, I cam home and I was definitely missing something… oh, yes… I did not have to take a picture, there is no one on Flicker with new outfits for this day, Me-Made-May is over …

Before I started blogging I have been reading stories about MMM from previous years – all great stories, experiences, seeing all great garments, creations, pictures…

So when May came I did not think a second – I have just joined the all Me-Made-May-Madness – as someone called it on the internet

First things first – Zoe, you are a star! Thanks a lot for organising this wonderful challenge!

What was Me-Made-May for me? Absolutely fabulous experience.

So many creativity! Even bad weather did not stop it… yeah… the weather was disappointing – I had to dig out autumn/winter garments. Pity my summer dresses had to wait.

My First Little Red Car …

On the way back from the business trip from Poland My DH have bought me a little present – surprise …. model of my first car – Fiat 126p. I called her ‘Bambino’.
Yes, it was she.

Isn’t she beautiful – well, was So many memories – long stories…

Short update on pants fitting

It was good to have a short break from my pants and fitting issues.

I have completely forgotten about the Burda Sew Along so now I have to hurry up with my man jacket project. I will trace pattern tomorrow and start to make a muslin.

Meanwhile while having a stained glass workshop I came across a small treasury.

 

Here we go again :-)

I looked at all pants patterns I have made so far, all alterations and I concluded that I have to make a new one.

I took measurements once again – as far as I could do this…and I took old – very old book – with instruction how to draft standard trousers pattern.

The title is ‘Konstrukcja i modelowanie odziezy damskiej ciezkiej (Construction (drafting) and modelling women’s wear (heavy))’ – by heavy is meant jackets, coats, etc., by Zbigniew Parafianowicz and Maria Piskorska. It was issued in 1986 for tailor schools. Very much use by me book – well tested . From the pencil notes I could see I was making a pants once – long, long, long ago… based on the instruction from this book.