From R-T-W to SFD

www.surefitdesigns.com

From ready-to-wear (R-T-W) to Sure-Fit Designs (SFD) - you can have it all when you sew your own clothes.

I'm shorter (and older - oh well!) but it's almost an exact copy of a very recent ready-to-wear outfit I saw in a mail order catalogue.  Yes...this entire wardrobe ensemble can be sewn so easily with your Sure-Fit Designs pattern kits.  Sure, I could have drawn the shirt to be longer, but on my short body frame much longer would not have been flattering.  Let's analyze.

The reversible vest is designed from the Dress Kit and can be found on this page - http://www.surefitdesigns.com/Reversible-Vest.html.  And also remember that each of our international distributors also carry these digital e-goods Fashion Leaflets.

The princess seam pants are designed from the Pants Kit.  Yup, I added princess seams to the back legs.  I just love this feature as the seaming open up lots of opportunity for you to really achieve a great fit in the back of your pants.  I know it's hard to see the seam in these pants because of the almost perfectly matching pattern...but it's there.  You'll find free video directions for adding this seam in our SFDLearningCenter Video Library - look for P.14.

And the shirt (designed from the Shirt Kit)...it's on its way.  This long-tailed Big Shirt is going to be our newest Sew Along.  We just need to shoot the video instructions and soon you'll see this Sew Along in our latest website - www.SewFitAcademyOnline.com.  I know you'll love the look, the simplicity of the design and the ease of sewing it all together.  It's just great for wearing with your leggings, jeans or skinny pants.  Watch for this announcement.

I hope you're having lots of fun with your Sure-Fit Designs!

Happy fitting & sewing,
Glenda the Good Stitch!

Go Everywhere Shirt now available for a Lifetime!

www.surefitdesigns.blogspot.com

The Go Everywhere Shirt by Sure-Fit Designs is now totally available as a one-time purchase and your enrollment will last you a lifetime!

You may remember, this Go Everywhere Shirt Sew Along was previously on the Curious.com platform, but now I have made it totally available for you on an all new software platform where once you've enrolled and purchased your course, it is yours for a lifetime.

The Go Everywhere Shirt is drawn and designed from your Sure-Fit Designs Shirt Kit, which means it's casual, comfortable and simple to sew.  This sew along offers both video lessons as well as a downloadable instruction guide sheet.

And you'll find it on our new website platform www.SewFitAcademyOnline.com...which I'll tell you more about next week.  To access the Go Everywhere Shirt and to see samples of the video lessons, please click here - http://surefitdesigns.thinkific.com/courses/the-go-everywhere-shirt-by-sure-fit-designs


You'll see measuring, drawing, designing and sewing it all together in the Sure-Fit Designs Sew Along.  I sincerely hope you all enjoy it.

Happy Fitting & Sewing!

SFD Shirt Kit Giveaway Contest

Satisfy your curiosity!  Sure-Fit Designs and Glenda the Good Stitch announce a new teacher association with Curious.com - a leading internet provider of courses and lessons on everything from 'soup to nuts' (of course, sewing & fitting too).  Curious.com is a 'Craftsy-like' site offering over 17,000 lessons on so many topics too numerous to mention.

Glenda's latest Shirt Kit tutorial is the 'Go Everywhere Shirt' and is available exclusively on Curious.com.

Follow the link directly below to join Curious.com and receive the following:

• 1 week totally FREE (for as many courses as you choose to watch.  There is no on-going financial obligation unless you decide to purchase a monthly or annual membership).

• Time to decide if you'd like the membership.

• Low annual fee to learn anything that Curious offers.

• You'll receive an automatic 20% off your membership fee which is exclusive for Sure-Fit Designs customers when you click this JOIN link.

• While in Curious, we invite you to participate in Glenda's new online course - the SFD 'Go Everywhere' Shirt.  This course is available exclusively on Curious.com.  This course includes 10 lessons, participant interaction, resource links, and a downloadable 5-page pattern designing & sewing construction guide.

JOIN NOW!

 Win the Sure-Fit Designs Shirt Kit
Enter the contest below

To celebrate this new association with Curious.com, we are offering a Giveaway/Contest for the Sure-Fit Designs Shirt Kit (or $35 toward any SFD item if you already have the Shirt Kit).

To enter simply CLICK HERE

I invite you all to participate.
Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!

Sew...What's New?

Introducing the 2015 Face-Lift!

Many of you have asked what's new in 2015 editions of the Sure-Fit Designs Kits.  First, please rest assured, that with the exception of the Shirt Kit Master Patterns, all of your other Master Patterns in the Dress, Pants and Children's Kits have NOT changed.  They are still the same great-fitting patterns we've offered you over the years.

So let's take a look at what is different.  First, we've gone to a full-color envelop for packaging all the Kits.
DRESS KIT

The Dress Kit Instruction book is now the 6th edition.  Within this instruction book, all of the technical art, that is how to draw off these master patterns to create your body blueprint, has all been updated for even greater clarity.  One new fashion design instruction for the 'S'-curved neckline blouse was added.  Due to expanded technical illustrations and the new design, the book went from 52 to 56 pages.

The Master Patterns and Dress Kit templates have NOT changed.

If you want to purchase just the 6th edition Dress Kit Instruction book, please click here.




PANTS KIT

The Pants Kit Instruction book is now the 5th edition.  Within this instruction book, all of the technical art, that is how to draw off these master patterns to create your body blueprint, has all been updated for even greater clarity.

The Pants Master Patterns have NOT changed.

If you want to purchase just the 5th edition Pants Kit Instruction book, please click here.






SHIRT KIT

The entire 5th edition Shirt Kit has changed substantially.  The Master Patterns are totally updated - meaning they no longer have seam allowances on them.  They are now consistent with all the other SFD Master Patterns, where once you have drawn your body blueprint pattern, you will now ADD the 5/8" (1.6 cm) allowance.  The Shirt Kit accessory pieces now include a flat collar and woman's cuff along with all the other collar and pocket shapes.  The instruction book, by necessity, has all new technical drawings showing exactly how to draw these new master patterns.  All the fashion art has been totally updated and offers new designing suggestions.  The book has gone from 20 to 28 pages.

If you want to purchase the 5th edition Shirt Kit, please click here.

CHILDREN'S KIT

The Children's Kit Instruction book is now the 5th edition.  Within this instruction book, all of the technical art, that is how to draw off these master patterns to create your body blueprint, has all been updated for even greater clarity.  All of the fashion art has changed and been updated.  There are a lot of fun, new ideas for sewing children's clothing.  The book has gone from 32 to 36 pages.

The Children's Master Patterns have NOT changed.

If you want to purchase just the 5th edition Children's Kit Instruction book, please click here.




MEN'S PANTS INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE

The Men's Pants Instructional package is now the 5th edition.  Within this instruction book, all of the technical art, that is how to draw off these master patterns to create your body blueprint, has all been updated for even greater clarity.  The fashion art has changed and been updated.  The Men's Pants instructions have always utilized the ladies' Pants Kit Master Patterns as the basis for drawing the men's pants.  Nothing has changed in that regard.

If you want to purchase the 5th edition Men's Pants Instructional Package, please click here.




HOW-TO DVD

Finally, the Sure-Fit Designs introductory DVD has been updated.   This DVD offers the basics for getting started wth the Sure-Fit Designs system of pattern fitting and designing.
It consists of 2 DVD's and offers 3hr 45min of clear, concise instruction for drawing the Dress, Pants, Shirt and now includes drawing off all patterns in the Children's Kit.  Additionally you'll see how to measure for the man's pants as well as a discussion on drawing the pattern.  If you want to purchase just the new How-To DVD, please click here.

Limited Time 'Bundle' Special
If you are interested in updating your SFD kits/supplies, we're offering a Limited Time Special for all of the above items.  Receive a 15% discount when each of the above are ordered in a 'Bundle'.  Please Click Here.

Let's take a look at some of the new design ideas and fashion art in both the Children's and Shirt Kit.

(Sorry the art isn't all laid out evenly.  I have a dickens of a time with blogger getting things positioned where I'd like them to be.)

I hope you all will enjoy the new SFD look and instruction books.

As always, I thank you for your ongoing support.
Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch! 

Can you believe this??

Can you believe this...jumpsuits are back again!?!?

This news article is from a recent Wall Street Journal newspaper (10-16-14).  I could hardly believe my eyes.  I realize the WSJ isn't exactly the hippest fashion authority, but for the last 2 - 3 years they have been expanding their reach to women readers and now regularly have fashion articles in their Style & Travel section.

As Elizabeth Holmes says, 'The jumpsuit, the former territory of toddlers, auto mechanics and clowns, is becoming what was once unthinkable - and item women will buy.  Bloomingdale's has a "jumpsuits and rompers" category on its website.  Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter give the style similar play.  Contemporary online retailer Shopbop offers more than 350 choices, from rompers for less than $75 to designer jumpsuits selling for several thousand dollars.  Retailers and designers are heralding the "all in one" as the jumpsuit/romper is also know, as an alternative to the perennially popular dress.  Many Spring 2015 collections, which wrapped up earlier this month, were an ode to the 1970's, the jumpsuit heyday.'

Says a NY-based designer, Rebecca Taylor, "I thought it was a trend but I actually think it is a staple now".  She has added more jumpsuits to her recent collections.

If you're leaning in this direction, it is so easy to design your own well-fitting jumpsuit with Sure-Fit Designs.  Years ago, I added this design and how to directions into the SFD Children's Kit.

The basic premise is that you will be joining your pants pattern, from your SFD Pants Kit, together with either your bodice (from the SFD Dress Kit) or your SFD Shirt pattern.  What you need to remember is that you must leave at least 1" of ease at the waist line.  This is your lengthwise ease.  Otherwise, you won't be able to sit while wearing it.  Depending on your frame and figure, you might want to increase this amount to 2 to 3 inches.

The only thing we need now is a trap door.  Taking a trip to the ladies room becomes a little inconvenient when you need to almost disrobe to use the facilities.

Mine is sewn with a crinkled polyester.  The shirt (kit) top, from the SFD Shirt Kit, has a double-breasted front opening with a contrasting fabric facing.   You'll notice that the cuffs are piped with the red contrasting fabric.  PS - this fabric travels so well.  It literally never shows a wrinkle.

These next 2 jumpsuits were designed by Kiya Tomlin - a Pittsburg, PA designer.  These romper/jumpsuits were 2 of her first SFD projects.

Comments welcome!  I'm sure some of you will love 'em and others would never dream of going back!  All is good.

Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!

UK Connection

An avid SFD seamstress from the UK has been loving, using and sharing her SFD experiences.

Jan's primary focus has been on working with the Shirt Kit master patterns, extending her wardrobe with comfortable T's and casual shirts.  She's teamed these up with her SFD Jeans, which she is extremely pleased with...and you can see why.

Jan sent a number of photos and has given permission to show all of you.  So here we go...

Jan simply did not like the bulk created by the collar with stand (on the left).  She removed it and chose a simple mandarin collar to finish the neck edge.  Doesn't she just have a loveliest of smiles?

And one to go - this comfortable brown & orange striped T-Shirt...

And, let's look at her excellent stitching on the jeans pocket...

Well done Jan!  And thanks so much for sharing your Sure-Fit Designs experiences with your sewing group.

Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!