Mar 28, 2017

Oh my Flat Backside!



Do you have a flat backside?  If you do, you might experience bagging under your backside when wearing pants.
In this video, see how to refine the fit of the pants back when drawing the Sure-Fit Designs™ Pants pattern to accommodate a flat backside.  This is a common issue for lots of women and men and no matter your gender, the process to resolve this issue is the same.

And for some crazy reason, you can no longer view these videos when looking at your emails.  You will need to click through to my web page where all these short video tutorials are listed.  Please go to http://www.sfdlearningcenter.com/Pants-Videos-RefiningFit.html  

I know the videos are in a small viewing format.  That's to reduce file size with the hosting company I use.  However, you can easily click on the title of the video and will automatically open up in YouTube where you can watch it in a larger viewing format.

Happy Sewing...
Glenda the Good Stitch
   

Mar 21, 2017

Pleated Sleeve Detail

You remember this blouse that I'm wearing in the new Darts DVD - Versatile & Amazing



I've had many lovely comments about this blouse and some of you wondering exactly what I did to design the pleated sleeve.

I know you'll love it as it's so simple to add the pleat detail.   Use your sleeve pattern for woven fabric which has the elbow dart.  I left the elbow dart where it was.  If you wanted to, you could transfer it down to the hem line and 'remove' it...I chose to leave it in place.  If you're sewing with a knit fabric, then of course you'd use the sleeve pattern for knit/stretch fabric.

Here's what I did to the pattern.
1. Split it from the cap notch down through the hem level.
2. Spread the opening 2" (5cm).
3. Folded it as an inverted pleat - meaning each side of the pleat ends up being 1/2" (1.3cm) wide.

4. I stitched the inside/center of the fold down about 1" (2.5cm) down from the cap stitching line.  From the hem edge up, I stitched the inside/center of the fold up about 2" (5cm), so that when the hem was turned up inside the pleat would be secure.


5. Then I added a decorative (non-functioning) button to finish the hem off.

For the back of the blouse, I also added the same width for a center back inverted pleat and I shaped the hem to be just a little longer in the back.



I hope you enjoy designing and sewing this fashion blouse from your Sure-Fit Designs Dress Kit.  It's all pretty simple when your bodice blueprint (sloper) fits just you.

Happy Sewing!

Mar 14, 2017

Darts: Versatile & Amazing

Have you ever looked at a dress and wondered how the darts got into that unique position?  This new Sure-Fit Designs DVD tutorial is going to answer many of the questions you may have regarding the stunning array of dart positions and design possibilities.  Please watch the short introductory video below showing you highlights of this Darts DVD tutorial.  (You may need to open up this email in a browser in order to see the video, as frequently this link does not show up in your email  program).








It's almost magical how it all happens.  You'll love seeing the versatility and amazing possibilities of where your basic waist and bust fitting darts can be moved to and how they no longer look basic.

Highlighted in this course will be moving darts into the following positions:
  • Triple, parallel shoulder pleats.
  • Graduated and radiating darts from the neckline.
  • Angled and parallel center front darts.
  • Asymmetrical, curved and parallel darts from the waist and armscye.


Experience this dart designing fashion fun for yourself and in doing so build your confidence for designing on your own.  You'll follow me...Glenda the Good Stitch...in my usual highly detailed lessons taking you step-by-step through each transferring process in this 1.5hr. long DVD tutorial.

To introduce you to this new DVD, we're offering a 20% Introductory Special.
It's regularly $14.95...Now only $11.95...Simply use Discount Code darts20 during checkout.
Please order from this special Promo link - Click Here
Offer is good through Wed. March 22, 2017 

Remember, now when you purchase the physical DVD, you will also receive the 100% discount code to watch the lessons in streaming video format in our new online platform - www.sewfitacademyonline.com. Simply watch for my 'Thank you Letter' in your email inbox which will contain this discount code.




Happy darting!
Glenda...the Good Stitch
 

Mar 9, 2017

The Little Black Dress Sew Along

There is something about a fitted  'little black dress' that is tantalizing and that cannot be replaced in a colorful dress.  (London designer Roland Mouret states).  And as Christian Dior said, 'every lady should have (at least) one little black dress'.


Join Glenda the Good Stitch in our newest Sew Along, featured in SewFitAcademyOnline.com.

The Little Black Dress dates back centuries to queen Victoria, when her beloved husband Albert passed away.  She wore black for the remainder of her life.  And of course throughout the centuries, designers like Coco Chanel, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Dior, have designed their own take on this dress.

And as Sarah Jessica Parker, whose fashion choices have been tracked since her "Sex and the City" days, believes so strongly in the little black dress, that she recently launched a collection called SJP LBD at Bloomindale's.  She said, 'We really wanted to make the point that this is for all people at all times of the day.  That's the job of the little black dress."

Glenda the Good Stitch has just launched the Sure-Fit Designs version of the Little Black Dress in her most recent Sew Along, found a SewFitAcademyOnline.com.  Here you'll also see the LBD video highlights describing the details included in the 19-lesson Sew Along.  Just click the previous link.



The details are definitely difficult to see in this photo, so here's another close-up:


When you participate in the Sew Along, you'll receive:
  • 19 highly detailed video lessons
  • How to measure
  • How to draw the blueprint
  • How to design the pattern
  • How to sew it all together
  • Step-by-step detail in Glenda's precise demonstrations
  • 24/7 access to your course 
  • Available for a life-time...no expiration
  • See details for the optional hem flounce
  • See details for the optional designer belt

By enrolling now, you'll receive a 20% discount.  Use this Discount Code lbd20.  It's good until March 12, 2017.  Head over to SewFitAcademyOnline.com to get your Sew Along.


A few facts you (probably) didn't know about the History of the LBD:
  • Coco Cuff// Chanel's little black dress of 1926 actually had white cuffs.
  • La Vie En Noir// A little black dress was Edith Piaf's signature look.  She always chose styles with long sleeves to hide the scars from 3 serious car crashes.
  • Needle-to-Know// In Balenciaga's collections, he included one black dress that he personally made entirely by hand.
  • Slippery Strap// During a 1956 press conference announcing the Marilyn Monroe film ' The Prince and the Showgirl', the strap on her slinky LBD gave way, causing quite a sensation and that incident was subsequently written into the script.
  • Royal Lore// When Lady Diana Spencer wore a tight, strapless black dress fro her first post-engagement appearance with Prince Charles in 1981, the British tabloids responded with 'cleavage' headlines.
  • Breakfast at Tiffany's// And one that you probably already know, Audrey Hepburn, in Breakfast at Tiffany's epitomized the LBD.

Join me now and  receive a 20% discount.  Use this Discount Code lbd20.  It's good through March 12, 2017.  Head over to SewFitAcademyOnline.com to get your Sew Along.

Happy drafting and sewing!

Mar 7, 2017

Sewing for Toddler's, Children & Teens with Sure-Fit Designs

We're generally so busy producing videos for you ladies that we seldom find time for the children.  But finally, this latest video finishes off the video series on the discounted Combos offered by Sure-Fit Designs.
If you sew for your children or grand children, you'll save when you purchase the Children's Kit Combo.  Remember you can sew for both boys and girls and toddlers through teens, when the child matures and grows into the adult patterns.  There's a cross over in size/measurement range between the Children's Kit and the adult pattern Kits so that we can accommodate the best shaping possible for the youngster.

You'll love the variety of different styles you can sew for both boys and girls.  It's kind of like taking the children's section of a pattern catalog and wrapping all the designs into one big package called the Children's Kit.
Now there's a savings combo dedicated just to sewing for children.  It's called the Children's Kit Combo and consists of the following:
  • Children's Kit
  • The Introductory How-To DVD
  • 1x10yd roll of tracing vellum
  • And the essential drawing tool, the Designing Stylus.

Just click on the video link below to see a brief re-cap of all the elements in the Combo.
https://youtu.be/zuf5vVJdSig

Have fun sewing for your kids.
To purchase, please click here - http://www.surefitdesigns.com/Children-s-Kit.html
Here's a sneak peak at so many of the different styles you can sew.












Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!