Cleaning the Designing Stylus

Designing Stylus smudges & graphite removal!

How to clean your Designing Stylus?  That's the topic of this blog.  I know I suggest that you use a regular pencil for drawing all your SFD patterns.  And after a time, the graphite from the pencil lead marks and smudges your Stylus.  This happens to everyone's Stylus.

One of our Australian customers asked how to clean it, so I went right to the source...the plastic material supplier.  I used to use regular soap and warm water, which did an adequate job.  But no more.  You want to get one of those Mr. Clean Magic sponges.  In Australia, for all our down-under customers, it's called 'Chux Magic Eraser'.  It's one of those weird little white sponges that has some kind of an cleaner embedded in it.  Wow...does it work well.  Use it dry.

Here's a before and after photo.
BEFORE:

The customer who sent this photo put it next to her Designer's Companion which hadn't been used yet to show the difference in what the pencil graphite did.  I've seen them much smudgier than this after 6 days in a Fitting Retreat.

AFTER Mr. Clean Magic Sponge:

It cleaned up as good as new!  Clean the front side too...it won't take the SFD markings off.

Here's a short little video showing you just how well this works:

This little sponge is also great for cleaning the iron's sole plate after stickies have melted on it.

Make sure to add this inexpensive to your collection of necessities in your sewing room.  You can get these little wonders at stores like Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target.

Happy Sewing!

Truing a Pattern before sewing

www.surefitdesigns.com

In this blog post I'd like to share with you a few tips about truing and perfecting your patterns before you cut your fabric.  Everything you do to check and true your pattern will pay off when you begin sewing the pieces together.

Here is an example.  Let's say you want some gathers at the neckline.  You move the side-fitting bust dart up to the neckline.  In this example I'm showing you a scooped neckline by dropping the center front neck point about 4-5" and reshaping the neck curve with the Designing Stylus.

Here is what that could look like.

You'll notice the jagged, jogged neck line that results.  This needs to be trued.  Use the Designing Stylus as shown.

'True' a new seam line to smooth out the curve.

The last thing you'd most likely do is add the required seam allowance.

This is just one example of truing or perfecting the pattern before cutting and sewing.

Here's a video on what to look for in the rest of the pattern: how to look for 90 degree angles with two adjoining seams, how to match and check seam line lengths, how to check side seam shapes.  In the video I show this process on a bodice/skirt combination but the general concepts apply to all your patterns including pants and shirts.

If you can't see the video within your email display, simply click on the link provided.
https://youtu.be/U6Vw-qDLIFw

All these tips will no doubt result in a winning pattern that sews together easily.

Happy Sewing!
Glenda the Good Stitch

Designing Stylus smudges & graphite removal!

How to clean your Designing Stylus?  That's the topic of this blog.  I know I suggest that you use a regular pencil for drawing all your SFD patterns.  And after a time, the graphite from the pencil lead marks and smudges your Stylus.  This happens to everyone's Stylus.

One of our Australian customers asked how to clean it, so I went right to the source...the plastic material supplier.  I used to use regular soap and warm water, which did an adequate job.  But no more.  You want to get one of those Mr. Clean Magic sponges.  In Australia, for all our down-under customers, it's called 'Chux Magic Eraser'.  It's one of those weird little white sponges that has some kind of an cleaner embedded in it.  Wow...does it work well.  Use it dry.

Here's a before and after photo.
BEFORE:

The customer who sent this photo put it next to her Designer's Companion which hadn't been used yet to show the difference in what the pencil graphite did.  I've seen them much smudgier than this after 6 days in a Fitting Retreat.

AFTER Mr. Clean Magic Sponge:

It cleaned up as good as new!  Clean the front side too...it won't take the SFD markings off.

Here's a short little video showing you just how well this works:

This little sponge is also great for cleaning the iron's sole plate after stickies have melted on it.

Make sure to add this inexpensive to your collection of necessities in your sewing room.  You can get these little wonders at stores like Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target.

Happy Sewing!

** News Flash - Shirt Fitting Course on DVD

It's been a couple of months in the making, but it's finally ready to unveil.  This new Shirt Fitting Course on DVD completes the SFD instructional DVD fitting courses.  As so many of you know, we introduced the new Shirt Kit in early 2015.  Now there's complete and detailed pattern drawing, sewing and fitting instructions to go along with it - all on this new 2-DVD set.

This short video gives you highlights of what's in the course and what you can expect.

This 2-DVD set contains 3.5 hrs of detailed instruction with great close-ups.  I know you'll benefit greatly by following along as I take you through the entire process of drawing your SFD Shirt pattern.  Of course, I show you complete sewing construction steps, fit evaluation and minor tune-ups if you need them, how to add a dart and how to add piping.  You can see this DVD set is packed full.  For those of you reading this blog who don't yet have the SFD Shirt Kit, you will need that along with the Designing Stylus and some Tracing Vellum.

As an opening special, we're offering a 20% discount for this DVD set.  But if you want to add either the Shirt Kit or the designing book Sew Sensational Shirts, you'll receive a 25% discount.  The choice is yours!

These introductory specials will run through Monday November 2, 2015.  When you place your order in the Shopping Cart, simply enter in either Discount Code - SFC20 (for the DVD only) or SFC25 (for one of the product combinations).
By the way, this new DVD also comes with  20-page downloadable Instructional Materials.

You get complete written instructions for the process of adding a Continuous Lap Sleeve Placket, and 2 new Fashion Leaflets: the Camp Shirt and Women's Cargo Jacket.  I hope you enjoy designing and wearing both.  They're both casual yet smart and of course, all from your SFD Shirt Kit!

To get the introductory special pricing on this new DVD course, just click here - SFD Shirt Fitting Course on DVD.

Happy Sewing!