Get Ready for the Long Tailed Big Shirt

www.surefitdesigns.com

Have you been wanting to add the Sure-Fit Designs Shirt Kit to your sewing patterns?  Now is the time to pick up the Shirt Kit while it's on SALE.

You'll want the Shirt Kit in preparation for the Long Tailed Big Shirt Sew Along which is coming next month.

Save 10% on the individual Shirt Kit - simply use Discount Code SHIRT10.
Or...save 5% on the already discounted Shirt Kit Combos - use Discount Code SHIRT5.

The already discounted combo choices are:The Mini Shirt Kit Combo

The bare minimum - the Mini Shirt Kit Combo contains:
*The Shirt Kit
*Introductory How-To DVD
*The Designing Stylus
Normally $77.95...
Now $74.05 - (with discount code Shirt5)
CLICK HERE

 

The Regular Shirt Kit Combo

The next level - the Regular Shirt Kit Combo contains:
*The Shirt Kit
*Introductory How-To DVD
*The Designing Stylus
*1x10yd Tracing Vellum
*Sew Sensational Shirts - Shirt designing book
Normally $110.95...
Now $105.40 - (with discount code Shirt5)

CLICK HERE

 

The Maxi Shirt Kit Combo 

The ultimate - the Maxi Shirt Kit Combo contains:
*The Shirt Kit
*Introductory How-To DVD
*The Designing Stylus
*1x10yd Tracing Vellum
*Sew Sensational Shirts - Shirt designing book
*Shirt Fitting Course DVD - in-depth Shirt pattern drawing, sewing & fitting.
Normally $154.90...
Now $147.15 - (with discount code Shirt5) 

CLICK HERE

This offer is good through Friday March 9, 2018.

Happy Fitting and Sewing!
Glenda the Good Stitch

Just a little Inspiration!

www.surefitdesigns.com

Do you need a little inspiration to get a sewing project off the ground?  Since mid-2017 we have been posting monthly Sure-Fit Designs newsletters - Monthly Makes.  Sewn by customers just like you.

If you need a little boost to get your 2018 sewing projects underway...and you're not quite sure what to make...hopefully one or two of these customer makes will inspire you...there's lots to choose from.

  Jumpsuit (romper) using SFD Pants Kit and Dress Kit joined of course at the waistline.

 An asymmetrical hemmed top - Sure-Fit Designs Dress Kit.

 

 Designed and sewn from the Sure-Fit Designs Children's Kit.

 Waterfall Jacket - a Digital E-Goods Fashion Leaflet - https://surefitdesigns.com/collections/digital-e-goods/products/waterfall-jacket

Shirt for (hard to fit) grandson by Chris Rosenthal - Sure-Fit Designs Shirt Kit

 Pencil Skirt and sleeveless Peplum blouse - Sure-Fit Designs Dress Kit.

 Sure-Fit Designs gown by Bernard Burns (Dress Kit)

 

 Sure-Fit Designs Dress Kit and Shirt Kit pattern for hubby.

  Sure-Fit Designs Dress Kit

  Designed and sewn from the Sure-Fit Designs Children's Kit.

  Designed and sewn from the Sure-Fit Designs Children's Kit.

  Designed and sewn from the Sure-Fit Designs Children's Kit.

 The Nautical Flare Top - a Sew Along by Sure-Fit Designs

 The Caprezio Top - a Sew Along by Sure-Fit Designs

The Caprezio Top - a Sew Along by Sure-Fit Designs

For children, hubby's, and of course for yourself, sew what fits and suits your lifestyle...plan your 2018 fashion sewing projects.

Happy Fitting and Sewing!

Glenda the Good Stitch

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!

Adding a Bust Dart to the Shirt Front Pattern

www.sfdLearningCenter.com

Most of you ladies with a full bust are going to achieve a better fit with the Shirt Kit pattern if you will add a side-fitting bust dart to the pattern.  And even though this process is covered clearly in the Shirt Kit Instruction Book - see page 13, it's always beneficial to see exactly what the steps look like in a real life example.

So here 'ya go...a step-by-step photo tutorial of adding a bust fitting dart.

Step 1 - Draw the appropriate slash/cutting lines as labeled in the above illustration.

Step 2 - It's difficult to see in this photo, but you need to cut from D to A, leaving a pivot point on the seam allowance at Pt D.  Then cut from A down through point B.  Also cut from C to A, leaving a very tiny pivot/hinge point at A.  From there you want to spread on the A-B line the amount required for your cup size.  You are spreading the side wider to allow for the dart width.  The following table tells you how much to spread open for your bra cup size:
C cup = 1/2" (1.3cm)
D cup = 3/4" (1.7cm)
DD cup = 1" (2.5cm)
E cup = 1 1/4" (3.2cm)

Step 3 - Then back the opening with additional tracing vellum.  Tape it down well.  Measure the width of the dart opening on the side seam.

Step 4 - Draw a line perpendicular from A through the side seam.  Mark this as E.  From E, measure down the side seam the width of the dart and mark as G (sorry you can't see G on this photo).

Step 5 - From G draw a straight line up to point F, which is positioned about 1" (2.5cm) away from point A.

Step 6 - Back the openings with tracing vellum, tape well and then 'perfect/true' the dart extension point by folding the bottom leg of the dart up to the top leg of the dart. 

Step 7 - Temporarily tape (using Removable Tape) the dart in position.

Step 8 - Then cut on the seam line. 
 

Step 9 - Remove the tape and when the dart opens up you will have created the exact dart extension shape.

That's the process.  If your shirt tends to hike up in the front due to a full bust, you'll appreciate having this dart to give better fit and shape for your body.

If you'd like to see the video process of adding this side seam dart, just watch this short video below.  You may need to watch it on your tablet or desktop computer if it doesn't open up in your email message.

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!

Free Shipping - Holiday Extravaganza!

Sure-Fit Designs Blog

Join in the Holiday Extravaganza Nov. 28-29-30, 2016 for the Sure-Fit Designs Free Shipping event. Your minimum purchase needs to be at least $49.95...and shipping will be FREE to all USA destinations.

As long as your purchase adds up to $49.95 or more, the shipping is on us (for USA customers)!
It all begins at 12:01 AM EST on Monday November 28 and goes through midnight Wed. November 30, 2016.
We'll definitely get your order to you before Christmas!

International Customers - PLEASE READ 
International customers will pay 1/2 price for shipping their order.  **However, due to the Shopping Cart software limitations, you will need to add the FULL amount of shipping to your order as you normally would.  When we receive email notification of your order, I will immediately issue you a 50% refund on the amount you paid in shipping and handling..

Domestic (USA) Customers-
No coupon or discount code is required.  Just choose $0.00 shipping when checking out of the Shopping Cart.

Ready...Set...Shop

Just go to www.surefitdesigns.com for your shopping extravaganza!

Happy Holidays,

Sway Back: Identification & Refinements for the Sway Back

Do I have a sway back?  Maybe, maybe not.  Other fitting issues can become confused with a true sway back.  Perhaps this blog will help you to identify what is happening for you.

1.  Prominent buttocks or dominant high hips - If your blouse circumference below your waist is not sufficient to circumvent your high hips or buttocks, the fabric will ride up, pulling from where it can, mainly from the larger, lower circumference. This pushes fabric up at the back waist.  The garment needs to be wider at the hip level thereby letting the fabric hang on your hips without pushing up. By attaching your SFD skirt pattern (knowing it fits your waist, high hip and low hip circumference) to your bodice waist edge, you know that the blouse, dress or jacket will hang smoothly around your waist and hips.

2.  A prominent bust - If you don't have a large/wide enough dart shape or you've not measured enough length from mid-shoulder over your apex to your waist level, the fabric will pull up at the front waist and cause telltale drag lines toward the back waist.  Make sure you've drawn the correct dart shape.  Go up a dart size/width if needed.  And/or re-measure shoulder over your apex to your identified waist level.

3.  Looseness across the back waistline - This can be due to being narrow across your back from side seam to side seam at your waist level.  Make sure you haven't measured your waist too loosely.  The back waist-fitting dart that aims toward your shoulder blades can be shaped in a curve to help shape and sculpt the bodice, the dart tip can be lengthened toward the shoulder blades and you can consider stitching the side seams with a slight curve. 

 

 4.  A short or generally high waist level - Make sure to evaluate and eliminate the above fit issues before assuming a sway back issue.  Note the illustration to the left showing a normal back compared to a sway back.  Posture can also contribute to the sway of your back.

And, a sway back can co-exist in conjunction with one of the above mentioned issues.

If you do have a sway back you may need to shorten the center back of the bodice but the one alternative is to add a CB seam and actually shape the seam to your swayed back.  Yes...stitch the seam in a slight curve that will shape the fabric to your body.  You will likely be shortening CB as well, but the curved seam is by far a major par to the solution.

To test how much you need to shorten CB,  pin a horizontal tuck about 3" up from the waistline, tapering to nothing at the side seams.  The total width of that tuck will indicate how much you need to shorten CB.  This will be taken off CB at the waist line and blended down toward the existing side seam waist point. 

Make sure that at CB you maintain a right angle (90 degree) from CB ou about 3/4" - 1" (1.7  - 2.5cm) and then begin your taper. 

You will likely have to re-draw the back waist fitting dart to maintain its accurate waist width.  The side seam would remain unchanged.  

Here's a couple of videos showing you this process if you'd prefer to watch:

Happy Sewing,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!