PHOTOS FROM THE JUNE 28 SWAP O RAMA RAMA IN VENICE

There's a new phenomenon sweeping the world called Swap O Rama Rama. Founded by Wendy Tremayne, Swap is a clothing swap and series of DIY workshops in which participants explore creative reuse from recycled clothing. Basically, you bring a bag of clothes and they get sorted into piles by volunteers. You get to sort through all the clothes and work at the various DIY stations and sewing stations to create new clothes! You can learn more about Swap and the Creative Commons License at Swap O Rama Rama.

We recently completed a Swap in Venice with some of the best Designers and Volunteers around. A big thanks to all of them!

We had silk screening and monster madness from the guys from Social Studies (Sean and Aldo), book author Sonya Nimri, Hollywood Costume Designer Laura Wolford, silk screener Donna from Four Idle Hands, Ellen King and her great sense of style, cool stencils from Jennifer at Pintucks, more silk screening from the dynamic duo of Nichole and Morgan from LA Craft Mafia, great t-shirt re-do's from Trisha at Redrawn Arts ,applique guru KB Van Horn and even I made tote bags out of everthing from old t-shirts to blue jeans!

The next Swap will be this November at the Shrine Auditorium in beautiful downtown LA. To stay in the loop about the event, join our email list on the home page. We'll be needing volunteers and designers!

Check out these links to other (and better photographers than me!!!) photo's and blogs from the Swap.

From Designer KB A Patchwork World and Maria Del Pinto Del Pinto Artworks

Designer Donna Barger Four Idle Hands and Jenny Ryan Sew Darn Jenny

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HANDBAGS ARE HOT!

DVD Making Handbags,

Laurie Shuss, Clothing Teacher at South Brunswick High School sent along the following photos from her class. Velvet and Denim were her fabrics of choice. Teach someone to sew with a rewarding project like Handbags. Send us your photos.

Students in Ms Oliver's Fashion Technology class at Waccamaw High School in Pawleys Island, SC. class sent some pictures along for us to enjoy. This project is ideal for high school students - it's fun, fast and as challenging as you want it to be. These students are learning a skill they will use for life.

Changing Pants Width

The Sew/Fit Method teaches you how to take any commerical pattern and fit it to your unique size. You learn how to measure the pattern, measure your body and use the pivot and slide method to adjust the pattern. You can create a pefect pants sloper with the Sew/Fit Method and adapt it to changing styles.

Let's say you want to adjust the width of the pant legs. You can create a slim silhouette, design a bell botom look or go wide for the palazzo leg style. Knowing where to make the adjustment is the key. Our free file on Changing the Width of the Pant Legs will tell you how. Download it and get styling!

Learn to make your perfect pants pattern with our DVD Pants that Fit, Finally! It comes with a free companion booklet. We also offer the Sew/Fit Manual where you can learn to adjust skirts, dresses, blouses and more. It's all about fit!

 A Memory Quilt

You can create a memory quilt with your old photos, new photos and even graphic designs. With any ink jet printer and our Photo Fabric sheets it's a cinch. We used the Simple Quilt pattern which provides a perfect center block "window". We appliqued onto the block fabric but you could also use the photo as the center block without additional fabric.

Check out our packs of Color Plus Fabrics® available in Cotton Poplin (a midweight popular with quilters) and Cotton Denim (a heavier weight good for Home Decor items.) Each pack contains 5 sheets of 81/2 x 11 inches for $12.50. Buy any combination of 3 packages for $35.00. The fabric is 100% cotton and 100% washable. Available in our Notions Section.

 Photo Pillow

You can make the perfect personalized gift. Use the Photo Fabric for a simple pillow. Scan your photo, insert a sheet of Color Plus Fabric and print with any inkjet printer. It's that easy! Applique you photo on the pillow. This makes the perfect Baby Gift. Use a photo of the new baby and embroider the birthdate and name.

You can sew your fabric photo onto pillows, handbags, and even garments. The possibilities are endless.

 Mitered Corners

Mitering corners are easy once you get the hang of it. Follow these 4 steps for professional results. Our Basic Home Decor DVD shows you how to do it.

Step 1: Turn your raw edge under 1/4" then fold up the remaining hem. Press well and out. 

Step 2: Fold the first corner diagonally to the wrong side of the fabric so the pressed lines match. Press in place.

Step 3: Open out the corner and refold the corner right sides together so that the corner is folded in half and the edges line up. Pin on the diagonal fold line, edges even and stitch on the fold line. Trim the seam allowance and clip the corner.

Step 4: Press the seam open and turn the corner right side out using a point turner. Press flat. 

Over 2 Hours of Instruction This program is on DVD. The associated files are in PDF format and can be downloaded from the DVD on a computer..

 Pajama  Party

Gone are the days when pajamas were relegated to the bedroom. Loungewear, active wear, call it what you like – it’s all the same. We wear them to the coffee shop, the grocery store, to work out and even to travel. We live, it seems, in our pajamas. Well, nothing could be simpler to make. Our DVD will take you step by step through the process of creating your dream pajamas. The fundamentals you will learn are the basis for creating fantastic garments. Based on your fabric choice, you can use pajamas for any activity – including sleeping.

Skill Level: Beginner thru Advanced
Degree of Difficulty:: Easy

We use Butterick pattern 6837 for our pajamas but any basic pajama pattern will work.

Inserting the elastic for the waistband You’ll learn about machines

The Sew/Fit Method Notes on Ease

When commercial patterns are made, they always include some amount of ease. It’s important to understand ease to properly adjust patterns to fit. There are three types of ease that can be added:  Ease for comfort; Ease for fashion; and Ease for fabric.

COMFORT EASE is the amount of ease that must be added for a figure to move without being constricted or uncomfortable. 

FASHION EASE is the amount of ease in addition to the comfort ease that is added to a pattern for style. Based on the style of the garment, the pattern may require many inches of ease to be added for pleats, gathers, flares or fullness. Or the garment style might call for minimum ease, when the garment is designed to look tight or fitted such as blue jeans or evening gowns.

FABRIC EASE is the amount of ease added when the designer takes into consideration the type of fabric that will be used. The amount of give in a fabric determines the amount of ease needed. 

When measuring a pattern using the Sew Fit method, you must determine the amount of ease.  This will help you adjust the pattern properly once you compare your measurements to the pattern and add your desired ease. Basically, the ease will be the difference between the measurements found on the back of your pattern envelope and the actual measurement of the pattern piece. 

For example, let’s take the body measurement on the back of the pattern envelope for a size 12 in the Hip area that says 36 inches.  Lay out your pant front and back pattern pieces, overlapping the seams of the pattern and measure from inside the seam allowances across the pattern pieces. So, if you measured 21 inches across both pieces, we multiply this by 2 (since we only have half the pattern) and get 42 inches.  The difference between this measurement, 42, and the stated pattern measurement, 36, equals the ease – 6 inches. Our simple method of adjusting patterns to fit is demonstrated step by step in the Sew Fit Manual and you can purchase it here. 

Making Handbags

A Designer Bag – Designed by You! Your host, Susie Tilton, designer and educator, takes you step by step through the construction process of a handbag to make for yourself or for friends. Susie even includes a trunk show of her favorite ideas! A simple evening bag is also demonstrated – the perfect beginners project. Included are special menus on machines, fabrics and notions. Two patterns included as a download.  We also have the best prices on magnetic snaps, available here.

The world of DVD allows you the best experience in educational video. You can pause, jump ahead to specific scenes and download files on your computer. Find out where to buy a good, inexpensive DVD at our favorite links. We believe DVD provides the best instruction available (besides being there in person!). You can learn more About Us here.

Marking for a snap Making a boxed corner Sewing the handbag