Creating Erin’s Patterns and Mockup
After working with bride-to-be Erin in our design consultation and sketching a custom design onto her figure, I couldn’t wait to hear her thoughts. I was so excited when she accepted the commission saying “I LOVE the design and how you incorporated all our ideas!” (After I jumped up and down a few times), it was […]
Small Sewing Space Solution: Portable Ironing/Cutting Table
As I work with my students through my online courses, we often talk about solutions for working in small home sewing spaces. While it’s fantastic if you have room for a large professional pinnable-top sewing/drafting/cutting table (like the one I show you how to create here), I also understand that most people don’t have the […]
Confessions of a Couturier (for Curvy Sewing Collective)
I’m thrilled to announce that a guest post I wrote titled “Confessions of a Couturier” ran on one of my very favorite blogs Curvy Sewing Collective! Curvy Sewing Collective is a fantastic and unique plus-size sewing community run by some of the top curvy bloggers in the country “intent on demystifying all things plus-sized and home sewing.” I encourage you […]
Caitlin’s Custom Wedding Dress Fittings
Continuing the story of Caitlin’s custom wedding dress creation… …it was finally the part of our process where she’d get to try something on! I patterned and made a mockup “test dress” out of muslin and some lace yardage. The dress would eventually be made using some of her mom’s wedding dress fabric, so […]
Creating Caitlin’s Custom Patterns and Mockups
Once Caitlin said “yes” to the dress… I invited her back to my studio to take some measurements. I take approximately 40 measurements of each bride in order to create custom patterns that fit their unique silhouettes. Since Caitlin would be wearing a corset under her custom wedding dress, I took the measurements on her […]
Skirt Skills E-Course: A new way to “learn to sew”
As I start to spread the word about my new online course Skirt Skills, I am realizing that it is causing intrigue and fear all at the same time. When I tell people that I am teaching adults how to sew using their own designs and their own patterns their eyes get big. Whoa… seems […]
My Dress for Loula’s Wedding (pt. 2- Draft to Dancefloor)
Yes, I got to wear a wrist corsage! This is the second post about the creation of the dress that I wore to Loula’s wedding, shown above with my handsome husband Charles. It’s an asymmetrical color-blocked wool sateen pencil dress. You can see the inspirations and learn about the pattern drafting in my previous post. Caught […]
My Dress for Loula’s Wedding (pt. 1- Design and Draft)
Whenever I attend a wedding in which I made the bride’s dress, I always try to also make the dress that I am wearing. Inevitably, someone attending the wedding will ask the dressmaker about her own clothing: “Did you make this too?” I feel like the answer should be “Yes”. Bonus: I get a cool […]
The Loulage
In creating a wedding dress for someone I have known and loved for decades, I got to experiment with some things that I wouldn’t normally try on a regular client. I really took this opportunity to hone my skills and try new things, knowing that Loula already completely trusted me to make her look gorgeous […]
