Table of contents for No26-4 in Australian Stitches

It’s spring! A season of fresh starts…so there’s no better time to refresh your wardrobe. Here are five of the season’s best items that will do just that. a pretty print dress What’s spring without a dress? It’s as essential to the season as flowers which, incidentally, are blooming all over the greatest dresses now. As a certain fictional movie magazine editor once declared, florals for spring are hardly ‘groundbreaking’…but who cares about that when they are such an easy way to cheer up your wardrobe? Pick any petal, from dainty little sprigs to big, full-blown blooms. If you’re allergic to such prints, fauna works just as well as flora, such as in the colourful, fun butterfly print in the main image, or go for a bolder (but nonetheless wearable),…

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COLOUR, PRINT, FILMY FABRICS AND LONG SHIRTTAILS REDEFINE WHAT’S ON TOP – 6266: Button-down shirt pattern offers many options including short, sleeveless or long sleeves, symmetrical or high-low shirttails. Some versions have the option of contrast front band, yoke, neckband and collar. For batiks, batiste, broadcloth, calico, challis, charmeuse, chambray, cotton lawn, crepe-back satin, crepe de chine, dotted Swiss, double georgette, eyelet, faille, gauze, gingham, linen types, pique, poplin, seersucker, shirtings or voile. Misses’ six sizes in one: 8 – 18.…

Take your favourite flowers and combine them with ‘painterly’ fl air, print them on georgettes and welcome spring! Floaty georgettes inspired by Monet’s garden series and Gauguin’s Tahitian series add a touch of vibrancy and elegance to any wardrobe. We suggest soft shirts with a simple camisole underneath or a fl oat of a tunic top or a caftan! And, the added advantage, they just don’t crush so they’re perfect for travelling! And, looking for a plain to complement them – our Martini crepe georgette has been coloured to perfectly coordinate with at least two of the colours in each print! Happy creating – David Tinworth, MARTIN & SAVAGE FABRICS! 1. Digital printed chiffon 73002, design: Disco Flower, 100% polyester, colour: Multi, 145-147cm wide. 2. Martini 34064, 100% polyester, colour:…

The first step is to create a pattern for your pocket. The finished pocket size for a large shirt pocket is approximately 13cm x 15.5cm (5 1/8 x 6 1/8in) and a medium size shirt 12cm x 13cm (4¾ x 5 1/8in). In the middle of a piece of paper, draw a rectangle to the appropriate size. To the top of the rectangle, add 2cm (¾in) for the pocket facing; the edge will be overlocked to neaten. If you want to neaten the edge with a turned-back hem, add an additional 6mm (¼in) to the facing. Add a 6mm (¼in) seam allowance to the sides and lower edge; this will create a straight lower-edge pocket. See photo 1. Follow diagram 1 if you would prefer a shaped lower-edge pocket. So…

Do not let the middle years influence how you see yourself. If it is the mature rectangle for you, frame your face, elongate the figure and enhance your curves subtly to create a well-balanced fashion statement. Remember to stretch that figure as much as possible, especially if you are in the shorter height category, and sew garments that flatter rather than camouflage the body. Entering into the middle years of life can bring chaos and personal change that may be less than appealing. As we analyse the human body, a common figure type that crops up with regularity is the thick-waisted individual. While we may not be happy with these body changes, the figure can easily be balanced for a more appealing presence. To determine if you are a mature…

Is there an easy way to get a commercial pattern to fit your unique shape? You choose the latest style in a commercial pattern. You read the back of the pattern envelope and choose the size that seems to be most appropriate for your body. You then you sew it up with great anticipation, only not to have it fit in the end. How disappointing! Enter the personal sloper! With the Sure-Fit Designs™ fitting system, we prefer to call this your body blueprint because that’s what it does…it blueprints your unique shape and size. The industry refers to this as a sloper or a basic block, which can be a bodice, skirt or pants block. Whatever the name, it performs the same role. Your body blueprint is drawn to your…

2447 SLEEVELESS SHIRT: (above and right insets this page) Sew in gingham, laundered cottons, batiks, broadcloth, chambray, damask, pique, twill, sateen, eyelet, challis, laundered silks-rayons, silk linen, double georgette, soft, lightweight linen or linen blends. Misses’ sizes: 6 – 24. 1465 SLIM SKIRT IN TWO LENGTHS: Six variations, including knee-length pencil with lace overlay shown here, asymmetric peplum with drape in two lengths, asymmetric peplum with side tie, above knee skirt with sheer overlay and classic pencil skirt. Sew in lightweight to medium weight woven fabrics. Misses’ sizes: 6 – 22. 1467 – TOP, JACKET, PANTS & SKIRT: Sleeveless top has keyhole and buttons on the back of the neck. Pull-on pants and skirt have side pockets. Optional shoulder pads in the peplum jacket. Sew in lightweight to medium-weight woven…

Caftans are a beautiful fashion item to wear. They are comfortable and cool without compromising your appearance during hot summers. Many are made in diaphanous fabrics such as chiffon and georgette, so they float beautifully, and traditionally they have beaded necklines. Now this is where the problems can start. If the body of the neckline facing is not structured well with strong interfacing, the whole look can come unstuck with droopy and untidy results. This article shows you how to use a product called Rigilene to give an invisible 'stay' to support that neckline. Rigilene is available in any good fabric/haberdashery store. If you are a craft person, you have probably heard of it. If not, be assured every sewer should have some in her stash for emergency jobs. It…

“I am wondering if I should give up sewing? Lately nothing fits and I am fed up.” Today I read a question posted in one of the sewing discussion groups I visit that really struck me. As you can imagine the response comments were interesting and animated. For what it is worth, this is my own contribution. If the only reason you are considering giving up sewing is because things don’t fit, then that right there is the answer to your question. Learn what you need to solve your fitting patterns and then see how you feel. My suspicion is that after just one success you will be right back into it. Sewers are like that, permanent teenagers blown by the winds of despair moment by moment, depending on how…

Spring has sprung and the weather is warming up, but there’s still a chill in the air. Layering is the best way of dressing to suit the temperature changes of any day. Kerryn has made the perfect lightweight jacket for such occasions, putting the energy of spring back into your life. This stretch woven, cotton/spandex jacket is the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Vogue V8910 is designed to suit most figure types. It is very easy to make and is cut on the cross to give the jacket subtle curves without the cling. The curved hemline is designed to lengthen the legs at the sides and give a visual length illusion to the centre front and centre back. The stand-up collar lengthens the neck (and can help disguise a dowager’s…

Skirts lighten up and loosen up for spring…in ›oating shapes and ›uttery fabrics K4042: Pull-on skirt has six panels, separate waist casing and narrow hem. One version has contrast panels and ruffl es, as shown at right. Sew in cotton, cotton types or linen. KWIKSTART K4061: Skirts have waist gathered to waistband with hook-and-eye closure, side-seam pockets and back zipper. Shaped hem in two lengths. Sew in challis, rayon blends, cotton types or silk types. All styles this page: Misses’ sizes: XS-S-M-L-XL. www.kwiksew.com…

Wendy and her team love having fun with the new fabrics that are constantly arriving at their shop, so much so that they can’t wait to try them out with either new or tried-and-tested patterns. And, they call this work! Wouldn’t we just love to work like this every day! Fabric: Aria printed digital knit, polyester/spandex, colour: Blue (also comes in Red colourway), 145cm wide, $17.95m. Pattern: Butterick 5954 view B. Close-fitting and flared pullover tunic. This pattern falls superbly and comes in views A,B,C,D. You can combine different sleeve lengths and add a collar if you desire. A beautiful draped style and it’s decidedly slimming. Fabric: Overlay/sleeves/collar – Nola printed knit, polyester/spandex, colour: Royal/Turquoise, 145cm wide, $18.95m. Underlay: Mayfair knit (a basic polyester jersey), polyester/spandex blend, colour: Dark Teal…

Nothing completes a woman’s wardrobe like a Little Black Dress (LBD). Runways, movies and red carpets are filled with them, with the ABC (amazing, bizarre and classic) of fashion often represented at an event. With literally hundreds of rolls of quality black fabrics in stock at any given time, The Fabric Shop in Queensland’s Gold Coast can well boast about its fabulous range. At a recent Fashion Parade held by the store, its owner, Maria Tresols, asked “modelling” participants to interpret their version of the LBD. As models involved included staff members, friends and customers, the choices were interesting, varied and in keeping with their lifestyles and personalities. In fact Maria called that segment of the Parade “A Little Black Number”. The result was a collection of garments that inspired…

CREATIVE DOODLING & BEYOND Doodle Book & Kit By Stephanie Corfee In addition to a 40-page project book packed with more than 20 inspiring prompts and projects, this kit comes with a selection of colourful art tools designed to help anyone turn their doodles into impressive works of art! Creativity ideas provide imaginative concepts to spark fresh inspiration, while doodling exercises and projects provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for creating original doodled designs and crafts. From doodling crazy critters and creating scroll-like motifs to designing easy gift tags and a personalised seek-and-find game, artists of all skill levels will find loads of ideas and creative inspiration to help feed their doodling addiction. With the professional quality drawing pencil, sharpener, eraser, 8 coloured pencils, 8 fine-line markers, loose-leaf drawing paper, lined paper,…