Passion for Fashion Winning Gown from 2009

Hi everyone! I am sew excited to be a part of TotallyStitchin as a Stitchin Woman, as well as the spokes “designer” for the new Baby Lock Love of Fashion Program. Love of Fashion is a series of fashion design classes that I teach around the country at various Baby Lock events and Baby Lock Dealers. I hope to share my love of fashion and design through draping, sketching, and other design skills that I uses each and every day in my studio with my clients. I have been using Baby Lock Machines since high school, but all of this came about as a result of the Passion for Fashion Design Competition sponsored by Baby Lock that I won last fall.

Passion for Fashion is just like a Project Runway Design Challenge where designers compete live for two days during the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Mi. Designers all around the country submit a small portfolio entry hoping to be one of 12 finalists selected to come and compete live. This year on Friday September 24th, designers will be given the secret challenge, $100 to buy fabric and the clock will begin. You have to design, pattern, sew and fit to your model by the next day for live judging. At the completion of a live fashion show the winner will be announced. It could be you! I can’t wait to see what that challenge will be this year. This is a wonderful program and Baby Lock will once again sponsor by providing the machines to sew on as well as providing the winner with thier own fabulous Baby lock machine. Winning had such a huge impact on my design work and business, so I encourage anyone who loves fashion sewing to enter the competition. Entry forms are available at www.americansewingexpo.com. As part of the prize package I won a trip to NYC. Next time I will share some of my experiences fabric shopping in NYC.

April 30 is National Hairstyle Appreciation Day!  So let your hair down and show your appreciation for the Liberty Spikes, Mohawks, Beehives, Pageboys and yes, even the Mullets!  And while you are paying homage to the hairspray that makes many of these fabulous styles possible, stitch this free design on something totally cool for your fave hair stylists!  Download this design

Probably one of the things I love most about sewers is that they are always eager and willing to share.  Whether it’s some really cool fabric they saw, some vintage buttons or just something that inspired them creatively.  Having said that, I came in this morning, checked my email and found an email from Cindy, one of my sewing sisters.  She found this really cool belt pattern from Burda Patterns.  I am going to have to add this to my stash of sewing stuff for sure.  And, since I shared this pattern with you, I hope one of you will make this belt and share pics with us!

The guy in your life; whether young or old; will love the trendy style these designs from the Embroidered Ink collection by Amazing Designs add to any plain hooded sweatshirt.

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It’s Friday night, you have just the right outfit but just can seem to pull the accessories together.  If accessories can make the outfit, why not make the accessories?

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I recently spent 10 days studying abroad with Kent State in London and Paris. One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum. It showcases many famous pieces of art but I was especially focused on the fashion collection. The Royal College of Art showcases their senior graduate work there and it was very inspiring to see. The dress I have pictured is my favorite of the entire collection of graduate students. It has lace, and trims applied in almost a patchwork way all over this dress. There are even sections that they used pleating. From an up close perspective the construction was perfect. This dress was absolutely gorgeous.

Face the blustery winter weather with your own unique style.  This scarf is both warm and it makes your own unique fashion statement.

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This is a really neat website that I ran across when I was given two really neat gifts. Both were rings with all different colors of 100% rayon seam binding, and the other Petersham ribbon. These are incredibly convenient when I need to match a color to hem up a skirt, or trim the lapel of a jacket. You can order them with a minimum order of 1 yard. These are only a couple of the really neat things they have for sale on this website, I encourage you to check it out.

I recently made the cutest little purse out of some cute little Mizzou (where I am sending my daughter off to college)fabric.  It didn’t go together as easily as I had hoped.  Let me share with you a couple of things I have learned during this project that may be helpful.

1.  Read the pattern instructions before beginning.  I like to read the instructions several times to get a good visual of how everything will fit together.

2.  If the pattern is printed on paper like you would run through your printer, take the time to copy it onto some thinner paper.  Tissue paper works pretty good and it’s much easier to pin to your fabric.

3.  Don’t be afraid to improvise.  When you get to a point where things don’t seem to be going together as they should, it can sometimes be easier to alter things slightly instead of using the dreaded seam ripper.