Hello Urvashee what a great time teaching on Skype!  Gotta love technology from two different time zones we can have classes as though we are in the same room! 

Urvashee has some previous experience with pattern making so we are going ahead by leaps and bounds, today was only her third 1 hour class and she has mastered the sheath top already!  Today we added the side seam shaping along with the fish eye darts on both front and back with great success!  I also taught her how to take her own measurements so we can start working on patterns for herself.

Homework is to draft a sheath top as shown on page 45, compare the patterns on page 45 and write down the differences and similarities between them.  Next class is Thursday December 20 at 4 pm Central time, 5 pm Eastern time
Have a great couple of days! 

Hello all what a semester!  These ladies went from not knowing anything about pattern making to creating garments that looked like someone painted them on the bodies! The finished garment was graded and I can tell you they all did AMAZING!  There were 3 or 4 who received perfect scores!  The whole class really impressed me especially the beginners who had never even used a sewing machine before this class, they fit their bodies like pros!  The construction process takes a little longer to master but with practice it too will be perfected. 

We are off now for an extended winter break but the class decided they wanted to have a break from the break and do a knits class in January LOL!  I will get back to everyone with dates, I believe to get the most out of a one-off class it makes sense that it is a full day, 9 to 12, a one hour lunch break and then 1 to 4.  That way we will be able to complete a knit top from beginning to end; draft the pattern, cut the fabric and sew it together.  If everyone can have a pattern drafted before that class then we can shorten it possibly to a morning or afternoon, I will leave that up to the class. 

I hate to be the grinch but there is homework, it is going to be a long time to March so we need to keep the momentum going!

Homework is to create two more sleeveless dresses/jumpers, they can be for personal use or for someone else or mock ups for practice.The deadline for these in March 2019, they must be finished with facings the same way as the exam garments were done.The key to success is repetition, you have been taught how to take into account personal body issues, the exams were very well done, the bar has been set pretty high you have no one to blame but yourselves LOL! 

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!

Hello all I have been thinking about online video classes with youtube for a nominal monthly subscription fee.  To see if it would be something my community is interested in I have launched an online poll, please click here for the link to answer the yes or no question. 
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Maria

Welcome to a new student from Regina, Saskatchewan!  Urvashee just started with the basic block, she does have experience with pattern drafting but wanted to simplify the process somehow so after watching my youtube videos she decided to take the plunge and bought a kit a few years ago but then life happened and she could not begin the program.  Now it seems the right time for her to start so we did with our first class on Monday at 4 pm central time which is 5 eastern, so I had in my head I have to start at 4, got everything ready, tested the camera to make sure it worked, called Urvashee but there was no answer.  I was puzzled but then realized I should log on at 5 not 4!  Should have a wall with clocks for different time zones it seems LOL! 
Anyway what a great student Urvashee is so much so that there is homework on the first day!  What a surprise right former students, I could the eye rolls now :)

Homework is to draft 2 more basic blocks using different measurements:
Draft 1

• ½ bust 42                                       
• ½ waist 34                                      
• ½ hips 45                                         
• Front neck to waist 41
• Bust height 26
• ½ bust distance 8

Draft 2

• ½ bust 52                                       
• ½ waist 47                                     
• ½ hips 58                                     
• Front neck to waist 44
• Bust height 31
• ½ bust distance 11

They are to be done exactly as shown in class, we will be adding shaping to one of the fronts on Friday and possibly start on the back draft as well if time permits. 
Have a great couple of days!

Wow this is the second last class!  Hard to believe how quickly the time went, everyone was sad in class having come to this realization on Thursday.  We will re-convene in March after the worst of winter is over, the date is to be determined. 
On Thursday the class worked very hard on their final project, the jumper or dress, they learned how to install a lapped zipper.  For many it was the first time they had ever installed a zipper, one even ventured into an invisible zipper!  She executed the task with great ease and the zipper looked very professional even though my machine did not work quite as well as it should have the shank was too long for the invisible zipper foot making it difficult to demonstrate.... In any case the class worked hard and accomplished everything they were supposed to now it's on to the finishing next week. 
It seemed like we could sew together a knit top, it may still happen if the class completes all the homework and comes in ready to go to the next step.  The homework is quite minimal this week as the work needs to be done in class, if there is anything that is foggy please email me with your questions.  Good job I re-read the hand out, there was a typo so please read below and correct it on your sheet LOL!  Everyone makes mistakes every now and again!!!

Homework is to complete steps 3 and 4 on the hand out: 

• 3) Sew together the side seams, if unsure of the fit hand baste them for a fitting before machine stitching.  Match the notches and clippies or tailor tacks for maximum accuracy
• 4) If unsure of the fit, hand baste the shoulder inclines in place like the side seams for a fitting then fit the body (there was a typo in the hand out this is they way number 4 should read).  Do not machine stitch shoulder inclines at this point 
• Cut out interfacing as an exact copy of facing
• Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the facings in the same manner as the seam allowances for the zipper were fused in class with an up and down motion and a damp pressing cloth. 
• Sew together the facings at the sides only and press
• The bottom edge can be finished by using a serger if you have one or a rolled edge if you know how to sew it  
  

Have a great week!