Tuesday 3 December 2013

Sales sales everywhere!!!

Ooh I have been a bad girl....

I have been stalking Butterick 5998 on sewingpatterns.com which is where I purchase most of my patterns (seeing as how expensive they can be in Australia). Alas - the new Buttericks are not showing up there yet - however they had a Simplicity sale - $2.99 so I just had to buy one or two or ten.... Then - guess what - Buttericks went on Sale at the Butterick McCall Vogue site at $2.99. Not only the Buttericks are on Sale, but Vogue and McCalls too - sooo - several more patterns are flying the friendly skies to Aus.

Lucky the holidays are coming up soon - It is going to be a true sewcation for me. Sister and BIL are coming for a visit but apart from that I will be sewing up a storm.

I have decided that the last week in December will be dedicated to UFOs and fixits so that I can start 2014 fresh. Then I started thinking about it - I have 4 items that need fixing and at least 5 UFOs.... hmmm - maybe more than a week. This will be after I finish my planned item for December's One Garment Per Month Challenge of course.

What will you be doing over Christmas?

On my post about my Pia Top I mentioned that I thought Suzanne Gray may be right about sewing sleeves in instead of doing them flat from hem of top to hem  of wrist and I had a couple of questions regarding that.

Now - I may be wrong but I feel that the sleeves would be more defined if it is sewn in (sorry - I can never get the right terminology)

The photos highlighted it for me - but then again - maybe it is just that the armhole is too low.

 
 
To me - it looks like the curve of the uninterrupted seam.. Anyway - I will do some experimental sewing with the next Pia and see if it makes a difference.

Next post I hope to have the StyleArc Barb pants done.

19 comments:

  1. I've been using a combination technique to set in sleeves. I sew the area from notch over the shoulder to the other notch as a flat seam. I then sew the underarm seam and apply that in the round. This seems to give me a very good result without lots of wrestling. Good luck!

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    1. What Judith said! I was reading your post and thinking through the problem (I set in flat wherever I can), and I wondered if a 'half and half' solution would work well . . . . and Judith nailed it! Incidentally, I took a Palmer/Pletsch jacket fitting course, and it was explained that a more fitted sleeve actually gives more movement as your arm is not being restricted by fabric when you lift your arm up - I had never really thought about it before!

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  2. I sew my sleeves in very, very, very slowly. I'm talk'n slowly.
    All the best for your sewcation Beajay. Your sewing is going really well.
    I'm going to 'shut up shop' over the break.

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  3. Hi BeaJay, I agree, a sewn in sleeve is always more defined - however, these all in one sleeves certainly have the advantage of quick sewing.

    Good luck with your Xmas plans - my DH does cover for four days at the hospital - so guess what I'm going to do! We'll sew along together BeaJay :)

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  4. I like your idea of starting 2014 afresh. I hope you do manage to clear up all those fiddly jobs. Enjoy your new patterns!

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  5. New Year fresh start sounds great. Looks like you are going to be busy.

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  6. I would need more than a week to clear my UFOs too, but I like the sentiment of starting with a clean slate. I prefer to sew set in sleeves but that's because I sew mainly with woven fabrics and you do get a more defined side seam and shoulder seam intersection.

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  7. For knits, I always sew sleeves in flat. To me, it's easier to use the stretch of the knit to control ease rather than using ease stitches. If you need a closer fit in the sides, start there by taking a deeper seam allowance. BTW, I am a 'do what works' type of sewer. =) Perhaps a combination of sewing in the round and sewing flat will work as well.

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  8. I have to confess I haven't even sewed seams in flat yet. I need to try it, but I guess I know how to do it the other way, so that's what I've done. I want to get a lot of sewing done in December, but I don't know if that's going to happen. I think my mother is coming for the holidays, so not much will get done while company is here.

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  9. If you sew sleeves from the hem to the wrist, all in one fell swoop, you can take in whatever areas you want and snug up side seams at the same time. It is a time saver and also when you are pinning yourself, it is way easier to see what is needed to be removed. Sewing knit sleeves in the round should not make any difference in the final appearance on the outside but adds an extra step by doing side seams, sleeve underarm seams and finally the armhole. Possible in wovens it would make a difference as the seams would be pressed flat open or pressed flat to one side. I envy you your "sewcation" and fresh start to 2014!

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  10. I think the only problem here is that the armhole is too low. I see you will be very busy in the coming days with all those treasures you bought, Oh, Lady! That is wonderful! Happy week.

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  11. It does look like the armhole is too low which could be why your getting a more batwing look to the sleeves. Sounds like you've got plenty of sewing to do and will end up with quite a few new clothes to add to your collection. I'd love a sewcation but we're heading off to Bali for 2 weeks over Xmas in a private villa. Maybe I could take my sewing machine with me lol

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  12. Enjoy your sewcation. I am hoping to spend a lot of my two week break in my sewing room too. So many plans...

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  13. Have fun with your sewcation..Look forward to seeing your pants.. ..and best wishes for all your upcoming sewing plans.

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  14. Yoo hoooo...Beajay....you've won the re-draw of my Pattern Pyramid!

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  15. Oh my, sewing pattern sales, such a dangerous time. But definitely good for stocking up on goodies :) Have fun with your sewing holiday!

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  16. Hi Beverley,
    I have a question about buying patterns - do you find you have to get quite a few to make the postage to Oz pay? I tend to wait for Spotlight, Lincraft or Clegs sale, but there are a couple of patterns not released here yet.
    Can't offer any advice on the sleeves as I am a newbie.
    Sarah

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    1. Hi Sarah, I find that I wait until they are on sale at SewingPatterns.com - usually the brand on sale is $2.99 and others are $5.99 (not on sale). In my last order I got 11 and the shipping was $31.95 which means each on sale pattern came out to around $5.90 and the non sale items $8.90. I don't know what price they are on sale at Spotties. I do love internet shopping - so much easier and I can often get products earlier than they are released her is Aus.

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