Stitcher's Guild Reloaded

Still no SWAP sewing, but I've picked up a nice wool rib knit in a blue color way, and also the StyleArc Bob pants in their cyber monday sale. https://www.stylearc.com/shop/sewing-patterns/bob-woven-pant-multi-size/  I may be on the hunt for a rayon/tencel twill for these, I think they'd hang beautifully. I've also got my inspiration piece set, so there's some decisions made.

Fun to see some folks already sewing in prep!

Happy to be in good company, Wendy!

What a great discussion! @CCL I feel for you on the heavy workload and other delays. Great help in those two photos. The instructions are quite intuitive to me - am going to try that out.

@Ginger-sews: That's like a mini-SWAP in a weekend!

As usual, I am unlikely to actually have anything finished before I leave on holiday for Christmas, but I am patting myself on the back as this weekend I traced two patterns, cut out two toiles, and started sewing one toile together. That is a definite improvement for me on the pre-SWAP periods of other years. There is hope for me yet!

I do find sewing so relaxing and wish I had more time to invest in it...

I think you can use bias strips of linen and there is a bias nylon tape about 1" wide which can also be used --- something that was available for finishing seams before sergers were common -- boy am I dating myself!  You need to match the weight of the bias to the fashion fabric.

Okay - Not sure how legible these are, but here's the Singer and Betzina instructions:


Bias Strip set in sleeves Singer Tailoring Book



Bias Strip set in sleeves Sandra Betzina Power Sewing

If I think of other things I use the wigan for, will post.

Quote from: Towanda on December 02, 2019, 07:03:03 amCCL - I know that you are really busy but can you do a post on using wigan? I bought some years ago and don't understand how and why you use it. Thanks

Towanda - I am just learning myself!  I believe it's basically the equivalent of precut "hair canvas" on the bias. So I would assume one could use it where bias hair canvas is used for structuring.

I have been using it for hems or cuff edges to give them a little structure and support.  Recently I added wigan to the sleeve hems of my jacket.  Here's a quick photo.  Before the step shown in the photo, I tried the jacket on, decided where I wanted the sleeve hem, basted a line, and then notched the sleeve seams at the hem line to reduce bulk. Placed the wigan so the center was along the basted hemline.  I ran a line of what one of my books calls a permanent basting right along the hem edge (the black thread in the photo). Then I catch-stitched the edges to the sleeve seams.


V7975 wigan for sleeve hem - invisible basting

Where I am really loving the wigan is in setting sleeves.  I just substituted wigan for the lamb's wool in the Singer Tailoring book's discussion on using bias strips of lamb's wool to set sleeves. - Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing book has the same basic technique - though she suggests it for leather or difficult to sew fabrics.  I will scann those pages and come back and post them.  The first time I tried the  technique, I couldn't see how it would work, but it did and has the several times since then that I have used it.

I did use the wigan to set the sleeves on the same jacket as in the above photo, but unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the innards, but here is one of the finished jacket. 

V7975  view C jacket finished

V7975- jacket finished - back

I will try to get the instructions up by this evening.

Oh - and Ginger-Sews, love that two piece outfit (and nice to see someone else does bare feet photos!)

I do a significant amount of hand basting as well.  It just makes the sewing process smoother and more enjoyable for me.  I also prefer to use woven interfacing in almost everything rather than fusible.

@Ginger-sews, bravo on your Thanksgiving sewing progress!  I am currently knee-deep in finishing a T-shirt quilt for a family friend, so I am not making much progress on garment/SWAP sewing yet.

Some interesting discussion on the 2020 SWAP.  I certainly don't need any more clothes so I'm not going to participate except to pull together a coordinating wardrobe and fill in the holes.  I'm cheering on the participants though.

And a 'live action' shot...

Here are my pre-swap Thanksgiving sews.  The tops are 3/4 sleeve tunic length tees. Made all on the serger with coverstitch neckline and hems. The skirt is a simple pullon I've made before - all serger, too.

The pictures aren't the greatest (not great light to sew under either) - the colors are brighter and not so yellow. But, you get the idea.






I have some nice golden colored stretch panne to make a nice dressier tee for the swap using this top pattern.

Making progress!
Ginger