Book Review...The Act of Sewing

 I found The Act of Sewing by Sonya Philip recently at my local library.  I am familiar with the author as she is the designer behind 100 Acts of Sewing Patterns which is a basic sewing pattern line.  Look it up.  

The book starts like many sewing books do now listing tools and techniques, discussing terminology, fabric, working with patterns, seam finishes, hems, and finishing curved edges.  All necessary for beginning sewing. Next, we hop into the section where the gold is.  The gold being the patterns.  This book contains four patterns - top, pants, skirt, and shirt.  This chapter provides the instructions for each pattern.  There is suggestions on making a muslin for each pattern.

The next section is where things start getting interesting - shorten/length, make wider/narrower, shoulder adjustments, bust/chest adjustments, and rise/seat adjustments.  Making the muslin can help you  determine what changes are needed to fit the pattern the way you want it to fit.  Next, discussion of various neckline styles and how to achieve them; different types of closures and facings; sleeves changes and how to achieve them; how to change the body of the garment by adding yokes and button plackets; waistband changes; different types of hems; adding embellishments such as gathers, pleats, tucks, ruching, and pockets.

The next section is all about combining the patterns to make a dress, a tunic, a tie-front shirt, and a jumpsuit.

All in all, this is a great book.  I do think that a beginner could do something with the patterns in this book and make pattern changes as well.  The book is a good investment if you are willing to try the patterns. 

I have added it to my library.  I think next year I will be playing a lot with the patterns in this book.  I just need to check the stash and see what might be appropriate there.  If I do not much in the stash and that is possible, then I was start looking for fabric that would be appropriate for the various projects.  

I am thinking of a lot of possibilities especially with playing with necklines.  As much as I like getting new patterns, it is very frustrating to do the fitting on each individual pattern.  It is very freeing to use the same pattern over and over.  I must have made five tank tops using the fabrics-store tank pattern and it was free.  

Hope I have given you food for thought.

Happy Stitching!

The Act of Sewing Book...

 Back in October of last year, I invested in the Act of Sewing by Sonya Philip with the intention of playing with the patterns over winter.  Somewhere around that time period, I got Covid and spent three long weeks with it.  At this point, I got the top pattern traced in a size that I thought was appropriate at the time.  This pattern is very much like Shirt No 1 in the 100 Acts of Sewing pattern line.  I was really looking forward to playing and trying various modifications.  Fast forward a couple of weeks, I tripped and fall fracturing my knee cap.  This was 12 long weeks of definitely not being able to sew.  Then we decided to move my Mom to an apartment.  There went another 2 months of helping with packing, moving, unpacking, selling a house and goods in the house, closing on the house, etc.  

Now we are into April, spring sewing is here but where is my boo?.  Here it is August and I have found my book with the already traced pattern.  Maybe this will be my late fall/winter playing this year. It will definitely be in between other projects because I have many projects already planned for fall/winter.  

Here is what I am planning:

1.  Make the top pattern as is and get it fitted. 

2.  Modify the top pattern for a v neckline.

3.  Modify the top pattern with a split front.

Now, I just need to figure out how much fabric need for each project and whether or not there is stash fabric available for the project.  If I do not have fabric to make a muslin or a top, I will purchase some fabric.  Muslin fabric will come from the walmart pre-cut bin.  The finished project will be whatever I find and I am willing to wear. 

Have you seen this book and work through it?  What were your results?  Happy  or not happy.  

Happy Stitching!

PS...Remember to check out Darla Sews at Destashify.  I add new items frequently.  Please, help me bring my stash under control. 

Washaway Wonder Tape...

 For years I have used Collins Washaway Wonder Tape to help with the sewing.  Any time that you need to stitch close to an edge and do not want to use a pin, the washaway wonder tape is the answer.  Of course you could always baste, if you are enjoying slow sewing.

The washaway wonder tape is a tape that is for basting and you can sew through it without gumming up your needle.  Collins brand is the one I have always used.  Unfortunately, it has gotten extremely hard to find.  So, I have started looking for alteratives and I have found two that seems to work well.  Here is the first one:

The Dritz Washaway Wonder Tape was my first tape to try.  This tape seemed to work well.  

The second tape that I tried was this one:

This is the Wawak Wash Away Tape.  

All three of these tapes are double-sided adhesive tapes that dissolve in water.  Of the three tapes, the Wawak is the most cost effective.  It is about half the price of the other two tapes.  Unfortunately, it is out of stock at Wawak until October.    The Dritz and Wawak tapes look and act like the same tape.  Both look different than the Collins tape.  

I found the Dritz tape on Amazon and the Wawak tape at a new local fabric/craft store.  The Collins tape might be found in quilt stores.  I have not been to any local quilt stores to see what they might have in stock.  I do need to visit to see if anyone carries thread because it is a true bummer to have to wait for thread to arrive to start a project.

Happy Stitching!