Sewing Expo update

Went out to the Novi Sewing Expo this weekend. I love going to that event because you get a chance to talk to the independent pattern company designers and actually discuss the patterns with them.


I spent a bit of time at the SafTPockets booth and discussed my fitting problems with her. After trying on several sizes we discovered which patterns I needed to make in a smaller size and which patterns needed to be made in the recommended size. That saves me a lot of time and wasted fabric. Plus one pattern didn't fit me correctly in any size and we were able to determine the correct alterations based on the finished garments that I was trying on.


At the Sewing Workshop booth, I tried on several outfits from patterns that I've considered purchasing and discovered that those specific styles looked terrible on me. I'm so glad when I find this out BEFORE I took the time to make up the pattern from my own material.


And I came home from my workshop with a custom dress dummy. Wahoo. I can now fit my patterns directly to a replica of my own body. Though I'm not real happy with the shape. I think I ought to keep this in the kitchen as a great aid to convince myself to stay on a diet. I didn't realize that my posture makes me look about 5 months pregnant. It was still sitting in the living room because I need to finish smoothing out the armscyes when we had some friends over for drinks and snacks. I didn't think anything of it until I realized that the men in the group couldn't tear their eyes away from staring at the chest of my double. After several minutes of that, I really got weirded out knowing that they were (indirectly) staring at MY chest and I felt the need to move it out sight.


And the sewing fiascos continue... After replacing the missing pieces in the brown shirt, I discover that the pattern was for stretch knits only. Of course, I cut it out of a woven. Time to cut my losses on that one.... off to the trash with it. I feel like a complete sewing idiot with all these dumb mistakes. Fortunately, the replacement jumper pattern has arrived. Time to finish that and move on to fresh projects.