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Category Archives: Tips

Trace those master pattern pieces!

Trace those master pattern pieces!

I’ve received several questions in the past week about what to use when tracing pattern pieces for repeated use (paper? tissue? interfacing?). My absolute favorite choice is Swedish Tracing Paper, which is washable, reusable interfacing (“paper” is a bit of a misnomer). You can even make your fitting toiles from this stuff, as it will [...]

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ZipZip’s Bodiced Petticoat Tutorial

ZipZip’s Bodiced Petticoat Tutorial

One of my long-time customers and forum members has a lovely sewing blog that she fills with beautiful photos as well as helpful tips and tricks. She has been putting together a Regency Era bodiced petticoat from my instructions and posting detailed photos as she goes.

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Why Doesn’t This Look Like The Pattern Cover? (Pattern Fitting Tips Galore!)

Why Doesn’t This Look Like The Pattern Cover? (Pattern Fitting Tips Galore!)

So, you’ve made your first outfit from one of my patterns. It went together without a hitch…until you put it on and stepped in front of a mirror. “Wait a minute!” you exclaimed. “This waistline is way too high! This sleeve just doesn’t hit me where I thought it would! How am I supposed to be comfortable in this?”

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Fitting Help for Miss Petite

Fitting Help for Miss Petite

If you are usually a size 0 or 2 in off-the-rack sizes and have a petite frame (particularly if you are narrow through the shoulders with a measurement of less than 15″ from shoulder to shoulder), you will need to make some adjustments to your bodice pattern pieces to obtain a perfect fit.

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How to Resize a Pattern

How to Resize a Pattern

No matter how well designed a pattern may be, it cannot fit each individual perfectly. Each human body has its own quirks, and each person has different fitting needs. You may find that you need to enlarge a pattern beyond the sizes available on the sheet, or you might need to shrink it. Perhaps you would like to reduce a woman’s pattern to fit a little girl. Or maybe you found an out-of-print pattern you’d love to make … but the sizes are too small for you. Anything is possible once you know the basics of resizing patterns!

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Video Tutorial: How to Understitch a Seam

Video Tutorial: How to Understitch a Seam

Understitching creates a beautiful, professional finish to linings and button plackets. Here’s a video to show you how to do it!

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Modifying Your Regency Gown Bodice

Modifying Your Regency Gown Bodice

There are so many fun ways you can alter your gown bodice to make it uniquely your style! Below I’ve illustrated two additional ways to change the look of your gown. The first method creates a fitted bodice with darts under the bustline. The second gives you a more “fan”-shaped bodice with the gathers in the center. I strongly recommend that you play around with a muslin bodice or two first until you achieve the exact fit and look you want. You might want to try different neckline treatments while you are at it (I’ve done a bodice with a “V” neckline and darts).

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Video Tutorial: How to Make a Flat-Felled Seam

Video Tutorial: How to Make a Flat-Felled Seam

Flat-felled seams make a beautiful finish. They were common in the Regency era and are called for in my chemise pattern. Here’s a video to walk you through the seam!

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How to Make a Bodiced Petticoat from the Regency Gown Pattern

How to Make a Bodiced Petticoat from the Regency Gown Pattern

I’ve received many requests to bring out a pattern for a bodiced petticoat. But if you already have the Regency Gown pattern, you don’t need another pattern to make a petticoat; you can just use the gown pattern! [Note: Ladies who are sizes 18-26 D and DD can use the Regency Gown supplement to make [...]

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ePattern Video Tutorials

ePattern Video Tutorials

If you’re new to ePatterns, you’ll want to watch this three-part series on how to put together your pattern sheets before you take the plunge. ePatterns are printable PDF files that create “tiles” you piece together to create your master pattern sheets. With a little effort, you’ll be on your way!

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