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Pressing Templates
From e-mail comes this good question:
"I am intriqued as to what the oak tag pressing template is. I doubt there is such a thing available in New Zealand. Would you be so kind as to describe just what it is. I guess it is a card with lines at a set distance apart which can withstand heat and moisture. I suppose I could make one.
Thank you
Barbara"
I learned this wonderful trick from Mary Cravens of Palo Alto many years ago, and her engineer husband gave her the idea. At the time she was making one of a kind, impeccably sewn men's shirts for an upscale shop in San Francisco and her goal was to sew quickly but with great accuracy.
You can make oak tag templates from a manila file folder. I use the legal size as they are longer. I keep a battery of these templates next to the iron to use when pressing to achieve a straight line. You can use them to wrap the fabric around --- I use a 1 inch template for pocket tops and hems.
But the template I use most often is a strip about 3" wide with lines marked on it. Here is how to do it.
Cut a strip about 3" wide, then mark lines every half or quarter inch using pencil (pencil won't bleed onto the fabric as you press. Voila! Use the template for even pressing any time you want a nice straight line. When the template becomes limp from the steam, make a new one.
Wouldn't a set of these templates make a wonderful little gift for sewing friends?
You can see me using a template to create a simple neck detail on a t-shirt in my CD, Where Did You Get That T-Shirt.
The accompanying photos show how simple and effective templates are! |
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This is the template I use all the time, slightly warped and a bit grubby, but it works perfectly well. I punch a hole at one end of the paper and hang right next to the iron
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| | | | Wrap the fabric edge around the template and press---fast and accurate! |
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THE One Belt
Every woman needs one great belt in her wardrobe. This spectacular, adjustable belt with double strand leather is available in bronze as shown or in sterling silver. The sterling version has an elegant antique patina. Straps adjust to any waist size. |
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Check out these Video Clips!
David Coffin has posted intriguing video clips on his blog, called My Virtual Workshop. See clips from my CDs as well as tips on sewing leather from sewing maven Kathryn Brynne and from David's superb CD on pants.
This gives you the opportunity to see for yourself how the video clips on a CD-rom work. As a teacher, I am very excited about this format. Makes learning and teaching how-to information immediate and easy.
Bookmark this link as David will be adding new video clips. |
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| Link to David Coffin's Blog |
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Design Outside the Lines 2008 Retreats
I lost data for people who have registered for the Design Outside the Lines 2008 retreats in Santa Barbara, Sisters and Taos. If you registered for a retreat between September 1-Oct 25th, please contact me via e-mail so we can re-construct the participant list. (If you contacted me after Oct 25th, thank you, some folks have done this already).
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If you want to sign up for a retreat on the phone or talk to a real person, call Diane Ericson at 707-540-0205. You can also sign up on this website or on Diane's website. www.dianeericson.com
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| Click for more information on 2008 Design Outside the LInes |
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| Register for Design Ouside the Lines |
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| New Fabrics |
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People are always asking me, "Where did you get that fabric?" This fabric collection began when I started buying small amounts of fabric from my own stash to sell to students in classes. It has grown to a slightly larger collection of things I find in my travels, from designer friends and offbeat sources. I buy the kind of fabrics I seek for my own sewing, for myself and to use in the Vogue patterns I design. I look for fabric that I want to incorporate into my own wardrobe, and search out great basics for pants, jackets and t-shirts as well as oddball pieces to use for accents and trims.
Some of the basic fabrics in dark colors don't photograph well. If you want a sample of something, you can call and ask my assistant Shelley Heon for a description or send a SASE with a specific request for a sample.
The cotton-lycra knits are a staple.......my source provides fabric for manufacturers, and has plenty of stock on hand. I'll add and change colors according to the season. I've searched high and low for this fabric and am pleased to offer a range of colors. The weight is perfect for t-shirts, and the fabric is a pleasure to sew. Colors are gorgeous. We include a set of these cotton-lycra color swatches inside every T-Shirt Cd-rom.
Another basic in this collection are what I refer to as 'foolproof pant fabrics'. A foolproof fabric is one that is sure to be successful in a particular garment. In the fashion industry, some fabrics are designated 'bottom weight' (pants and skirts), others 'top weight' (could mean jackets or shirts depending on the fabric). Sounds pretty obvious, but haven't we all made the fatal mistake of making a garment where the fabric is not right for the style. I found fabulous (and slimming) pants using this type and bottom weight 'good' polyester fabric in Paris, and I am delighted to offer something I will be using in my own wardrobe to you. We currently offer brown and black in both knit and stretch woven microfiber. The weight and drape are what makes the fabric 'foolproof' for pants......this translates to 'slimming and flattering'. In other words, the fabric won't add bulk to your body.
New fabrics are arriving regularly, so check the following link to Marcy's fabric collection often: |
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Link to Marcy's Fabric Collection
The Fabric Collection is a new category on Marcy's website navigation bar. More fabrics coming soon. |
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Marcy"s top selling new pattern, Vogue 8430. We sold out of this pattern at the Minneapolis show. Thanks to those of you who have sent me photos of YOUR versions of this pattern!
See renditions of Vogue 8430 at the link below, and click on the link to Vogue to purchase directly from the Vogue Patterns website. |
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| Click to see more versions of V 8430 |
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| Click for link to purchase Vogue 8430 from Vogue Patterns website |
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Marcy Tilton
PO Box 2161
Cave Junction, OR 97523
541-592-2969 |
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