Schoolhouse Tunic Makeover!

We all love the Schoolhouse Tunic from Sew Liberated. It's pretty easy to sew, it lends itself to many different types of fabric, Sew Liberated was one of the first indie pattern companies, and it's EASY TO ALTER! This tutorial is great if you have already taken our Schoolhouse Tunic class or if you are sewing at the intermediate level.

I personally need a little bit of shaping at the waist, even if it's a garment that I want to pull on over my head. So I added waist darts to my first try... and quickly realized that I wanted to close up the front so I didn't have to wear a camisole all the time.

Here's an EASY method for closing up the front of your Schoolhouse - you can add waist darts or not - if you do, make sure it still goes over your head easily by sewing a muslin first from your altered bodice pattern!

You'll need a pencil, your clear ruler and your pattern - just cut around the front bodice pieces and the placket to separate them, don't cut your size out yet. If you are working from a pattern that has already been cut, you may need to add a bit of tissue to the bottom edge if you are adding a waist dart.

Introducing Christine and Haley, and Marisa from Creative Thursday!

As you might have noticed in some of Shaerie’s recent blog posts, there are a couple of new shop girls at Sew L.A., so I thought an introduction was in order! I’m Christine Haynes. You might have seen me in a class, as I’ve been teaching in the classroom for over a year. But recently I started assisting Shaerie with the managing of the shop. Fun! Also new in the shop is the lovely Haley Glenn. Haley is fresh from fashion school and such a friendly face to help you with your sewing needs.

One of the greatest things about teaching and working in the shop is getting to know our amazing students. In a class a few months ago, I re-met (we had actually originally met ages ago at The Urban Craft Center) the lovely Marisa of Creative Thursday. She was in class to learn to make items from her soon-to-be-released fabric line with Andover Fabrics. We bonded immediately and after a few meetings she very kindly asked if I would be interested in making a garment from her adorable fabric so people could see that it was for more than just quilts or kid’s projects. After one glance at her prints, I knew immediately that the answer was a resounding YES! I love all the prints, but knew right away that the Bird Basket in teal was the perfect fit for me and our Best Party Dress pattern.

Since receiving the fabrics we ordered for the shop, I can tell you that I’m not the only one that knew Marisa’s fabrics would be great for all kinds of projects, kids and beyond. We’ve seen students make things like wallets, dresses, cape linings, and more! And as you see in the photo of me and Haley, she too knew the Bird Basket print, this time in gray, would be fantastic for the Best Party Dress! Haley’s version is customized with a cute white Peter Pan collar and golden buttons down the front. Adorable!

 We have sold the prints Marisa designed so well that as I write this, we are already low and/or sold out of nearly all her fabric. But don’t fret, as we will be reordering more so you too can have some for your very own. And look for more blog posts from both me and Haley in the future! Tutorials, insight into the indie sewing scene, fashion reports, tips, and more! 

'Meet the Gang'

Fall Quilt Market 2011, Last Post

This wraps up our coverage of this fall's Quilt Market, which took place in Houston in November this year. Christine and I are already planning our spring trip to Kansas City, so if anyone has food  and / or museum recommendations, please pass them along! Quilt Market is our biggest trade show, where we meet all the fabric designers and the companies that carry them. Some of these fabrics have already arrived, but most will be showing up in a few weeks and into January. 

First, here are a few prints from Lizzy House's 'Outfoxed' collection that are already in stock. The first print pictured is the story print - foxes, hedgehogs and bunnies!

And there are two prints that go with just about everything.

( perfect for ties ----------> )

Marisa Haedike of Creative Thursday has created a little world with a whole cast of characters for her debut collection 'Meet the Gang'. The tiny bird print in gray is seriously almost sold out after just a week, but no worries - we will get more! I can think of at least three Party Dresses made from this fabric... you know who you are...

Congrats to Alexander Henry for winning a prize for the best-decorated booth! Their booth always looks amazing, so that's no surprise. 

We ordered most of our fabric from them before the Market, but here's a sample of what is coming:

...and a few already in the shop!

I can't help it - I just adore Jane Sassaman. I love the colors she picks, and that her fabric always has bugs and weird plants! Check out this dress made from a new border print! 

We ordered a bunch of fabric from a new designer called Parson Gray - some really subtle and beautiful prints in muted tones that would work well for just about any style. Turns out it's Amy Butler's husband, David - and I can imagine THAT conversation... 

David: That doesn't look too hard.

Amy: *snort*

However it went down, he sure came up with some great fabric!

One of the nicest things is walking around the market looking at how all the designers furnished their booths - there's an awful lot of creativity involved! I love spotting my favorites, like Anna Maria Horner:

Amy Butler:

Kaffe Fassett:

and Tina Givens:

Denyse Schmidt is re-releasing some of her more popular prints in different colorways...

And lastly, these gorgeous feather prints from Martha Negley are two of my favorite prints of the entire market. The colors are just beautiful!

That sums it up for this year! We'll let people know when the fabric gets here for sure... and stay tuned for many more posts about us turning fabric into things we like to wear.

Colette's Macaron Dress and a Quick Skirt Change

Dress post! I finished my Macaron dress just in time for my friend Jimm's wedding. As usual, I was handsewing practically in the car on the way to the ceremony... this seems to happen at every formal event I ever go to. I have had my eye on this dress ever since it was released by Colette - especially after seeing all the cute versions of it being made all over the country - and when Christine decided to do it as a class I thought I'd try it out.

The pattern features a top contrast yoke and a really cool sweetheart illusion neckline. It has little cap sleeves and a bit of a bubble skirt with pleats with secret pockets. The bubble part was the only thing I changed as I really don't need that shape on my body. It looks great on a lot of peeps though! I chose fancy fabrics since this is a more formal dress - Nani Iro's 'Fuccra Rakuen' in peach and a silk/cotton blend in espresso for the contrast: