Waechter's Blog

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lets Talk Interfacing...

Interfacings can be puzzling. Why do you use them, how to you use them and which one do you pick? So I set out to pick the brains of the quite knowledgeable Waechterettes.

French Fuse

It's the long standing joke that if you ask us all the same question you'll get 8 different answers. Because sewing is an art as well as a skill, all of our answers reflect what we love to sew and the way we inject our style into our skill.



Here's what was said:



Judith -our resident perfectionist: I've never found a fusible that doesn't bubble a little. Bubbling interfacing drives me crazy so I prefer to use silk organza. Pre-Shrink it, we always carry black and white in the store. There is virtually no weight added and I find it to be the perfect amount of stabilizing for most projects. It is very important to use interfacing for fabrics that may stretch out of shape.



Elizabeth -our detail maven: Honestly, I use sew-ins and one main reason is because I have a junky iron and have had problems with fusibles moving around after completing a garment. I use the light weight and medium sew-ins and love them. Basting the interfacings in means that they won't move around. I will admit that I tried my hand at the fusible cotton lawn on a organdy shirt and it receives high, high marks because it provided enough weight while still maintaining the transparency.



Elaine -quilter and tailor: I use a woven fusible or French Fuse for cotton garments. I love the weight of a fusible for waistbands. Of course, if I'm doing tailoring I use the old fallback: Hair Canvas. Waechter's has a fusible Hair Canvas that is great.



Karen -artist and free spirit: French Fuse all the way. Use it on light weight sewing projects, linen, rayon, and even on some silk. It's fast, quick and easy.



Laura Casey -color and coordinating genius, purse queen: French Fuse for dressmaking. I always have 3 yards of it in my sewing studio in both black and white. It's easy and adds no weight to a fabric. I like the fusible because it allows me to just deal with the one piece of fabric after it's been ironed on. Of course, I prefer a heavier interfacing for purse making, but it has to be iron on no matter what. Quick and easy.



Linda -technique guru: I use batiste cotton or organza. I will use 505 spray to temporarily attach it. I use those interfacings so that it won't add heft to a fabric. Use interfacing to give a piece body or support.



Sarahbeth -wild child: I love a good shirt. There's nothing better than a men's shirt made with feminine wiles, but I can't stand a droopy collar. The crisper the better. Sew in wovens give firm support. Also - I love a lightweight knit. There is a fusible nude color tricot interfacing that is to die for use it on featherweight knits.



Joyce -our heirloom sewing queen: I love the fusible cotton lawn. Use it on voile, liberty and other lightweight cottons. It has a wonderful weight and drape. Perfect for heirloom sewing and lightweight pretty things.



Find all of these interfacings on our interfacing page at http://www.waechters.com/

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A Quiet Afternoon in the Sewing Room...

Well we all know we just can't keep Laura Casey from sewing, creating and dreaming! Here's her latest fun project: Perennial Pajama Pants!!! Inspired by the new fantastic flannels that we are receiving for winter, she couldn't help but take an old favorite pattern and give it a twist.

Flannel:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HEIRLOOM-12757&Category_Code=NewProd

Sign up for her Perennial Pant Class to receive one on one help and fantastic ideas about how to make this pattern sing for you. Tuesday October 13th 10-2.

In the mean time - enjoy these photos and some Laura Casey sewin' comments:

"After seeing the great flannel's Waechter's got in - I NEEDED some... so 2 & 1/2 yds -cut washed and thrown in the dryer - and it didn't shrink and inch - not one!"
"We all know this is my favorite pattern - so after using it to bits -I've done myself the favor of copying it onto tracing paper ... nice and sturdy."

"I love using pattern weights - I can lay out all the pieces and make sure they fit without pinning and re-pinning - it saves so much time - just move and go!"

"I always use 1 1/4" elastic -for every pant garment - and I don't care what color it is either - no one sees it once it's in. Also I like to put my elastic in as Lois Hinse patterns show - it's neat and gives a more professional look."


This is a detail of the Perennial Pant Darts - I love the look in flannel!

Friday, September 04, 2009

Beautiful September

I think of September as one of those perfect months - and not just because it happens to be my birthday month. Nope - I just love September because of the gorgeous bright blue skies, cool mornings and nights and fantastic stylish outfit possibilities that go with it!


I caught Ms. Joyce wearing a simply decadent cowl shift dress and walking her dog into the village to hand deliver a potted orchid. Now I ask you, can it get any better? I just had to steal her picture...





Then there's our display queen - Ms. Laura - who hit the nail on the head when she put together this collection of jackets - just in time for jacket season:





What's that, you want to see the details up close?




I can't wait to get my hands on the silk velvet I bought and make a fantastic fall jacket. If velvet's not your style - how about our brand new faux Persian lamb? It's soft and will keep you stylish and warm throughout the winds of autumn...


Happy September,


-Sarahbeth and the Waechterettes

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Paper Doll Wonderland Part 2!

You've waited - you've watched - and been oh so patient! Here's part 2 of the Paper Doll Wonderland.

So we've got our great dolls all ready and we've got our great paperdoll clothes fabric:


http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12003&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Now what?


Loosely cut out the clothing you'll want. Leave the tabs on or cut them off - we did some of both. We choose not to make the shoes but you easily can following these same steps:



Now give your dresses a little backing - with some woven fusible interfacing (fusible only on one side this time). Use your iron and fuse it to the wrong side of your dress:



Then back your dresses with a lightweight fabric - use something that doesn't have a print so that it doesn't show through - Joyce used a cotton/lurex shimmery number. Her theory is - if you're going to give that little girl in your life some fun, fabulous frivolity - might as well make it shimmer and shine!


Okay - now get out your thin elastic and tack it with a few stitches on either side of the middle of your clothes - do the same to the shoes if you have chosen to make them too.


So it will look like this:


Here are the finished fronts of our dresses - I love the look of the tabs:


And here are the backs of our dollies with their dresses on:

And of-course - what you've really been waiting for - here are the girls in their pretty dresses from the front!!!


Enjoy! Be sure to check out our next Sew WOW issue where the dollie dress -complete with hidden pocket and dolls makes its debut!!!

From all of us here at Waechters - happy sewing!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Laura's Lucy Skirt


Well you know our Laura Casey - she can't resist a bright colored print and a cute project. She tackled this girl's skirt and headband pattern by Bananafana in a day and gave us some pointers. We just had to show you her finished piece! Does it get much stinkin' cuter?
Fabric = Sandi Henderson Dahlia:

Trim = Pink Rick Rack:

and Wired Satin Stripe Berry Ribbon:

Laura says:
"I made it in no time - it only has 3 pieces!"

"I used my favorite notion: Steam-a-Seam - this thing is just great! I used to think it was just one more thing to buy, but it really makes my life easier. The hem just flies when I use this notion. "

"If you have an edge foot -use it. It makes hemming anything close easy -making you look oh so good!"

"I had just a great time - got to use all my fun trim ideas, and I made 2 in an afternoon!"

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Everything is Coming up Poppies

Do you ever need a little design inspiration? Well I do - and sometimes playing in my fabric stash will do the trick, or taking a walk and looking at all the designs of nature fit the bill. Last week I saw a gorgeous lone poppy, and I started thinking...

Here are some dynamic color combinations that one lone flower had me dream up:


The fabric shown under the ribbon is a hand painted Silk Chiffon with Chiffon petals:
The ribbon is actually called Poppies:

This red purple cross dyed silk dupioni is just beautiful:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=DUP-5121&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

and ribbon:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Ribbon-12193&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

And who doesn't need a deep red and black cross dyed dupioni in their stash?

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=DUP-7120&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Yarn:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Yarn-12184&Product_Count=&Category_Code=


Oh my, of course - the most poppy-inspired ribbons I have ever seen. The top five are hand dyed gorgeous hues. The bottom ribbon is a sweet woven field of pink poppies.

Ribbons from top to bottom:

1.Hand dyed silk velvet in color Hot Flash:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trim-10067-RibbonSilkVelvet&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

2. Hand dyed silk ribbon in Hot Flash

3. Hand dyed silk ribbon in American Beauty:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trims-5221-Ribbon&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

4.Hand dyed silk ribbon in China Doll:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trims-0978-Ribbon&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

5. Woven Ribbon with Pink Poppies:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=TRIM-10445&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Last but not least - you need buttons to go with your vision of poppies - so here are a few that I just love that fit the bill:

Top to bottom:

1 & 2. Plastic Button with Brown Squiggles:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-6922-10798&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

3. Art Deco Resin Flower in Brown and Grey:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-12216&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

and 4. Art Deco Resin Flower in Ecru:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-12215

I hope you found plenty of inspiration to keep you going during these dog days of summer.

Happy Dreaming and Sewing!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Paper Doll Wonderland Part 1

It doesn't get much cuter than this fabric. When I saw this vintage paper doll and coordinating outfit fabric - I couldn't wait to get out my scissors and go to town!



http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12005&Product_Count=&Category_Code=


Can't you just see an outfit made out of this fabric - with a doll size pocket and dollie in it. Well - we did and we're sewing it up as we speak. But I'm getting ahead of myself, first, let me share our first fabric doll project. What's better for little gals than a bunch of fabric paper dolls that don't rip. Better yet, you can wash them off when they have tea party crumpet stains.

I cut around 4 dollies - using different poses:




Adhere transweb onto the back of each doll:



Cut out the dollie from the transweb. You can cut closely as the dollies will now be put onto a heavy interfacing that will stabilize them. Take the paper backing off transwebed back of dollie and adhere timtex or a heavy interfacing.




We're now going to cover the back of each of our dolls with a pretty backing fabric (we used black polka dot). Iron transweb onto the back of each backing fabric. Now adhere the backing to the back of the timtex - the back of your dolls.


After all that ironing comes the fun part - cut them out! You can cut as close to the line as you like.



Small scissors are great for this.


Our dollies are coming to life!


Now stitch around the gals as close to the cut edge as you dare. We used smoke invisible thread on top (and of course a regular bobbin of white thread).

Meet sisters Emma Grace, twins: Alma and Lucy and their good friend Caroline:


and just so they know who they are - we've labeled them:





Is there anything more stinkin' cute than these little gals! Well stay tuned - you haven't seen their dresses and shoes yet... that's part 2 of our Paper Doll Wonderland!

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12003&Product_Count=&Category_Code


Happy sewing, dreaming, creating! From all of us here at Waechter's Fine Fabrics -