1095 days of Blogging!

Three years ago today I innocently attended a faculty workshop at Saddleback College to learn more about using the Internet. Many topics were covered and when the instructor spoke about blogs she suggested participants create one as a learning exercise.

Of course I was pretty impressed with myself when I came up with WeSew because it's the same forward and backwards ( I can never remember the term for that ).

I also discovered that I really enjoy blogging and hope people enjoy reading my blog. And what I really hope is that 1,000s of people sign up to follow my blog ( hint, hint ) leading to paid advertisements, guest columns in magazines, an invite to NY fashion week, a book publication, an interview on the Tonight Show, paparazzi chasing me....

Hey, a girl has to dream :)

IT'S BEEN A GREAT BLOGGING THREE YEARS

And  I have posted my three favorite sewing tips to celebrate three years of WeSew.

#1: A Sharp Collar Point

I have been sewing for a few decades and I cannot claim to be the originator of the following techniques. As any person interested in a skill I have read countless books, magazines, and now websites devoted to sewing. Some tips are much better than others... 

I'm not quite sure where or when I stumbled upon these techniques but, I do know I have been using these techniques successfully for many years.

Step#1: Sew collar sections right sides together to the collar point. Put machine needle through fabrics and insert a strong 5" long thread  between the collar pieces. Hold thread firmly against needle, pivot collar and take one stitch.

Step#2: Bring both ends of 5" long strong thread to inside/ between collar pieces. The 5" long thread is now anchored to collar point by the one stitch. Continue sewing collar and repeat steps at other collar point with a separate 5" strong thread.

When finished sewing collar pieces together trim the excess fabric at the points.

Press the collar seams open for a crisp seam.

Step#3: And instead of using a point turner, scissors, chopstick, etc to poke out the collar point and hope that the collar point is a nice sharp angle. Simply grab both ends of the 5" strong thread that is anchored at the collar point and pull gently.

And voila! Pull until the point is perfect and them simply pull out the 5" strong thread and your collar point is complete.

#2: Turning a Spaghetti Tube

There must be dozens of gizmos and loop turners for sale but, seldom are they easy OR successful at turning a tube. Safety pins and bobby pins are okay if nothing goes wrong. 

This tip is a fabulous technique for turning a skinny little spaghetti tube right side out.

The spaghetti tube must be made from a strip of fabric cut on the bias or the tube will ripple if curved at all in the garment ( like over a shoulder ). So cut/rip a perfect square of fabric.

Fold fabric in half and the diagonal edge will be the 45 degree angle necessary for a bias strip. Cut strip the desired width of finished spaghetti tube and add 1/4" seam allowance.

Step#1: Pull the bobbin and top thread from machine the length of the bias strip plus a few inches. DO NOT CUT THREADS.  Carefully place the long threads in the middle of the bias strip before folding right sides together.

Step#2: Backstitch securely at beginning of bias strip because this will anchor the long threads that will be pulled in step 4. DO NOT CUT ANY THREADS.

Step#3: Sew the bias strip the entire length being careful NOT to catch the long threads in the stitching. Hold the long threads firmly against the folded edge while sewing 1/4" from raw edge.

When finished sewing long threads should hang freely from one end of bias tube which is now ready to be turned right side out.

Step#4: Holding long threads in one hand and start pulling firmly. Tube will turn into itself and turn right side out. It's just that easy.

#3: Attaching Bias Tape

A nice crisp bias tape is a quick solution for many raw edges outside and inside a garment. I usually make my bias tape from a contrasting fabric to add a punch of color; especially when using bias tape to finish seams inside an unlined jacket.

 

Step #1: Open double fold bias tape and place right side of bias tape on wrong side of fabric, aligning raw edges. Sew at 1/4" seam allowance.

Step #2: Trim seam allowance if necessary and fold bias tape to front of fabric edge.

Step #3: Carefully edgestitch bias tape and you're done. Remember to use a slightly longer stitch length for edgestitch to look straight.

And that concludes my three tips for three years of blogging. 

Wherever your heart leads you in life I sincerely wish you a wonderful journey.

And I hope fashion, fabrics and fun are part of the trip.

Dog Days of Summer

Who says fashion is only for humans?
This is a real dog I spied in the back seat of a mini cooper convertible cruising down Pacific Coast Highway around Solana Beach in San Diego.
I totally want a pair of red goggles to wear in my mini cooper convertible!