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Marcy's Craftsy Artful T-Shirts
As I prepared for the Tilton Sisters new Craftsy Class, The Artful T-Shirt, I made a series of tunic/top/t-shirts for myself using Vogue 9057, the pattern we used as the basic for all our class projects. Detailed instructions for neck, sleeve, cuff and design ideas are contained in the online class itself. Here is a closer look at the garments. 1 Uses 4 different knit fabrics in black, gray and ivory. The neck band is a single layer and uses the roll at the selvedge edge as a neck finish. 2 Is a light weight gray/lavender jersey stripe cut on the crossgrain with lace sleeves and mesh knit twisted band neck. I ran short of fabric at the back hem, so the lace adds a bit of extra length while tying the garment together. Love these happy accidents. 3 Is made from one mesh knit, using a double layer in the body with a fold at the hem, single layer sleeves and a super easy self double layer neckband. 4 & 5 This version used the angle tunic made in 2 separate pieces designed to be worn together. The top is a gray/black graffiti print rayon/lycra jersey and a sheer/opaque stripe is used for the sleeve is cut on the bias and used cross grain for the neckband. The under tunic is a single layer of mesh point d'esprit, bound neck and armholes while the hem has a raw edge, simply trimmed with a rotary cutter. 6 Is made from a hand painted ivory bamboo/lycra jersey. I painted the fabric one summer day when Diane Ericson came for a visit. She brought her fabric painting kit, and we laid the fabric out on the lawn and splashed paint, used brushes tied to long floppy sticks. The process was big fun and I love the results. The sleeves are two different rayon/bamboo/lycra knits. I am always rolling up my sleeves, which can be worn long with a narrow bound edge or rolled up which shows a wider faced cuff. 7 Yes, you can cut knits on the bias...see the video tutorial below. This top uses a cotton knit, body cut on the bias, sleeves cut on the lengthwise grain, and one leftover sleeve in the Venetian Panel print from another garment. I often will cut different sets of sleeves in various fabrics and audition them to see what works best, and both sleeves do not have to be the same!
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The Hoodie Hiding in Plain Site — Vogue 9244
Worn by men, women and children, beloved by skateboarders, athletes, students and the uniform of tech geeks, the hoodie is a garment so universal it can almost render a person invisible. My hoodie pattern keeps the functionality with a feminine dash of sophistication. Visiting Vogue patterns last month, I was honored to discover that Vogue 9244, a hoodie, is the #1 best seller.
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Stripes + Dots = Seasonal Spin On A Classic Shirt
Nothing says spring like dots or stripes or a fresh cotton shirt. The fashion world is having a love affair with stripes this season and so are we! Gwen Spencer combined all three elements using a dotty stripe from our Japanese Wovens Collection paired with Vogue 9174 shirt and added one more stripe-y dotty feature to make it sing.
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Gwen Spencer's Cool Combo Tunic
I sent Gwen Spencer our Moderne Cool Combo to experiment with - called first to see if she was willing - she replied instantly with a big YES, so we shipped off the fabric. My only request is to use any current Tilton pattern, and as you can see, she rose to the challenge!
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Ponte Primer & Pilling Solution
What exactly is ponte? Why is it desirable? What about pilling issues? I've been getting this question in my newest Craftsy Class and on internet sewing forums.
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Sustainability is a primary value for Ratti
Sustainability is a primary value for Ratti, an environmentally virtuous business, oriented towards a circular, socially responsible economy, in constant dialogue with its circle of stakeholders. More creativity and less consumption is the principle that inspires their work. Combining beauty and sustainability in their creations, integrating cultural heritage with technological innovation, opening up to the challenges of the future without abandoning tradition, being in a constant quest for what is beautiful, well made and sustainable.
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Black Tie Suggested - Sewing Required
Nothing strikes trepidation in my heart like 'special occasion' dressing. Hard to believe that I have closets full of clothes and 3 barns full of fabric, but when the wedding invitation from my niece Marissa arrived, it dawned on me that I had nothing to wear.
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Nancy Murakami is my sewing guru
My friend Nancy makes clothes and has a sewing style that I admire. Her clothes are always interesting; not too fussy and never overworked. She does not own a serger and is a friend to an honest unfinished seam. Nancy lives in Gresham, Oregon and works in the local JoAnn Fabric store...are they lucky to have her on their staff!
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Silk velvet pleated pants
Sewing silk velvet can be a beast. The one garment that has been in my winter/holiday wardrobe for the past 30 years (in various iterations), is a pair of silk velvet pants, usually black. Take a look at the video to see the easy technique for pleating. I love these soft loose fitting pants; they are comfortable, warm in the cold, cool in an overheated house, I can cook in them, sit on the floor, wear them to a casual family gathering or to an evening event. The pant I am using now I got from Eileen Fisher a few years ago, but you could easily make them. The secret is to allow a bit of extra ease in the pant as the pleating takes up some space, and you want the pant to hang with fluidity.
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