Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Types and uses of thread


*extra fine cotton wrapped polyester
Is a strong thread great for general sewing, including machine stitching, basting, zippers and buttons?
*silk buttonholes twist
Is a heavy thread made of silk and is good for use on buttonholes and button stems. Choose this thread for use on medium to heavyweight fabric.
*skeined basting cotton
Is a loosely twisted thread with a soft finish? It does not leave an impression when pressed which makes it great for basting. It breaks easily which makes it ideal for lightweight fabrics. The best uses for this thread are basting. Tailors tacks, and thread tracing.
*mercerized cotton
All-purpose thread may fade. This thread is good for basting, hemming, and can be used the same way as basting cotton.
*silk line stitch
This is a medium weight thread that is slightly stronger than a silk machine thread but is similar in make. This thread works well on light to medium weight fabrics. It can be used in threaded chains and topstitching. 
*silk machine thread
This is a thread that is best used for machine stitching but can also be used by hand. This is the strongest of all threads so use on heavy fabrics. This thread can be used for closures such as hooks and eyes, zippers, button stems, and buttonholes.
*Fine machine embroidery
 This is lightweight mercerized cotton for lightweight fabric. It can be used on basting, hemming, buttonholes.


*Glazed cotton thread
Is strong and has a starched finish. Don’t use for basting because it does leave an impression when pressed. Use for gathering and long seam lines.
* Silk basting thread
This is a very fine lightweight thread. Good for lightweight fabric. It rarely leaves and impression when pressed so it is appropriate for use in basting. It is also good for rolled hems and machine stitching chiffon.
           

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Hand Sewing Needle Types and Uses


*Sharps are medium length with a round eye and are good for basic sewing.

*Crewel Needles are medium length with an oval eye and are best for embroidery,  short stitch basting and general sewing techniques.

*Glovers are best on animal fabrics such as suede leather or fur. These needles are short and have a knife like point, for cutting such heavy fabric.

*Beading needles have round eyes, fine points and are lengthy.  They are best for fine fabrics, beading (hence the name) and are great when making long stitches.

*Betweens When quilting use betweens for tailoring, finishing and short basting. These are short with a round eye.

*Chenille If you like to embroider by hand your best bet is a chenille needle, which is a thick, short needle with a blunt point and oval eye. This needles is also great for hand worked buttonholes.

*Cotton Darners for stab stitching and long basting use cotton Darners, which have an oval eye and are long.

*Milliners if your needle is long with a round eye it is probably a Milliner’s needle. It use for the same purpose as a cotton darner needle.

*Tapestry needles when doing needle work on home décor fabric use tapestry needles which are long thick with an oval eye and blunt point.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Dresses for the Hourglass figure

The Hourglass figure looks great in dresses. The wright dress can highlight the waist showing off that sexy S shape. However there are few things to remember when shopping for the perfect dress.
   Pick a style that skims your body and nips in at the waist.
  Simple styles are best. As I've said before you don't want to throw off your proportions.
  Wrap, sheath, and A-line dresses look great because they follow your curves.
   Try dresses cut on the bias they will skim your shapely body.
   Try a shirt-dress accessorized with a wide belt to emphasize your Hourglass figure.
  Avoid boxy shapes such as trapeze dresses.
  Strapless is not a good look when you have a full bust. The girls need support. (I know mine do). You can't get support with strapless unless you are under a C cup. 
   Avoid over-sized prints which will hide your curves, instead keep prints subtle or wear solid colored items.
 A fun thing I like to do is to play with color. Try mixing different complimentary colored pieces together to add interest. For example I love the way turquoise looks with butter yellow so I will wear a yellow dress with a bold turquoise necklace.

Hey, leave me a comment. I would love to have your input! I will respond to every comment.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Pants and Skirts for the Hourglass Figure

Hourglass figures are perfectly proportioned but it is easy to throw those proportions off with the wrong pants or skirts. Its also easy to look amazing and show off your sexy Hourglass shape.
  Pencil skirts are perfect. They highlight your shapely derriere while not adding too much width to your hips.
Tulip skirts are shaped just right for the Hourglass. The flared hem and fitted body will exaggerate your silhouette and make your waist look even smaller.
A-line skirts are flattering on everyone but for you they draw attention to your small waist which is great.
Avoid pleats, they make us Hourglass girls look bottom heavy,  but darts and curved seams are your best friend.
As far as pants go you want to avoid anything too wide, which will only make you look wider.
Try a slightly flared, bootleg which will balance your hips.
Another great pants style for your Hourglass figure is straight legged pants which will make your legs look a mile long.
 Drapey fabric looks amazing on our Hourglass figures because it highlights all the right places.
Remember to love your figure and dress it to show off what you have. The Hourglass figure is amazingly feminine


Comments are always welcome!!!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Tops and Jackets for the hourglass figure

The Hourglass figure has long been considered the ideal shape due to the balance between hips and bust. It is however easy to throw off that Hourglass balance and end up looking big and boxy.  So here are some tips for tops and jackets that flatter your Hourglass Figure.
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  • Surplice necklines show off your lovely cleavage.
  • Wide V-necks and scoop necks will extend your small rounded shoulders while flattering your bust.
    ·
  • Sleeves should be capped, puffed or flutter sleeves if you have a smaller shoulder line.
  • Make sure your clothes are fitted. Look for details such as Darts, Princess Seams, and Ruching at the waist. Avoid boxy looks
  • Wrap tops follow the line of your body and therefore highlight your curves.
  • Jackets should button just below the bust to give your bust some support.
  • A fitted coat in a solid shade elongates your curvaceous figure
  • Your tops and jackets should be nipped in at the waist to show off your Hourglass shape
  • Wear belts to further emphasize your figure.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Hourglass Figure

The Hourglass figure is on of the most rare. Less than 8% of women have the hourglass figure. You can identify the women who do by their proportionate bust and hips which tend to be full and very curvy. the Hourglass figure has a bust and hip measurement which is equal (their can only be up to an inch difference). The waistline on an Hourglass figure is at least 9 inches smaller than the bust and hips, and can be even smaller.
An Hourglass female should avoid loose fitting clothing and aim to emphasize the smallest part of the waist. Fitted clothing is best. I'll say More on how to flatter an Hourglass figure in my one of my next posts.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Here is an update of where I am in my process of setting up my business. (Making sewing patterns for different Female Body Types).I drew and Photoshopped 4 images for my designs. since I am relatively new to Photoshop I am proud of myself that I got that much done. I will post the illustrations but right now my computer is acting up and won't let me. It was doing the same thing yesterday. I asked my boyfriend Pierre to fix it. hopefully he will. Also I am figuring out how to advertise. I found a few article sights and am going to post on those. My article was on 10 Reasons to Sew. Also I am going to post a tutorial on some very basic sewing strategies for beginners once my computer stops being a brat. So that is my update on my business.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

The word Curvy

To me the word curvy does not mean plus sized. for example an S is very curvy. If you have curves that means you have a smaller waist and larger hips or a larger bust, or both. by this definition, you can be a size 0 or a size 30 and still be "Curvy". You can also be a straight line if your plus sized. All body types are beautiful but if your bust, waist and hips are all 64 inches then I don't think your curvy even at that size. I do however think you are curvy if you have a 21 inch waist and a 37 inch bust or have 45 inch Hips and a 29 inch waist , then you are extremely Curvy.  I have never understood why Plus Sized is said synonymously with curvy.  Its not the same.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

New business/ Sewing Patterns for Curvy Figures

I had an idea about 5 years ago to make clothes for Different Female Body Types. However I soon found out that it was too expensive and I ran out of money.I decided to try again a few months ago but I changed my mind and decided it would be cheaper to make Sewing Patterns for the Different female body types. My goal is to have the website up by August 1st.  I have so much to do I am going to be very busy getting it all done. I still have to draw pictures of Female Body Types, illustrate my Sewing Patterns, Test a few of my finished Patterns. Send them to my mother, grandmother and a few of my friends so they can Sew and test them and see if the Sewing Patterns fit their lovely Female Body Types.  I do have about 3 Patterns that are ready, but the list of what I have to do goes on so long.
    Let me expand more for you what my Sewing Pattern idea is. I have always found it time consuming to have to alter every Pattern I buy to fit my Curves. I have an extreme Hourglass Figure and so nothing fits without heavy alteration if I make it from a traditional pattern.  I have to go down 3 sizes on the waist and up 2 on the bust and hips and it tends to take a very long time. I get very excited and want to just wear what I am making, but I am also  perfectionist when it comes to how my Sewing Projects turn out. I have been Sewing my clothes, designing my own patterns and custom Sewing clothes for people who also find it hard to find clothes that fit well.
My Sewing Pattern designs are going to be for women who whether they have a Diamond Body Type, Ruler Body Type or an Hourglass Body Type it will be easier to fit the Sewing Patterns to their body types.
I also want to make my  Sewing patterns so easy to use that even someone who has never picked up a needle and thread in their life would be able to make a beautiful creation form my Patterns in a matter of a few short hours. These Sewing Patterns would require minimal fitting and would Sew up very quickly.

I would love to here any suggestions you have or any questions you want to ask me. I would love to here about any Sewing or Fitting issues that you have experienced, maybe I can help.