October again, for me that means that I will travel to the UK for a sewing week with my friends. I'm so excited, as this is the first time since 2019 that we can do this (for the obvious reason that the pandemic prevented us from doing this in 2020 and 2021). We have been doing this since 2012 and I really missed it.
Next week we will be in Kent again. At the moment I'm deciding what to take and make during the week. One thing I want to do is make a coat. Not a very complicated one, using fabric that's been in my stash for a while now. I want to prepare cutting and marking before leaving.
The pattern I have in mind is a relatively short one, from a magazine called Fashion Style, which originally is German and I have a Dutch copy.
I've never used this magazine before and after tracing the pattern yesterday I am not very enthousiastic about it. First I think that the line drawing doesn't match the actual pattern. In the line drawing it looks like a "swing" coat, with more room at the bottom. The pattern pieces are very straight though. Most photos show the coat worn open, which makes it unclear to see how it's meant to look.
I don't care much for instructions, but I think that the pattern pieces should be clearly shown and indicate what lines are included. The only instruction for the front and back is that you have to "glue them together". Because I'm a pretty advanced dressmaker and have worked with magazine patterns a lot, I can make out that they mean that the front and back are on the sheet in 2 parts.
Even more important is that there are more lines on the pattern sheet for the pattern pieces than shown in the magazine. Those lines are not mentioned anywhere either but they are very important. If you don't use the correct lines for the fabric and for the lining, you will have a lot of difficulties or mess up completely. Won't write the details down here, as they are not relevant when you're not making this pattern. Needless to say that I don't recommend this magazine.
In the end I checked the pattern thoroughly, added a bit to the side seam, hoping to get a bit more of the "swing" look. Next time I should draft my own pattern 😉
To get actual swing you have to slash and spread the main pieces up to the shoulder in the back. Otherwise you will just have an A-line.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know. Perhaps I will do that.
DeleteVeel van de nieuwe modebladen zien er leuk uit maar de maatvoering bij de schouders is erg oversized. Ik heb geleerd om dat echt te checken voordat ik ga knippen. Soms maak ik een proefmodel van een kant om te kijken hoe het valt. Veel plezier met je naaiweek. Groetjes, Dorothé
ReplyDeleteDank je Dorothé. Vond het een leuk model, wilde het mezelf makkelijk maken maar ik had beter een Burda of Ottobre patroon kunnen nemen. Daar weet ik wat ik kan verwachten.
DeleteHm... I am not completely sure which magazin you are referring to, because the name "Fashion Style" has been used by several ones over the years. But the one that was most common over the last years was the German version of Knipmode. But that is probably not what you have?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the pattern (I know you will be able to make it work for you) and have fun sewing!
marion
Hi Marion, thank you, it will be a fun week. I do remember you from a meeting in Paris, 2009 it was? Nice you still read my blog.
DeleteI'm seeing now that the magazine is called "Fashion Trends". It's sponsored/published by Hilco fabrics. Definitely not the Knip Mode magazine.
I am always envious when I hear of your sewing weeks with friends, hopefully the coat will be a great success and a great reminder of the 2022 sewing week.
ReplyDeleteOops wont let me sign in. VickiM
DeleteThank you Vicki. I have the problem with signing in too when on my phone.
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