While clicking through the blogs I was led to the Home Ec site, a companion to ReForm School in Los Angeles. They offer sewing patterns, books, crafting supplies, and kits. A book they sell that caught my eye, because I hadn't seen it anywhere else, was Chic and Simple Sewing by Christine Haynes. It's another helpful book on creating and making your own custom-tailored clothes that also includes full-size patterns. Oh, how I love these types of books! It came out in April so I'll have to go a bookstore and check it out.What caught my eye was this dress photo:
It immediately reminded me of the banded neck dress in Simplicity 3835, a Built By Wendy pattern. However, it eliminates the problem that many sewers have had with that pattern; many thought the neckline was too high and too tight. So I never even tried it (that just screamed future frustration to me!) However, I truly love this more scoop necked-version with the smaller puff sleeves. Maybe my new French-curved Design Ruler can help with this?Has anyone purchased this book? Has anyone attempted to make anything from it? What did you think about it? Let me know.
I don't have this book yet, but I've read some reviews of it on-line...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.craftypod.com/2009/05/04/review-chic-simple-sewing/
http://indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com/2009/05/chick-and-simple-sewing-by-christine.html
I look forward to seeing what you make!
This dress has kind of been on my mind all day, since I saw it on your blog this morning... I had seen the book cover on another blog a week or so ago, but didn't look further. I'm glad you shared this sweet little dress picture, though now I am feeling a creative challenge rising in me to make this from the BBW pattern, which I have and have only made the top from.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's exactly how I felt too. But that will just have to join the BIG list of future projects. I have enough patterns to alter right now. Can't wait to see how you do it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I'll have to flip through this book next time I'm in a bookstore.
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny you posted this... I've had my eye on this book for a while.
ReplyDeleteThis past Friday I actually went to B&N to look at the book first hand. It had some really, really cute styles in it, from beginner simple to easy advanced.
The down thing for me is that the largest size in the included patterns was only 12/XL. Since I don't consider size 12 to be an XL, I was kind of bumbed.
It's kind of like a Burda mag, in that you get several versatile patterns for a relatively small amount of money (I think its around 16-18 bucks on Amazon.com.) But I didn't like the thought of having to drastically alter each pattern to make it in my size. Maybe my next thing will be learning how to grade.
But, if your a good small size, I would definitely pick it up.
MsM
Still haven't seen the book in person, but yes the sizing (as stated in the linked review) was very disappointing. I'm not large yet my hips barely make the largest size in the book. With the average woman larger than me, that doesn't bode well for the book's future sales. I wonder if the publishers thought of that at all?
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