March 27, 2020

So here we all are at home like good little social distancers and it's like snow/sew day every day.  Hopefully everyone is well and taking good care of yourselves and washing your hands and not touching your face.  This mess will pass, but never too soon.

In the meantime, to take our minds off that how about something that's a really meaningful project.  Something that we have been meaning to do but didn't have enough time or didn't seem to be able to donate a whole block of time doing it. 

When times like these hit, I sorta go to the mat and get out some of my most devilishly hard and difficult projects.  Something that will take the worry and stress out by delving into a project that takes all my mind away from that.  Worrying and stressing about whatever situation is happening doesn't solve much and usually takes a lot of energy away from anything that could help.    I could probably be out purchasing a lot of TP and other items that someone else thinks is useful but would do nothing but drain my account and my energy.

So sitting down and thinking what would be really useful for people to know about, and of course the first thing I come up with is fitting.  And how to fit a pattern and what pattern to get to fit, and how to fit all of you and still get some sleep every once in a while!!!!

The it occurred to me that really the perfect solution to this is what they teach in Design school.  In my fav school just north of me, they spend a whole year teaching this solution, but of course the kids also gets lots and LOTS of time to practice this so that they get really good at it, but this is where all designers start - with a sloper.

So I went back to one of my school books and took out the step-by-step process of how to make a sloper and as much as I could simplified it and streamlined it.  This is without a doubt one of the most empowering tools I teach. 

A sloper is an instrument that is made to fit a person's body but it also has ease.  A moulage is a skin-to-skin exact double of a person's body.  The problem is that with a moulage, what do you do next with it.  Because it has no ease, that must be added along with the styling and design that you wish to have.  At least with a sloper the ease is already added. 

I much prefer the sloper as it's a much more useful tool.  But what's really amazing about it, is that it's just amazing how this technique can fit even the most unfittable figure - I know.  I've done it time and time again for my clients. 


From this magical instrument, you can design a shirt, shell, dress, top, tunic, light jacket and even other garments, however you do have to learn a little about grading for things like coats and heavy jackets, but it's not impossible. 

But how do you get to a sloper?  How do you make one?  With all the hullabaloo over distancing, online video conferencing has become the rage, and I've bought in.

I had hoped to be able to have this sloper up and working by today or Thursday night at the latest, however, it wasn't to be.  And this is one of those things I do not want to put up with out thoroughly testing it.  I've done that and feel very good about it, but a few hiccups as I haven't finished editing the video that goes with this (and that takes so much time you wouldn't believe) and I don't want to do this whole package without a video. 

The other thing I've done is streamlined this so that you're not having to stop and doing a bunch of figuring then draw a little then do some more math, then draw, then math, then draw.  For me that's like using one side of the brain then changing gears and using the other side, then changing gears and going back to the other side again.  That sounds to me like it could mess up your brain's transmission changing gears so much.  This is supposed to be fun....dammmit....so dammmit, let's have some fun and not mess up your brain's transmission!!!!!

This weekend I will have it out - maybe even tomorrow, but not before I've fully vetted it and make sure it's as streamlined as possible. 

This is what it will contain:

• Complete step-by-step guide, with a video that goes through all the steps.
• Tables, so that you don't have to get mired down in copious figuring about this or that measurement figured this or that way, you simply look up your size on the table, and boom the measurement is there.
• Measurement chart, that I recommend you fill out before you even start
• Concise plan of attack so that you're not stripping your brains gears going from one direction to another, back and forth.  I really do find it's easier to do all the math before and then boom, it's done and you start drafting and before you know it, you're in there drafting your own armscye (yep, you didn't think you could do that did you!!!!), and pinning it on and testing it out.  

Not only that, but I would love to do some live video with you all and hopefully I can do that this weekend or the first of the week because this can be the new way to teach.  Where you all sign on and then everyone gets to ask questions and make a comment or ask what they don't understand or want more information. 

For me this can be fabulous cause I can go back and find out what you all like and want to know.

The follow up on this can be even more fun, cause we can start playing with this sloper once you have it to start making some clothes that fit and feel good on you and look good on you. 

So stay tuned, and sorry I didn't get this done by Friday morning, but I haven't been slacking - I promise!!!

Also I will set up a time to do a live video or a Zoom conferencing soon so we can all get on and at least talk about what we are sewing and making!!!

Hope everyone is doing well.
Washing your hands
Keeping them away from your face
Taking good care of yourself
And having a lot of fun creating and sewing!!!!

Aren't we lucky that we have something so creative and fun to do!

 

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So many of you have written the last couple of weeks and responded back to this email.  I haven't responded yet, cause I've been working on this sloper thing, but that's the next thing on my list. 

Keep writing - I love to hear from you and I WILL respond - I promise!

 

 

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This new year will bring a new look and lots of new things added to the sewingartistry.com to the site.  In the meantime, things will be placed a little different, and if you can't find something that you liked or would like to find, just let me know.  It's easy as pie - you can simply respond to this email and I'll get it.  I get all these emails and I read all of them. so let me know if something seems awry for you or out of place. 

We're working on simplifying it and changing it to a more functional and easier place to get around. 
If there's something you liked from before and don't see, LMK. 
If there's something you've never seen, but would like, LMK. 
And of course if there's something that seems haywire or good, LMK!

You all will be the first to know when it's more settled, but for right now we're still moving the furniture around!
 

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On the Blog

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January 24, 2020

Redcarpet Season - Part 2 - SAG Awards
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