What was I thinking?! I should have tested it first to determine its stretch rating. Most t-shirt patterns are designed for “moderate stretch” knits, and clearly this stash fabric doesn’t fit the bill.

If only I had used the Stretch Ruler handout I give my sewing students! (Download a free copy here.) Trying to eyeball a knit fabric is a bad idea. Most knits look alike from a distance. Without testing the gauge, there is no guarantee that even an expertly sewn garment will fit and perform properly.

So now the question before me is: do I sew THIS shirt, if for no other reason than curiosity? Or do I pitch it, run to the fabric store, and buy something else? Stay tuned for the answer…

There are many sections within the software, with lots to choose from: Wild Things (fun play stuff), Child’s Play (baby and kids’ clothing), Tailor-Made (for men), Curves (undergarments and swimwear), Celebrations (bridal and special events), and Boutique (women’s wear). Since I plan to make myself a T-shirt, I click “Boutique.”

Before proceeding further, I create a profile for myself by plugging in my measurements. Hmm…I didn’t come prepared with my front and back “slope.” No worries: when I leave them blank, the software calculates them for me based on my other measurements. Next, I click the “Garment” tab and then the “Blouses” category. Wow, huge selection here, but no time to browse or dally. I’m on a mission to sew the perfect T-shirt.

Ah, here’s the T-shirt category. Wow, even more choices: sleeve length, neckline style. etc. I settle on a short (not cap) sleeve and curved V-neckline. Next, I click the “Settings” tab and customize the type of fit I want. In off-the-shelf patterns, the amount of ease — how closely or loosely a garment fits — is predetermined. With this software, I can tweak the fit to satisfy my own preferences. Since I don’t want a super-fitted shirt, I change the software’s default ease from 2.5″ for a fitted T to 3″. While I’m at it, I add an extra 2″ to the overall length to make sure the hemline hits just above my hip. (Most RTW T-shirts are too short for my liking.)

At this point, I believe there aren’t any other elements I want to customize, so I save the settings and click the tab to see a summary of my changes before printing the actual pattern. Very interesting! [Photo to come: Screen shot showing default settings versus my customized variations.]

In my next post: Printing the pattern and comparing it to my favorite RTW shirt.]

Greetings, CQ members and friends. For the next several weeks I’ll be blogging about my experiences with Crafters Quarters’ awesome pattern drafting software. While many of you folks think of CQ as a place for creating all sorts of fiber arts and mixed media projects, it’s also a phenomenal resource for those who sew clothing and home dec items: huge cutting tables, dress forms, sewing machines, and of course this software used by the fashion industry to create clothing lines for women, men, and children.

Like most people, my measurements don’t match the ones used by the ready-to-wear (RTW) industry. For example, most women’s garments are designed for ladies with a B-cup bust, and a height of around 5′4″. Darts — if they exist at all — rarely point to the apex of the bust, and the overall length is either too short or too long. No wonder we don’t look as good in our clothing as we could! And good looks aside, there’s the matter of comfort. Did you ever wonder why it’s often hard to move your arms in a low-priced t-shirt? It’s because on RTW tees, the back and the front armhole shapes are the same, rather than deeper in back. Without that extra depth, you get that locked-in feeling. (And you thought it was all in your head!)

So today, I am sitting in front of a computer with Jensi Rogers at my side. She’s walking me through the process of setting up an account and plugging in my measurements. Not just the usual bust, waist and hips, but also a slew of additional body specs that will hopefully make the final pattern we print out match my body rather than some NYC waif-model who would look good in anything — even a potato sack.

Keep tuned in to read my updates as I complete the “drafting” process and then move on to cutting. If you’d like to be alerted to when new posts are made, feel free to follow my Tweets. You can send me a question or comment there and I’ll try to respond here on the blog.

And now…back to the computer!

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Take An Exclusive Quilt Lovers’ Tour of England

Last Two Days to Register and Reserve Your Spot!  (Deadline to Register: January 10)

Have you been thinking about taking the trip of a lifetime to England and seeing some of the world’s greatest quilting treasures? Think no more–the time to register is now, if you don’t want to miss this trip!

Join your fellow quilt lovers for an indulgent tour and see:

One of the oldest quilts in existence, the 14th century Tristan quilt, on one of its rare public displays…

The first quilt exhibition at the storied Victoria & Albert Museum in over 20 years…

Jane Austen’s own beloved city of Bath…

The Globe Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon…

The only quilt museum in Britain, York’s Quilt Museum and Gallery…

This is a tour like no other. Join us on our spring trip to England, enjoying all the sights a quilt lover would like to see, as well as many of the must-see spots for all travelers in this exclusive tour, just for the New England Quilt Museum.

This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to see England’s quilting treasures. The deadline to register for this trip is January 10.

To register for the trip visit Sew Many Places’ website.

The New England Quilt Museum

18 Shattuck Street

Lowell, MA 01852

During the Topsfield Fair we met a wonderful woman — Gail — with 3 heirloom machines — all owned and passed within one family.  She will soon be moving to a small place, though, and can’t take them with her!  Gail wants to make sure they go to loving homes with people that respect just how beautiful the machines are.  Take a peek at the detail work and how well kept these lovelies are…

Interested?  Just write to Gail to learn more:  gshphd@verizon.net.  She has priced these similarly to those that have sold through eBay, but you don’t have to pay for shipping.

(Crafters Quarters is not taking any commission from these sales, we’d just like to see someone love these machines with the care they’re used to getting from their former family.)

1952 Singer Featherweight 221-1

(yes you read that correctly — an adorable, working Featherweight!)

Serial number AL011325 — in working order with case, attachments, and manual.  Heirloom owned by one family.  Asking $350.

1928 Singer 66-6 electric

Serial number AC021052 — in working order in cabinet with attachments and manual.  Heirloom owned by one family.  Asking $250.

1900 Singer Antique Treadle model #27

Serial number N466772 — 5 drawer oak cabinet.  Heirloom owned by one family.  Asking $200.

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Besides quilting, Denise’s other interests include riding her motorcycle, taking beautiful professional-grade photographs, and dressing up in vintage clothes, like the 1933 wedding dress she’s wearing in the picture below.

The whole chemo supply bag idea started when cancer survivor Sara Gallet was ending her treatment and was given her chemo supplies in a wadded up paper bag. Gallet said that she felt like that bag–and didn’t want anyone else to feel that way. So she went to Zimman’s to shop for fabric to make her own bags to donate. Word about the bags got around to Kristin Hunter at ECNG and the guild decided to pitch in. And we are so glad that they did because we got to meet them and they are wonderful and we hope they come back soon. (Especially since they shared their  lunch and candy with us!)

Also! ECNG welcomes new members. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please email Kristin Hunter at the following address: kristinhunter@comcast.net .

I first heard about Crafters Quarters in the fall of 2008 when I saw Jensi and her family moving furniture into the building. I am pretty sure my jaw hit the asphalt when she said that she was starting a craft studio–RIGHT ABOVE OVEDIA CHOCOLATES–and coincidentally right across the street from my condo.

I could not wait for her to open but was working fulltime in Boston as a textbook editor.  Long story short, my wonderful husband gave me a Crafters Quarters annual membership for Christmas last year (thank you, honey!)–about a month before I was laid off from the aforementioned job. Talk about SPECTACULAR timing! The rest, as they say, is history.

More often than not, you will find me working on my latest obsession in what Jensi and Lori so kindly call “Lisa’s clubhouse” (which sounds very clique-y but it’s not) when my hubby calls to find out where I am. It all started with Leah Allman’s silk scarf painting class, followed in quick succession by Kate Broughton’s fabric origami workshop, learning to sew with Lori Felch, Gail Picard & Linda Carey’s quilted tote bags class, and of course, Jensi’s Flirty Thirty fabric dyeing class.

Currently, I am addicted to all things having to do with quilting. Mind you, when I first started coming to CQ, I told Jensi that I was flat-out not interested in quilting, or even in machine sewing. She sort of smiled a little and didn’t say much.  I think she knew that after being immersed in such a supportive, friendly environment, surrounded by all of you inspiring quilters and your beautiful work, I would finally succumb. And I am so grateful that I did.

What is your CQ story? What are you up to, craftwise? I want to hear it. You can email me at Lisa.Phillips@craftersquarters.com .

Talk to you soon!

Lisa