Couture Sewing Techniques, Revised & Updated

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Then I sewed the actual seam of the 2 pattern pieces, which brought the 2 edges of the leather together, but not overlapping, reducing the potential bulk at the seam. I also made (eventually) two pouffes as well which took care of loads of scraps and off-cut furnishing fabrics and were extremely satisfying! If you have fine fabric why not consider using your overlocker if you have one on the rolled hem setting? I understitched the lower edge of the facing to help it roll better and also slip-stitched it in various places including the seams and pocket bags to secure the facing without the stitching showing on the front. I selected the beautiful Tencel/Cupro ‘Bark’ fabric in Lavender because we were going to a wedding in late May which would be the perfect chance to make a something using this special fabric.

I find the next couture/tailoring technique very useful on sleeves as well as coat, jacket or dress hems.When I worked for a small custom-made clothing company, my boss and I talked about this all the time. It holds the weight of the skirt, which is pretty heavy, and takes some of the strain off the zip as it’s such a fitted dress. Or do we take the view that the money we pay for it is a donation to a charity in need of the cash, especially if it’s going to end up in landfill otherwise? I do really want to have a go at making something properly tailored either for me or for The Boyfriend – I did promise to make him a coat!

Only straight seams were ever sewn by machine, everything else from buttonholes to setting sleeves to hemming, was done by hand. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose state of mind has fluctuated wildly this year and my self-confidence was rockbottom when this picture was taken. I’m genuinely pleased with the dress though and in spite of everything I’ll wear it on Christmas Day because there’s plenty of room for expansion!I like these diagrams that are scattered throughout the book,which show you how different elements are drafted and constructed. I cut a UK 16 and overall I’m happy with the fit and apart from the length I made no alterations to the bodice. Wendy has long been mindful on the topic after years of working in the RTW industry, as well as producing her own patterns, teaching and writing several other sewing books all of which feature older models! Whilst the challenge is intended to encourage us to get creative and inventive for the pleasure of it alone there were also prizes to be awarded so the post on August 8 th shared the generous sponsors for these.

In general, I think that these books use “couture” to suggest that the techniques are more in depth/time consuming and yield better results that what the Big 4 would generally instruct you to do in their pattern instructions. It was a jacket made from two pairs of my husband’s old jeans and because I wanted to use as much of the reclaimed fabric as possible I cut shaped facings for the lower edge. I left the London College of Fashion in the summer of 1985 and started working there on my 23rd birthday.She sourced the base fabric with my advice, and a printed quilting cotton Nativity which was sent from the US. It was part of my job to get everything out of the fabric as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible so I always spent time working this out like pattern Tetris before going near it with the scissors!