Draping How to Do

Surfing around the web I found some video lessons from the Académie de Poitiers in France, that shows you how to make a basic skirt and bodice using “moulage” or in English called draping using a dress form.

 

You do not have to know French as a language to understand these visual learning video lessons. Just watch and enjoy.

Draping a basic skirt    (Moulage de la jupe de base)

Draping a bodice     ( Moulage du corsage de base)

Not Adding to Fluff

Low Bulk Waistband Finish
I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any extra bulk at the waist. No pleats, no fly fronts, with all those layers plus a zipper and a button; no coin pockets, no rivets. No thanks.

I have been working on this low bulk waist finish for a while. Using an invisible zipper (and Els’ tutorial every time) I have found a way to have the zipper go all the way up to the top of the waistband. It is similar to Els’ tutorial on facing an invisible zipper, with the addtion of a full waistband.

There is a hook and eye at the top for security, keeping the strain off the top of the zipper, as well as an inner button tab. This works equally well with skirts as with pants. I can wear a close fitting tee and have a smooth waist with no hint of that dreaded muffin top effect.

Going Local

As some of you may know, my life right now is pretty crazy! I’m working a lot and to keep my sewing mojo going my projects are getting much simpler – I’ve even been quilting! So as of March 31, 2009 I’ll confine my blogging to my personal blog “Behind the Seams”. All of my Sewing Divas posts will stay right here though.

It’s been fun!

Sewing with fur

 My last project restyling an old mink fur coat  for a client. The coat was inherited from her mother and she wanted to wear that coat but it should be made in her size and with a more modern look. The coat was too large and the design old fashion.The mink fur and leather side were still in an good condition to make it work. 

 

The tools I use for working with fur and pigskin suede,  my furrier knife to cut the fur, a leather knife to cut the leather, a hammer to pound the leather seams, textile adhesive tape to stabilize the cutting lines of the fur, special leather interfacing LE420, glue for leather, plus handsewing glove needles size 9 .

I restyled the coat to a 3/4 length and added pigskin suede in a matching color to give it a

 more modern look.

 

furrier knife to cut the fur from the leather side:

 

Time for a Change

Just a quick note to let you all know my last day on Sewing Divas will be March 31;  I may squeeze in a few blog posts till then.   It’s been fun and as of today you can catch me on my new sewing blog CoudreMODE.  

Toodles! 

Phyllis