MAKE MORE PANTS!! THE DUET TROUSERS BY LOVE NOTIONS

 I am slowly conquering my fear of pants.  

Here is a video of me wearing my latest make the Duet Trousers by Love Notions 

The Duet Trousers by  Love Notions   has given me the superpower to make more of these comfortable trousers. The pattern has a large size range  so everyone can enjoy making pants

What is great about the pattern is that you can make it in both knit and woven. Here are some of the great features on the pattern cover sheet. 

The pant fitting workbook is a gold mine of information to help with all your pant fitting needs. This is a free workbook included with the pattern.

I made my version out of suiting fabric and it is now a staple workwear.  This is the straight-leg style. 

The curved waistband gives me a much better fit and did I mention it has pockets ?!

I enjoyed inserting the invisible zipper - which is only required for the woven version. Do not stop reading because you realize it has a zipper!  Invisible zippers are actually way easier to install than regular zippers. 

But if you feel that this sew may be something you cannot achieve alone, no worries! To help you along,  the Duet Trouser also has a sewing course that you can purchase from the website.  

You can get at a 10% discount using the code found HERE. This discount code applies to all patterns on the Love Notions site even if it is on sale. 

I hope you enjoy making your Duets and please come on over to the Facebook group if you are not already a part and share your sewing journey and successes.

Happy Sewing! 

MARGOT BY LOVE NOTIONS - PATTERN REVIEW AND DISCOUNT CODE

 Today I am featuring the Margot by Love Notions Patterns.

It is the Feature Friday pattern for today March 17, 2023, this means you get the pattern for $5 today!

It is a beautiful simple top for any occasion and I would love it if you would give it a try. You get an extra discount at any time - even on the sale price if you use this link - https://www.lovenotions.com/product/ladies-margot-peplum-top?affiliates=493

The pattern comes with three skirt options and is easily paired with skirts from other Love Notions patterns. I choose to make the swing skirt for my version.

There are also 2 bodice styles, I made the solid bodice but if you love to colour block the princess seams, this top will give you the opportunity to do that. 

Then there are the sleeve lengths - one for all seasons. I am wearing elbow-length sleeves but it also comes in short, 3/4, and long. 

This is perfect for work but I am sure will also look but if great as a casual top too. This is a version I made last year and love it. 

Check out my twirl video of this floral black and grey top

 here on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5LIuFOl7j/  or watch it below :

and for an earlier version I made here with short sleeves and the gathered skirt option- 

SWAYBACK ADJUSTMENT ON THE STITCH UPON A TIME RAYE RAGLAN TOP AND DRESS

 Hi Everyone, 

Today I am sharing a new pattern with you.

It is the Raye  Raglan Top and dress by Stitch Upon a Time.

This pattern comes with several sleeves, necklines, top and dress lengths that you can mix and match. 

Today I am going to show you how I do a swayback adjustment on my Raye top by SUAT.

Now you may be wondering what is a sway back adjustment and I will explain it with the photo below.

Thanks to tester Emily for allowing me to use her photo as an example. 

In this photo, you will notice that the fabric has pooled above the hip and in the waist area. 

Now a swayback is basically that curve in the small of your back and it causes the fabric to pool or sit in that curved area. This shape may be due to posture or just be naturally how you are shaped.

This sometimes causes your clothing not to sit nicely and results in the fabric pooling or folding in the small of your back. 

For this reason, I tend to always add a centre back seam to dresses and tops that do not already have one so that I can perfect the fit to my body.  

Sometimes the dress already has a centre back seam and I still need to curve that seam a bit more to get a proper fit. 

This pattern adjustment is quite simple and you will be happy with the outcome. 

METHODS OF ADJUSTING FOR SWAYBACK :

Method 1: You can sew up a muslin and then pinch out the extra fabric and measure it to see how much your adjustment needs to be. Once you have found out how much you will need to adjust, you can follow the adjustment steps below to make the adjustment. 

Method 2: Measuring your body and adjusting the pattern  - You could also be like me and take a shortcut route and measure your body, but you will need the help of someone else to take the measurements for you. I will be using this illustration to guide the measurement process. To take the measurements you will need :

- long hard ruler 

- measurement tape

- paper and pen to write down your measurements

Referring to the image above - 

BLUE LINE - this represents the long (hard ruler )- the person who is measuring you will place the ruler along your back. (No measurement will be recorded for this step). 

RED LINE - Your side waist measurement - measure from right above the bust (i.e where your armpit ends)  to your natural waist.  It is recommended to tie a string or piece of elastic around your waist to be sure where your natural waist falls. The elastic or string will usually settle at the narrowest part of your waist. 

You could also lean over sideways and mark that crease at your side seam to find your natural waist. 

Record this measurement from the armpit to the natural waist. 

GREEN LINE - locate where your back curves or  "sinks in" the most. This could be your natural waist or where your side seam ends. Once you determine this section on your body, measure out to the blue line.  In other words, you are finding the distance between your back and the blue line. This figure is the amount you will be adjusting your pattern piece so be sure to measure accurately. 

Record this measurement. 

In my case, the green line is 2" and my side seam is 9".

Now let us go to the pattern pieces.

ADJUSTING THE BACK BODICE PATTERN

Take your back pattern piece and measure from the underarm area to the length of your side waist measurement.  Square across on your pattern piece at the side seam measurement. 

Next cut alongside the waist measurement line (red line) leaving about a 1/2" left so that the pattern piece will stay together i.e you are not cutting all the way through the paper.

Divide the green line measurement  (i.e the amount of your sway back measurement)  into 2. In my example  2 / 2 = 1". I will mark 1" above and below the cut pattern piece. 

Overlap your 1" mark at the top so that the marked 1"  lines sit on top of each other.  

Tape or glue your paper together. 

You will end up with a funny-looking back bodice but it will work out in the end!

 You will need to cut out two mirrored back pieces instead of one piece on the fold. 

Because you are now cutting two back pieces, you will need to add back the seam allowance to  back bodice pieces. You can either add it to the paper pattern or like me just cut out the extra amount while you are cutting out the back pieces.

 

Pin your back bodice pieces together and sew.

Continue with the shirt or dress construction as given in the pattern instructions. 

Here is the end result of the top version after the swayback adjustment. 

And one of the features I really love about this pattern is the gathered raglan sleeve. 

The pattern also comes with several other sleeve and neck options which you can view here.