On Mon, 1 Mar 2004, Kate Dicey wrote:

wrote:

I am looking forward to getting back into sewing and crocheting after I
finish school. I used to sew from patterns, just for myself. Is the
tracing wheel still being used and anything else new?

Lots of things have changed, lots of new toys out there, crafty stuff
seems
to be esier to get than garment fabrics!

I still find Vogue some of the best general patterns to work with, and
butterick come a close second. Simplicity have recently taken over from
McCalls as the ones to watch out for: yards of extra in every one i've
tried recently! Burda are now more readily available all over, and here
in
the UK, KwikSew are taking off nicely for a reasonable alternative. I
use
quite a few historic patterns, and if you google for patterns, lots of
these and the smaller private pattern companies turn up, and they are
well
worth exploring.

Take a look round my web site: it may give you some ideas about what's
going on and what's available. I do use a tracing wheel - I have a
double
one, which is great for marking both cutting and seam lines on things.
I
also use all sorts of other stuff, and have just purchased a Somfles
thing
for spacing buttonholes and a cone stand so I can use serger cones on my
sewing machine.

The biggest innovations for me have been the advent of the highly
computerized sewing machine (I get 10 different buttonhole styles out of
mine!), and the prolifferation of the serger/overlocker. I work at home
as
a part time dress and costume maker, and these things have proved
invaluable for me. On the other hand, for traditional tailoring, I can
still get excellent results out of my old treadle and a needle and
thread.
What you use out of the stuff available depends on your sewing style.

Fabrics have changed considerably, and although there are no longer the
local shops in every little town that there use to be, once you tap into
the resources of the whole world via the internet and that ever-elastic
plastic card dodad (one of the greatest sewing inventions ever, that
combination!), you can get anything from Malden Mills Polartec for
mountain
gear to fine silk tulle for bridal veils sent right to your door!

If your basic sewing skills are good but rusty, and you know the sort of
thing you like to make and wear, invest in a good specialist techniques
book, one about fabrics, and get your machine serviced and cleaned!
Sharpen up youe scissors, and off you go!

There's a book list of short reviews on my web site. I sell nothing
through it, so order them from Amazon or your local book shop. URL
below.
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!


Thank you Kate for the advice. I still have my old Brother sewing machine
that I use for general stitching.