Ocala Chapter DVD Lending Library
Beverley Hilton ~ Librarian
The Perfect T-Shirt DVD by Pamela’s Patterns
I borrowed this DVD from our ASG library, took it home and watched it. It was the most informative piece I’ve seen in a while. She says her patterns are designed to ‘fit and flatter women with real figures,’ and she proceeds to tell you just how to do that with this t-shirt pattern.
She addresses the most common fitting issues we face – high round back, forward shoulder, full hip and bust, and a good fit through the shoulder and neck. Design details include an "essence of waist," flattering shirt tail hemline, three necklines, and four sleeve lengths.
The first thing she covers is taking your measurements and comparing them to the pattern to decide which size to use. Then she tells you how change the pattern where necessary. If you have a high round back and forward sloping shoulders, you can move the shoulder seam to fit. This will keep your shirt from sliding backwards.
She tells you how to adjust the width of your shoulder seam so that your shirt looks like it fits well, and isn’t made for somebody else. She covers making it appear like you have an hourglass figure by contouring the waist, and making a flattering shirt tail hemline and what length it should be. You can also add darts if you have a larger bust, and how to move the darts and customize your pattern.
After discussing fabric choices, Pamela proceeds to lay out her fabric and pattern, and cut out her shirt. She sews it up quickly and then shows fitting. The binding for the neckline is then made and applied, and her method of hemming is shown.
This is a great DVD! If you have any reservations about sewing knits, this will answer most of your questions.
Debbie Katz
www.mysewinginfo.com
Gainesville Sewing Circle
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Things I Learned From the Library . . .
By Bev Hilton
Real Fit for Real People
A couple of weeks ago, the Cutting Edge garment SI group met to start on their new projects. Since fit is generally an issue every woman who sews encounters to some degree, we decided to invest a bit of our time in viewing the DVD, Real Fit for Real People by Palmer Pletsch. We could not have spent our time in a better way. Each of us came away knowing so much more about pattern fitting than we’d thought possible.
Marta Alto is the primary presenter, with an assist from Pati Palmer. For starters, Marta showed a quick way to pattern fit. Use clear tape in short pieces (so the pattern doesn’t jump up, grab the tissue and create wrinkles) placed along the seam line to create reinforcement for pinning. Pin the seam line through the tape – the pattern does not tear! You can determine if the pattern is actually going to fit, or if it needs to be a larger or smaller size. She expounded on the role fabric selection would play in this process.
This simple technique was put to work the very next week with two new fashion sewing students I’ve taken on. Measurements were taken, and a pattern selected based on those measurements, just as Marta had demonstrated in the DVD. Each prepared her pattern as Marta had instructed. We pinned the seams and were able to “try on” the pattern. One was too a tiny bit too small. One was quite a bit too large. We were able to resolve these issues quickly. Re-taped, re-pinned, re-tried-on, and bingo! All was well.
Marta also demonstrated several common fitting issues such as bust adjustments, back adjustments, arm adjustments and hip adjustments. Her instructions for fixing these problems were so clear, so easy to understand AND DUPLICATE that we were truly amazed. Each of us concluded that we could, in fact, DO these adjustments ourselves based on her clear directions.
Pant Fitting
We were on a roll! After Real Fit for Real People, we wanted MORE! So we tackled Connie Crawford’s Pant Fitting.
This one was actually quite fascinating. Connie started with nothing but measurements and drafted a pattern for a pair of perfectly-fitting pants based on pattern drafting principles and some rulers, basic and fashion. She just took the measurements very precisely, and went through the process of drawing the pattern, explaining at each step what she was doing and why. Suddenly, there was a pattern, done, and absolutely perfect for the individual for whom it had been made.
Some of us were not sure we’d want to do this, since so many pants patterns do exist. Others among us felt that she’d made it look so do-able that we might just give it a try, realizing that the result would be . . . PERFECTION!
Debbie Katz did a review on Pamela Leggett’s Perfect T-Shirt, which appears in this issue of the newsletter also. These are just three of the many fantastic offerings available through your ASG Ocala Chapter DVD Library! This is a chapter resource, and it’s FREE and available to all members in good standing.
DVDs also make excellent material for neighborhood group programs!
It’s as easy to use as this:
Get a DVD from the librarian during one of her visits to your neighborhood group, or, request one be mailed to your home. You can keep it for one month, then return it either at the meeting, if she is there, or by return mail in the special padded mailer, which she will provide.
You are responsible ONLY for the cost of postage and mailing supplies, and for the safe and secure return of the DVD you borrow, in the same condition you borrowed it. If damaged or lost, you’ll be responsible for replacing any DVD you borrow.
Ready to start expanding your sewing or quilting repertoire? Contact Bev Hilton.
If you happen to have sewing or quilting DVDs that you no longer wish to maintain in your personal library, consider donating them to the chapter DVD library. That knowledge can then be shared with other chapter members – and you can take the tax deduction for your donation!
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Looking Good Live!
Is a wonderful DVD featuring wardrobe consultant Nancy Nix-Rice. It teaches how to look like a million NOW- not after you lose 20 pounds, win the lottery, or build a bigger closet. Nancy shows you how to dress the body you have, and make it the best it can be. Learn to create points of connection between you and your wardrobe colors, styles, design details and accessories, and to spotlight your challenge areas.
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ASG Ocala, as you may or may not yet know, you have one great DVD lending library. We have DVDs on fabric embellishment, quilting, surface design, needle felting, transfers, fashion fitting and garment construction, wardrobe optimization, and so much more!
While at ASG Annual Conference in Atlanta, Bev picked up some new DVDs to add to our wealth of options. Palmer/Pletch’s Fit for Real People; Pamela Leggett’s Perfect T-Shirt; and Connie Crawford’s Pant Fitting – all garment sewing and fitting related DVDs.
Here’s how to make use of our fantastic DVD library.
Any member in good standing of ASG Ocala is entitled to borrow DVDs from the library.
The term of the DVD loan is one month. Return it sooner if you are finished with it.
The cost to borrow one DVD is $5; the cost to borrow two DVDs is $6. Send your check to Beverley Hilton with a note indicating which disk(s) you’d like to borrow, and your full name and mailing address. Include your e-mail address for verification. The librarian will make sure your check reaches our treasurer.
The DVD(s) will be mailed to you in a special media mailer. It will also include a pre-addressed and stamped RETURN MEDIA MAILER. Keep the return mailer with the DVD. When you’re done with the DVD, put it into the padded return mailer, seal it, drop it in your mail box and put the flag up.
The borrower is responsible for safe and sound return of all borrowed DVDs. Anyone who does not return a borrowed DVD in good order will be expected and requested to reimburse the chapter for the cost of replacement. Fair’s fair, right?
When you borrow a DVD, you are agreeing to these terms.
In the future, our library will travel a bit, going from neighborhood group to neighborhood group to make borrowing a DVD a bit easier. Be watching for that development, but don’t wait ‘till then to take advantage of all there is to learn and do.
NGLs, these DVDs also would make good program material, whether as a plan A program, or as a back-up. You’d need a means for showing them large enough for members to view, and sound capability.
Please also keep in mind that we welcome donations of sewing education DVDs for our library.
Now, check over that great list, and let us know what you’d like to learn next.
Click to see DVD CATALOGUE
