While walking through my local Jo-Ann’s ETC the other day I spotted the magazine
SewStylish by Connecticut’s own
Taunton press. This is a magazine aimed at beginning sewers. It is sort of the baby sister to Taunton’s more well known
Threads magazine.
Now I have read and loved
Threads magazine for years. An article in
Threads many years ago started me on my love affair with felted wools. The articles are informative and well done. But Threads is aimed at the experienced and adventurous sewer. Beginning sewers could quickly be overwhelmed.
SewStylish serves a need in the sewing community . . . the new sewer that needs to learn. The articles are well written and easy to understand. The photos continue the excellent tradition of all of Taunton’s publications. They are clear close-ups that clarify points in the articles.
The two issues I read included tips on tools, techniques, and garment alterations. My favorite was an article giving basic instructions on making a skirt pattern from duct tape.
Years ago I made a dress form with duct tape. It was a project that took half dozen rolls of tape . . . and a few glasses of wine (I am claustrophobic). My husband thought I had lost it but helped me anyway. Although he kept cracking jokes and I was trying hard not to laugh because of the tight fit we were able to make an exact replica of my form. (BTW - Use an old oversized tee shirt to make the form. Seam it to make it fit snug and then go ahead and start wrapping.) The time it took to make it (a couple of hours one evening) was well spent and it resulted in a form that served me well for many years. Every person’s body is asymmetrical, some more than others. My right side is larger than my left and my shoulders are rounded. This became readily apparent as soon as I looked at the duct tape form. A skintight duplicate of your individual body shape makes an excellent base for pattern drafting and garment alterations. No matter how good a store bought dress form is it can’t duplicate your body eccentricities as well as a form made this way. Once made this dcut tape dummy will stand up to many, many patterns and changes.
Throughout the magazine are directions to the website for additional info. Originally I was peeved but after checking out some of the links I was impressed. There was a gold mine of information there at the click of my mouse.
I found a sale package of two of the
SewStylish magazines for a bargain price of $8.99. Look for the freestanding display near the cash registers or near the magazine section.
Check out the magazine and its
website.
