Kimono Twist - First Sample

Inspired by fans, I've finally had a go at the Kimono Twist Dress from the Pattern Puzzles series. My first pattern was cut from a knit kimono block that I made from my Basic Knit Block. I used a mid-weight two-way stretch jersey in a near-block aubergine. And although I've identified some issues for improvement, this first sample's not too shabby.

You'll find this dample post in my FREE Members Area - Kimono Twist - First Sample

If you'd like to learn my method for creating Twist Drape Patterns I have a detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.

Jump over to the blog on my website and check out the other STUDIO FARO MAKERS samples. :)

Easy Pattern Making - No Block Required

When I look at the vast amount of pattern making posts I've blogged since 2013, I'm overwhelmed! So I've no idea how you're all coping out there. I'm going to make an attempt to curate some of the posts into different categories so you can use them for a little gentle pattern making. Many of you ask for online training, so this isn't a bad place to start by working your way through the accumulated knowledge in these posts. Here I'll be highlighting some of my posts that are particularly friendly for the beginner pattern maker.

More detail here...

Vintage Inspired Round-Up

Trawling through my blog post archive I've come to realise that many of my posts have vintage content, and I discover there are at least twenty vintage posts! So this Vintage Inspired Round-Up is to refresh your memory of some of my earlier Pattern Puzzle posts and to share a few points in history where vintage style has influenced my work. Where does it all start?

The rest of the post detail is here!  :)

Vivienne Drape Dress - First Sample

Back in the land of blogging and I've made a #FirstSample of the Vivienne Drape Dress.  I always start with my Women's Fitted Block to build a pattern plan for the development of this special design.

You'll find all the sample making detail on the website blog.

Pattern Puzzle - Rectangle Drape Skirt

For this #PatternPuzzle post you have an elegant Drape Skirt that can be cut from a basic skirt block or any pencil skirt pattern. I've included some interesting seaming that works well with the drape feature that's included in the front left skirt.

Find all the pattern making detail here.

Pattern Puzzle - Issey Miyake Single Twist

Does anyone remember this little pattern puzzle from last year? It's been a long time waiting in the wings for posting. An innovation on an existing theme, this single twist is ingenious in that a cowl is built as part of the twist pattern. The final effect being a more subtle twist with a relaxed fit.

If you'd like to learn my method for creating Twist Drape Patterns I have a detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.

Find all the post detail here.

Fitting Commercial Patterns - FBA

Fitting Commercial Patterns is a very popular workshop for home sewers and textile teachers. This week I've been going all-out to improve the workbook materials for this workshop in preparation for some professional development training I'm delivering in Melbourne next week to the Victorian VET textile teachers. I've decided to share a section of that new workbook in this post, covering the Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) on an existing shirt pattern.

You'll find all the post details here.

Pattern Fix - Back Dress Too Long

How many times have you experienced this: fabric pooling at the back waist in your dresses and shirts?  Well I have the #PatternFix for that!  Unfortunately there is little we can do to save the sample,  but we can alter the pattern to make sure it doesn't happen again. :)

Check out the full blog post on well-suited, my website blog.

Perforated Trend Board and Design Development

My Perforated Trend Board

A collection of ideas to kick start the creative process.

For the full blog post click through to the website:
http://www.studiofaro.com/well-suited/understanding-trend-forecast-perforated-fabric

Print and Plaid Trend - Design Development

Waistcoats

This has to be one of the best things to do!  Endless ideas, not all of them good, but a good chance I'll like at least one of them enough to make it.  The Print & Plaid Trend is one of my long time favourites.  I suppose that means it's not really a fashion trend but a personal preference.

I'll be selecting one of these designs to make a pattern and sample.  Which one is your favourite?

For the video of design development go to my Youtube channel.

For all the detail go to my website blog. :)

TREND Confirmation - Perforated Fabric

If you have a keen interest in Fashion Design and would like to understand Trend Forecast, this post makes the connection between different sources of information used to verify fashion trends for each new season. 

Here at the studio I teach a workshop, Fashion Design Portfolio, that covers seasonal trends and design development for the fashion industry. This is my Trend Board for the Perforated Fabric Trend:

Find the rest of this post on our website blog 'well-suited'

First Sample - Pinstripe Panel Skirt

Do you remember the Pinstripe Panel Skirt? Blogged in May 2014, and first sampled by Capital Chic, this very creative piece of corporate wear is stylish, wearable and very popular. :)

You'll find all the sampling detail here.

THE WRAP DRAPE DRESS - Sampled!

The #PatternPuzzle sample this week is The Wrap Drape Dress from earlier in the year.  You can pop back to the original post for a refresh of all the pattern making instructions.  Janine Kroes of enina-j collection in the Netherlands has sampled our design for her new collection and sent us some photos from the sampling.

You'll find all the sewing detail here...

Pattern Puzzle - Twist Overlay

Did you ever think there'd be so many designs using Twist Drape? I was totally captivated with the asymmetric aspect of this design and the layering effects that can be achieved using two fabrics. Like the majority of previous twists you'll definitely need a two-way stretch knit for this to work well. The elastane (Lycra/Spandex) in your knit fabric is the best tool for achieving a snug fit with this method of making twist patterns.

If you'd like to learn my method for creating Twist Drape Patterns I have a detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio.

More detail...

Garment Pleating - Homage to Issey Miyake

While I wait for the local pleating house to finish their summer vacation, I'm moving onto the second phase of the Permanent Pleating Series - Garment Pleating.  In this series I'll be discussing whole garment pleating as originally inspired by the work of Issey Miyake (Pleats Please).

Design's suitable for Whole Garment Pleating

The most important quality in a garment design that you intend to 'pleat after make' is the flat, almost two dimensional nature of the garment before the pleating process.  More detail...

Fascinated by Pleating

I've always had a fascination for what can be achieved with a little heat and some petro-chemical fibres.  Permanent (heat-set) Pleating is the use of heat on polyester/nylon fabrics to set a pleat that will survive the rigours of wash and wear without the need of re-pressing.  I plan to investigate and demonstrate the Sun-ray Circle and the Mushroom Pleat Rectangle in this first series.

The first three posts in the series are here:

Prep for Permanent Pleating 101

Patterns for Pleating Project 101

Cut, Hang and Hem before Pleating 101

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