About my Dior Dress

It all began when I came across this fabulous Dior Dress from 2012, and decided it was the perfect idea for a classic dress design.  Imagine a stretch bodice, that fits easily and is very comfortable to wear.  Then add a very special skirt, using signature fabric.  The simplicity of the idea was just so attractive to me.  And simplicity is something I really admire in both the design and construction of fashion clothing.  And now that classic simplicity is available to you with my new sewing pattern:  The Dior Dress, available in 6 sizes, including detailed cutting and sewing instructions.

Checkout all the blog post detail on my website blog 'website'.

Body Twist Tee Revisited

This is where it all started...  The Off-the-shoulder Twist Top from so many years ago.  This design was originally inspired by one of the dutch designers in a mens silk knit tee.  It has graduated from a mens tee to an off-the-shoulder model to finally a boat neck tee style.  It's this final version that I'm now preparing as an online PDF sewing pattern to add to the website.  Make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter so you're the first to hear about the pattern release.  You'll find the sign in box in the footer of my web pages.

 Checkout all the blog post detail on my website blog 'wellsuited'.

Drape Shift Rethink

 The Drape Shift was one of my earlier #PatternPuzzle posts that popularised my blog in 2014.  However the pattern making instructions proved to need much more work.  I decided in my first sample to include a three-quarter sleeve to suit my own aesthetic.  And to stay with the original one-piece pattern it needed and over-arm seam rather than an underarm seam.  Although I liked and happily wore my first sample it wasn't anywhere close to the original design sketch.

Checkout all the blog post details on my website blog 'wellsuited'.

Retro Wrap Sewing Instructions

The Retro Wrap was one of my earliest Pattern Puzzle patterns and easily one of the all-time favourites.  I've made the original pattern and all the adjustments necessary to prepare it for conversion into a PDF Sewing Pattern.  And I do admit that working out the grading plan for this style was a huge challenge.  When the grade document is returned I'll let you know if it was successful.

Checkout the full blog post details on my website blog 'wellsuited'.

Testing the Twist Tee

The Twist Tee pattern puzzle was always one of the easiest versions of jersey twist patterns I've ever produced.  You don't even need your own garment blocks to make this pattern.  Any simple top or tee shirt shape pattern is a good place to start for this project.  The sample I have posted here is the double twist version.  It's possible to make this as a single twist pattern from the original post if you have access to the appropriate fabric.

 Checkout all the post detail on my website blog.

First sample - Tucked Tee

If you have a look at this original post you'll see my thinking when I attempted this Pattern Puzzle. It appears so simple as an idea, but when testing the pattern I found it was like many other apparently 'simple' ideas, that is very difficult to achieve.

You'll find the rest of the post detail in the website blog.  First Sample - Tucked Tee

Stretch Skirt Block and Design Options

Following on from the Skirt Block and Design Options post I've separated skirt designs that use a stretch skirt block to start your pattern development. You can use my skirt block to make a stretch skirt block to use with all these pattern puzzle posts. Some of them have been sampled and those sample posts are also included here.

Click through to 'well-suited', the website blog, for all the pattern making goodness!

Making the Most of My Knit Block

My Knit Block will make all these Pattern Puzzles:

This post has been curated to bring the focus to my garment blocks now available on the website. They are the same blocks I use in my pattern puzzles and the same basic blocks that for the foundation of commercial pattern making. The first block for the spotlight is my Knit Block.

https://www.studiofaro.com/making-the-most-of-my-knit-block/

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Insights - JerseyTwist Patterns

This is the first of a new series of pattern making posts that is me sharing the lightbulb moments of my pattern making career.

Now available as 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.

Pattern Insights - Jersey Twist Patterns

www.studiofaro.com

THE PATENT BLOUSE - Sampled!

You'll find the PDF Sewing Pattern on the website.  And a set of Sewing Instructions with detailed photos of every step.

The Patent Blouse Sizes XS-XXL

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - Two Layer Jersey Dress

ALL THE PATTERN MAKING INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BVEEN MOVED TO THE NEW BLOG LOCATED ON THE WEBSITE.  

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

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Fundamentals - Stretch Skirt Block

ALL THE DETAIL FOR A STRETCH SKIRT BLOCK CAN BE FOUND ON THE NEW BLOG.

Pattern Fundamentals - Stretch Skirt Block

Pattern Puzzle - ‘The Blank' by Ruth E Richman 1948

So it's a weird one this week.  Over sixty years old and born of a time that valued efficiency in manufacture over effective use of resources.  Patent #2,454,208, invented by Ruth E Richman in 1946, was filed as:

'An object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of blouses, coats and similar garments by constructing them from a blank consisting of a single piece of material.'

And Ruth was not alone.  We have located at least six different patents, spanning turn of the century to the 1960's, that focused specifically on one-piece patterns that minimised the time spent in manufacture.  We have preciously showcased a The Patent Blouse that similarly features a one-piece pattern with minimal seaming for greater efficiencies in production.  So certainly a popular idea at the time.

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

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - Waterfall Jersey Skirt

ALL THE DETAIL FOR THE WATERFALL JERSEY SKIRT CAN BE FOUND ON THE NEW BLOG.  JOIN US. :)

Pattern Puzzle - Waterfall Jersey Skirt

Pattern Puzzle - Waterfall Drape Skirt

Zuzana Grimm had her ahha moment on Saturday afternoon and solved the #PatternPuzzle.  Julie and Vicki gave her a good start in the morning with some great detail.  The weird pattern shape is a one piece pattern for a ruched jersey skirt with waterfall drape.  Although I am using the basic skirt block for woven fabric, I will select a block two sizes smaller than usual so I can cut the pattern in a two-way stretch jersey.  That would give me a fit with negative ease of 6cm for this style.  

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

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - Twist Panel Jersey Dress

Once again the much favoured Jersey Twist is featured on the Saturday morning #PatternPuzzle.  A big thank you to all our fans that come along to play and watch.  :)  

This week there is an addition to our #PatternPuzzle post with the inclusion of imperial measurements for our US fans.  Huge thanks to Lisa at Poldapop Designs for pointing out how much easier this would make the teaching of our worksheets in the states.  Lisa is one of the first teachers to take on our Basic Skirt Draft Worksheet as a teaching tool in her classes.  The results have been positive so we will work hard to provide imperial equivalents in all our pattern making instructions.  :)

YOu'll find all the pattern making detail on the website blog.

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - The Wrap Drape Dress

This weeks #PatternPuzzle was a tough one!  When you look at the weird pattern shape we posted on Saturday, you are looking at the most complex pattern piece in the style.  In this weeks puzzle, in addition to the side seam drape, it's all about understanding the construction of the front wrap and how that relates to the CF seam.  It is a mock wrap in that it is secured at the side seams to create a more reliable shape.

All the pattern making instructions have been moved to the website blog here. :)

We love to hear from you so please leave you pattern making questions in the comments section below.

Enjoy  :)

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - Double Drape Tee

A big thank you to everyone who came by our Facebook Page on Saturday to play the #PatternPuzzle. You were all able to identify most parts of the pattern but found the shape at the neckline confusing.  Once you turn the pattern up the right way you'll see the large open shape is in fact two pieces of drape that overlap.

This currently popular style is featured in many fashion collections.  The drape from the left side of the top tucks under the right shoulder drape and is attached into the right armhole seam.  Using the Knit Block I have set out the Pattern Plan below with the dashed lines indicating where the drape will be added for both sides of the garment.  

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

www.studiofaro.com

Pattern Puzzle - Jersey Ruche Skirt

Last Saturday's #PatternPuzzle was one of those strange shapes that gave little idea of it's final shape.  But in true form our fans were able to solve the puzzle.  The style we are looking at is a ruched, drape skirt that relies on the two-way stretch of the fabric to pull over the hips without a zipper opening.  

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

www.studiofaro.com

PatternPuzzle - Sporty Glamour

Inspired by The Cutting Class post, Tucks and Gathers at Prada, and Prada's divine combination of feminine styling with casual, sports trim, I could not resist this challenge.  The full show from Prada is worth the viewing. :)  The style that caught my eye is this sporty frock (below) with crew neckline and bead and sequin embellishment.  A wicked combination.  :)

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

www.studiofaro.com