Why make a muslin?

This question has been tossed around on several blogs recently, and since I feel the constuction of a fitting muslin is a valuable first step in any sewn garment I was thrilled to come across a post that really resonated with me. I shared this on my business Facebook page today, and reactions have been coming in from all over the place - new people I've never been in contact with have found my page because of it! So, thanks to Claire at Sewing Artistry, I'd like to share her "To Muslin or Not to Muslin"  post with you, too. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Life changes - we adapt

Hiya!

It's been a while, I know. There has been a change in my day-to-day that's affecting the way I approach my sewing and my business, and writing for the blog has taken a way-back seat, as if it were in the back of the old station wagon. This will be a fairly short post for a brief update, and I should be back later with some photos and pattern reviews based on the garments I've sewn recently.

You might remember that I've been working for Sawyer Brook Fabrics the past 12 years.

Awarded!

Just a quick post because I received some awesome news this week - local customers voted Janee's Originals Dressmaking and Alterations a #1 choice for Dry Cleaner/Tailor! The MetroWest News delivered my certificate yesterday:

This is strictly a local choice made by readers

Summer Dressing

It's been a really hectic month for me, with so much sewing to be done for clients' projects. This Spring I was commissioned to make 4 custom dresses or gowns, 3 for mothers-of-the-groom/bride. In my sewing business, most of my work is doing alterations, and it's pretty rare for me to have more than one custom project at a time. The due dates for these are spread out through the summer

Found Treasure

A few weeks ago I sewed a sweater top for myself, in the midst of the epic winter of February/March 2015, where in the Northeast we had 10 weekends in a row with measurable snowfall. I brought home the last cut of Avalon cotton sweater knit from work at Sawyer Brook, and matched it with McCall's 6796.

Too much stretch?

Happy Valentines Day!

I finished a pair of jeans for myself last week, the second I've made from the old Sandra Betzina pattern.

The first pair, now over 2 years old, is so comfortably worn in I can't remember a time when they didn't fit so well - but I know I wasn't 100% satisfied with the fit when they were completed.

Purple Passion

Last Summer I had the opportunity to make a custom outfit for a mother of the groom. It's always nice when a client returns for a second custom dress - even after many years have passed.  She wanted to be very comfortable for this late-September wedding, first and foremost. She also readily acknowledged that she needed an outfit that would suit her body type and age, without being too matronly. And she wanted a little bit of glitz.