Hitting the Books... Part 1

These days there are so manys choices when it comes to sewing patterns... I'll have to admit I have always been partial to paper patterns... finding the ones you have to trace from books, or download from PDF a little daunting... and if I'm being honest to much work... 

But...  as any crafter knows, its hard to resist things that are new and shiny... This book caught my eye... and after I picked it up I just couldn't put it back down...  even though... (sigh)... it meant I had to make my own patterns...

I decided it was time to hit the books... so... with my new purchase in
hand I hunkered down and told myself ...

I can do this!

OK... so the first hurdle...  I had to trace out the pattern pieces in my

 size... that turned out to be no big deal...

I was drawn to this book, because it shows how to alter the

basic pattern pieces to create endless possibilities... 

These are just a few of the examples...

I decided to start with something basic... since I have no pattern making skills... and since this one was sleeveless...
I though it would be  a good place to start...

Surprisingly... even though the basic front and back pieces had to be elongated, and a seam allowance had to be added... I did not find it hard to do...
And when I started sewing the shirt together I so thrilled, because the pieces I cut out even match up! 
... Here is the result...

Not to bad for my first pattern making attempt... While, I could have probably gone down a size... I think it turned out pretty cute...  And I love my fabric choice!  This vintage printed silk has a nice drape to it... If I had done it out of a stiffer fabric, I think the shape would have been more tent like... 

As you may have noticed... I titled this blog Part 1... I will be attempting a PDF pattern next!!  So... check back for Part 2...

Thanks to technology... for a crafter these days there are endless possibilities!  And the inspirations I've found are limitless...  So... don't let yourself be the only thing that's holding you back from trying new things...  Take it from a girl who does most things "old school"... YOU CAN DO IT!

***Jennifer