Fall is my favorite sewing season! So many choices and options in patterns, styling, fabrics and accessories. You will be looking at pics on my social media pages and blog posts more this season than any other time because I'm designing and sewing like crazy. Plus 2020 is around the corner and I'm planning for a big pivot in my career and you will see it in these pages. God has been working his magic in so many of us and I'm listening, watching and waiting for my part.

I want to thank a few partners in this post: the best linen in the world of fabric stores comes from Fabrics-Store.com, a new blog partner. Visit their site to see the blog post on the new Vogue Pattern 1639 Curated by Me: Nikki Griffin. The linen fabric they sell is to die for and they have all weights and color choices. Another fall wardrobe partner is Minerva - where you can find the floral ponti fabric of the maxi long-sleeve dress. Check out the Minerva site soon for details of this dress. A longtime partner of great pattern designs is Style Sew Me Patterns, with the Madison Cardigan as well as True Bias Pattern Nikko Dress

Thanks for the love - enjoy !

https://fabrics-store.com/fabrics/linen-fabric-IL019-chocolate-softened-middle/ Skirt: Vogue Patter 1639 - Chocolate Linen (softened) Top: the 90s Boots: Dillard’s

Pattern Review of Sandra Betzina Vogue 1639

Here's the story of the knit dress: Fabric Joint in Atlanta on Memorial Drive is the place I go to see what I can see. The result is sometimes a surprise piece of fabric the owner didn't even know was there. This is the case of this yummy sweater knit fabric. So nice I went back bought the whole bolt (16yds).

I love working with knits and a long knit dress is the most comfortable garment in my closet. After washing this fabric, it melts in your hand and you just want to cover up with it. I designed this dress, self-drafted from own own sloper and see the nice pocket on side? yep - hand-stitched!

I also didn’t want to have a bulky neckline on the dress so I trimmed off the selvage edge of the fabric, made a v-neck band and hand-stitched it around the neck. Lays soft and flat on my neckline and looks amazing.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR SEWING WITH SWEATER KNITS:

- wash your fabric first - softens it up

- look at how it behaves on the edges and test the stretch

- if you don’t have a serger be prepared to zigzag your seams and edges based on the design

- NO IRONING AT ALL

- I used straight stitching on the side seams (non stretch areas)

- I used a zigzag stitch on the curved sleeve seams (stretch areas)

- serge all the inside seams - gives it stabilization while being worn and stretched

- serge and turn your bottom hem and handstitch or for lighter knits you can use a twin needle.

- this dress: I didnt want bulky seams so I hand-stitched the neckline by using the selvage edge as the neckband— I also handstitched the pocket onto the front.

I didn’t hem the sleeve or bottom So I lightly fray checked and that’s all - just this knit

- I fold this dress in half over a pants hanger - or put in a drawer

CARDIGAN:

- turn the hems and straight stitch

- zigzag stitch sleeve seams

- NO IRONING

- serge all inside seams

- let hang on dress form to set

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR SEWING WITH KNITS:

- wash you’re fabric first - softens it up

- look at how it behaves in the edges and test the stretch

- if you don’t have a serger be prepared to zigzag your edges based on the design

- NO IRONING AT ALL

- this dress: I didnt want bulky seams so I hand-stitched the neckline by using the selvage edge as the neckband I also handstitched the pocket onto the front

Fall is my favorite sewing season

! So many choices and options in patterns, styling, fabrics and accessories. You will be looking at pics on my social media pages and blog posts more this season than any other time because I'm designing and sewing like crazy. Plus 2020 is around the corner and I'm planning for a big pivot in my career and you will see it in these pages. God has been working his magic in so many of us and I'm listening, watching and waiting for my part.I want to thank a few partners in this post: the best linen in the world of fabric stores comes from Fabrics-Store.com, a new blog partner. Visit their site to see the blog post on the new Vogue Pattern 1639 Curated by Me: Nikki Griffin. The linen fabric they sell is to die for and they have all weights and color choices. Another fall wardrobe partner is Minerva - where you can find the floral ponti fabric of the maxi long-sleeve dress. Check out the Minerva site soon for details of this dress. A longtime partner of great pattern designs is Style Sew Me Patterns, with the Madison Cardigan as well as True Bias Pattern Nikko DressThanks for the love - enjoy !Pattern Review of Sandra Betzina Vogue 1639Here's the story of the knit dress: Fabric Joint in Atlanta on Memorial Drive is the place I go to see what I can see. The result is sometimes a surprise piece of fabric the owner didn't even know was there. This is the case of this yummy sweater knit fabric. So nice I went back bought the whole bolt (16yds). HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR SEWING WITH KNITS: - wash you’re fabric first - softens it up- look at how it behaves in the edges and test the stretch - if you don’t have a serger be prepared to zigzag your edges based on the design - NO IRONING AT ALL - this dress: I didn’t want bulky seams so I hand-stitched the neckline by using the selvage edge as the neckband I also handstitched the pocket onto the front I didn’t hem the sleeve or bottom Minerva is a blog partner where lovely fabrics live and this one is no exception. Take a look at this floral ponti, just perfect for a fall day with boots and hat. The Nikko Dress from True Bias patterns is a go-to pattern for many of us that want a nice fitting knit dress.So much more on the sewing table, including holiday and winter wardrobe planning which I'm doing now - since living in Atlanta, winter is coming real soon. Thanks for the love - What goals are you planning to acheive for 2020?NikkiI didn’t hem the sleeve or bottom hems

Minerva is a blog partner where lovely fabrics live and this one is no exception. Take a look at this floral ponti, just perfect for a fall day with boots and hat. The Nikko Dress from True Bias patterns is a go-to pattern for many of us that want a nice fitting knit dress.

Stay in touch and you'll see the full blog post on the Minerva site soon.

So much more on the sewing table, including holiday and winter wardrobe planning which I'm doing now - since living in Atlanta, winter is coming real soon.

Thanks for the love -

What goals are you planning to achieve for 2020?

Nikki