Tuesday Tip - Creating a New Design- Part 2

Last week I told you my tip for making quick muslin samples. Well, there is another side to my sample making. Instead of using muslin fabric, I will frequently use fashion fabric (sometimes scrounged at sales) close to (or sometimes the actual) fabric I am thinking of using for the final project. This is a piece of fashion for ME! It also works because I will take that article of clothing and wear it alot- built in product testing!

Tuesday Tip - Creating a New Design- Part 1

In the clothing business, making a sample of a new design is called a 'muslin'. The name comes from the usual fabric that is used - muslin. After cutting out the pieces, you sew them together and then try it on. The best part of using this cheaper fabric is that you can make any tailoring change marks right on the fabric. And when it is done to your satisfaction, you can easily take it apart and create your pattern.

I, too, use muslin to try out new designs for the first time. However, instead of sewing the fabric seams I overlap them the depth of the seam and use masking tape as my sew line. Quick, quick, quick. And I can take it apart without the nasty seam ripper!

Tuesday Tip - Dyeing

Once you begin dyeing it in inevitable that someone will either ask you to teach or donate your time to a group. I have done both over the years. I like to arrive with the dyes pre-mixed (with no soda ash). It took me many times of having the dye jars leak in transit before I found the perfect container:

Water bottles.

Finally a good use for these throw aways! I mix up 500 ml of dye at a time and put them in 700 ml bottles. Knock on wood, haven't had one leak, yet! I mix up my soda ash in 3X the strength and carry it in strong gallon containers (I have heard stories of milk containers leaking - so I like old juice containers). I carry everything in old, clean kitty litter containers. When I arrive it doesn't take long to put the dyes out, add one of the gallon containers of soda ash to the kitty bucket + 2 more gallons of water and start the fun!

Tuesday Tip - Sectional Warping

It can be quite confusing to keep track of how many yards are on your sectional warp. I have solved this problem with coins. To start I determine how long the warp is. I usually work in 5 yard increments (I usually put 25, 35 or 50 yard warps on). I divide this by 5 and get that many nickels (5, 7 or 10 for above example) and 4 pennies. For every 5 yards I wind I place one of the nickels in a pile - when they are all gone I am done! If I am interupted mid wind I place that many pennies in the pile before answering the phone or whatever. I have gone back hours later and I always know where I am! One other trick I do is count to 5 (yds) out loud - helps to hear it, too.

Just my way of keeping track. Hope it helps you.