Hazel muslin - WIP
When I start with a new pattern it takes me a little while to get going because I split everything into different days (kind of
like Sarai). One day I trace the pattern, one day I cut the fabric, and the next day I am free to sew! On Monday night I began tracing the pattern and learned some new things. Specifically, wax paper and parchment paper are completely different.
Some of you are probably thinking, "duh, Erin," but I had no idea how different they were until I compared them side by side. Don't mind my second grade handwriting in the photo above. When I am lazy I try and write upside down haha.
The wax paper is definitely easier to see through, but much harder to write on. The parchment paper works as actual paper, as far as writing is concerned. I think I will use parchment in the future.
I also got to use this tracing wheel for the first time! My grandma gave it to me a while back, but I forgot all about it until a few days ago. To use it I put the parchment tracing paper on top of the
pattern and traced along the pattern edges. The tracing wheel made tiny little holes in the parchment paper, so it was clear where I needed to cut with scissors afterwards.
This tracing wheel originally belonged to my great grandma. I have never met her and it just blows my mind that I am using her sewing tool. It's so weird to think that she was born in the late 1800s/early 1900s and now in 2012 I am using her tracing wheel. I don't think the wheel is from the 1800s, but it's just weird to think how far apart in age we are.
An Instagram sneak peek of my pocket! Sorry that all of the photos in this post are iPhone pictures :( Once I am in the tracing/cutting/sewing zone it can be hard to get up and grab an actual camera. You guys know how it is ;)
Last night I started sewing my wearable muslin and it's coming together really quickly. If some of you are on the fence about sewing along, it's not too late to join
Sew Colette by any means! There is still plenty of time!
How are your muslins coming together? Any problems with fit?
Sarah has written up some great posts on fitting:
Calculating ease for a full or small bust adjustment,
making full or small bust adjustments,
bust dart adjustments,
pivot adjustments and
adjusting the bodice length.
Ohh..can't wait for this! And I really adore your new blog layout!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debi! xoxo
DeleteAre you sewing Hazel?
FLAMINGOS FLAMINGOS FLAMINGOS FLAMINGOS
ReplyDelete...that's pretty much all. I love my tracing wheel, too. But I love flamingos more!
You are so cute!
DeleteI LOVE that fabric!!! SO MUCH! Where did you find it? Also, that must be so neat to use your great grandmothers tracing wheel. I come from a long line of sew-savvy ladies too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rochelle! I got it here at a local quilt shop. I don't remember the designers name, but when I get home I will text you. If you can't find it online let me know and I will pick some up and mail it to you!
DeleteFlamingos!! I can not wait to see your dress!
ReplyDeleteFLAMINGOS!!! Gah! I am so excited to see this dress! And your tracing wheel? What an amazing piece of family history :)
ReplyDeleteLoooove the fabric choice. I also have my great grandma tracing well and I cannot use it, it's too old. I love to think its passed so many generations ....
ReplyDeleteBwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh flamingos!!!!! LOVE!!! We're decorating our new bathroom with flamingos! I'm so excited for your dress! And it's so very cool that you have your great grandma's tracing wheel-- I love that you share the bond of sewing!
ReplyDeleteYour tracing wheel is great! I have some of my grandma's old baking tools and I love using them. It's neat how a simple tool like that can make you feel so connected to your family history. And your flamingo's - fabulous!
ReplyDeleteIf you have an art suppy store nearby, tracing paper on a roll (which is similar, but a bit thinner than parchment paper), would be way more economical. I buy the 24" wide version that comes on 50 yard rolls. It comes in white or a yellow-ish version (which is the one I use).
ReplyDeleteThis is what I use too! It works really well, and my roll has lasted a long time.
DeleteLove the flamingos. That dress is gonna be so cute!!
ReplyDeleteI don't trace my patterns now (if it were irreplaceable I might take the time), but in school, we used wax paper because you could easily fuse pieces together by overlapping them and running an iron over the overlap (the wax melted and held the pieces together). I think we used sharpies on the wax paper without any trouble...
ReplyDeleteThe flamingo fabric is so cute! Can't wait to see the end result :)
Okay... so I might sound like a complete idiot but I must ask... are you using the parchment/wax paper to trace the pattern so that you can preserve the original pattern? I usually draft all my patterns and the first step is to outline my pattern (I can do this because it is made of oak tag) instead of tracing it. I just want to make sure my assumption is right. Again, I'm sorry if I sound like a dummy :)
ReplyDeleteI think that is so cool that your using your grandmother's tracing wheel. It sure has a lot more character to it than one you bought at Joann's!