Men's flannel shirt (Simplicity 4760)

Pattern: Simplicity 4760
View: A
Size: S (sizes S-XL)
Fabric: Flannel

Things I learned:

• I could have made it even smaller: the shoulder comes too low and the sleeve is too long.
• I should also have clipped the seam allowances smaller and/or graded them to reduce bulk in corners.
• I am proud of how I matched the plaid at the pocket.

Follow-up post to: Small refashions and adjustments

This is a follow-up post to: Small refashions and adjustments

Jo asked how I did the shortening of the sleeves on the white striped blouse.

So here it is: This below picture shows what the sleeve looked like.

I studied how the cuff was attached, measured the pleats, then removed the cuff, and cut the rest of the sleeve to the right length.

After that, I reattached the cuff.

I paid close attention to making the pleats the right size.

Sandra Betzina

I am always looking for what Sandra Betzina is going to come up with next.

I have read all of her books on sewing, have enjoyed her articles in Threads magazine, seen her sample webshows, and I recently checked out her DVDs from the library. I think these DVDs are my favorites. I like the ones that are made by just her alone, as well as the ones co-hosted with others, like Ron Collins (like Sandra Betzina does, he shares some excellent sewing techniques as well; their co-hosted DVDs are both funny and very informative).

You can check out the DVDs here:
http://www.powersewing.com/books-dvds/dvds/
There are also short previews of them!

In addition, let me share my favorite fly sewing technique by Sandra Betzina:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt008.asp

And a duvet cover technique:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pdf/Duvetcover.pdf

Handy links

Today, I am posting some of my favorite sewing links. I collected these a few years ago when I first started sewing.

Fly zipper
Bias tape edging
Corduroy
Decorative dressform covers
Easy bound buttonholes
Fix a buttonhole
Gridded wrapping paper for pattern drafting
Hemming solutions
How to sew a French seam
How to sew a good seam
How to sew on cording
How to use the narrow hemmer foot
Invisible zipper
Lining a pleated skirt
Machine sewn blind hem
Making belts
Hemming pants
Measuring for hemming pants
Pattern alteration
Patterns adjustments
Quick bindings
Real Simple magazine
Sew a bead behind a button for a clean finish
Sewing in a zipper

Robe (Butterick 5224)

I made this robe or pajama cover-up for my Mom, but I think I could have made it one size smaller. I may take it apart and re-do it in size S. Also, I think the shorter version may be more flattering.

Pattern: Butterick 5224
View: E with the length of D
Size: M (for my Mom)
Fabric: Crushed panne (berry color)

Things I learned:

* I had read in Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing that Simplicity and McCall's patterns tend to "run larger than Butterick and Vogue." This and the fact that even the Simplicity fleece jacket I had made for her was just a tad too big at the waist, should have given me the clue that maybe I should go one size smaller.
* I applied single-fold bias tape to the neckline, all the way down to the ties. This stabilized the neckline so it doesn't stretch.