Taking Time to Play--Pattern Master Boutique Style

Tonight was the monthly meeting of the group of friends who use Wild Ginger's software for sewing pattern creation.  Most have Pattern Master Boutique for women's clothing, but tWild Ginger also hse Child's Play to create children's patterns, Curves for exercise wear, Knits for knitwear and a program for making men's clothing.  I think there may be more, but I have the first four and have used them all at one time or another.  I've probably used Child's Play as I love to sew for my grandchildren. 

The meeting tonight was using the pattern editor of the software to create a pattern based on our own measurements that copied a ready to wear or a commercial pattern.   I worked with Vogue 9079.  It has both dresses and a top and pants.  The thing that makes it striking is the front of the sleeveless top is cut into two parts with one shoulder one color going off into a curve into the other half of the garment and back in an arc to the hem.  You can look at the picture at https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/product-search?ref=Vogue%209079 and to see the top, put your cursor over the dress picture and it changes. 

We first had to figure out what the basic design, and in the PMB software you have a lot of things to pick from. We chose a boat neck, sleeveless top with French darts. The back has a zipper with princess seams.  All of these choices can be achieved with just a few clicks of the mouse.  When you save it, the program automatically creates the pattern pieces you've chosen designed to your unique measurements. 

Next you take them into the pattern editor.  The back pieces were actually ready to cut and sew, as were the armhole facings.  The back neck facing was fine, but the front neck would have to be changed as soon as the final pattern was finished.  The front half piece, normally placed on a fold, had to be duplicated and the two pieces combined to form a single front piece that we then had to place the arc to cut into two very distinct pieces. 

I hadn't used Pattern Editor for awhile, so the exercise was a good refresher course for me.  Sure was nice to think about something other than unpacking boxes!

Relocated! Now to Get It All Organized!

The move itself is complete, but the unpacking  and reorganizing certainly aren't!  It's truly amazing how much I had stored all over the four bedroom house!  I can't really believe that most of it is now residing in an upstairs room (pictured on the left), but what needs to happen now is some severe reorganization. The room started out 18' X 39', but we put in a half bath to the left of the stairs. Right now it's mostly boxes and who knows what else.  Oh, the blue tape was from us marking for the painters things they needed to touch up before we closed.

 I sorted through many things before packing, and gave away fabric, yarn, a small iron, trim, etc. to a soon-to-be art teacher.  She will have her own classroom for the first time next year and was so thankful for everything she received.  I have a feeling she may be getting more before too long!  There were many bins of fabric I didn't sort through, and I know future art students will be excited to work with the items I donated.

It will probably take me another month to get things where I want them, but then watch out!  I have projects to finish, granddaughters to teach more about sewing, and I see a long, fruitful relationship with all the things I planned to do in retirement.