Islander Method Pants - Sometimes I wonder about myself!

Sorry - no photo of this. I used my personally fitted and drafted pants pattern yesterday. I was looking for fabric to use as a muslin, and picked up a crinkled rayon I've had for dogs years - I think mid-80's! Anyway, I transferred the pattern, cut the pattern out, and basted the pants together.

At some point, I realized that the fabric I picked was stretchy. Much stretchier than I thought originally.

The upshot - the pants are really too big to be able to judge fit. However, the crotch length seems to be good, the length is great and the width and fit of the legs seems good.

SOOOOO...I cut out a second pair, in a NON-STRETCH rayon/cotton woven. I haven't put them together as yet, as I need to get a zipper, but I'm hopeful the pants will be a good fit.

I am going to take the big and stretchy, and add an elasticized waistband. They would be great for at-home (NOT even a walk to the mail-box) pair to clean in, paint, or whatever.

It also occured to me that it would be very simple to use the exact same measurements to create a skirt template. No worrying about crotch length, etc., just using the correct . . . ummmmm, dimensions! Once I get the pants down, I may give that a try as well.

Info on the Island method is available at http://www.islandersewing.com./ I am going to investigate this further, as these methods of construction claim to:

• double your sewing speed!
• elevate your personal sewing skills
• create the clean, ready-to-wear finishes in your garmets
• teach construction methods that are the equivalent of the best designers.

All quite noble and interesting claims. As I progress with this pant thing, I'll let you know what I think. There is a three day class offered in the methods, with a four day class to become a certified instructor. Take a look at the website and let me know what you think!

Back to Sewing?

Well - life has not cooperated in my sewing at all lately. We painted the living room and dining room. The big hurricane Ike that devastated the Gulf also blew the biggest windstorm in south-west Ohio history, knocking out to power to 90% of residents - including ME! No power for three days. No phone for three days. No television for five days!

But things are going well right now and I am just back from a flying trip up to Michigan for the AMERICAN SEWIING EXPO in Novi. I took took of the pre-show classes and spent Friday morning at the vendors malls and exhibits.

On Wednesday I took "Drafting the Perfect Pants" with the wonderful Barbara Cruse. The process used the "Islander" method to make the pattern. Barbara was so helpful to all of us, and now I have a pattern drafted exactly to my measurements. I sure hope to get a muslin done this week for the final fitting.

On Thursday, I had a strange but fun experience. I participated in making a dress form from gummed brown paper - as the model and twice as the constructor. It is great - lightweight but sturdy. The charming and helpful Jan Bones from Excellence in Sewing in Winnepeg was the instructor. She has a line of lingerie patterns - I didn't realize she was the one who created the pattern for yoga pants I purchased this spring. Anyway, her website is: http://www.sewinglingerie.com if you want to take a look. I'd steal her photo of the brown tape dress forms if I knew it was OK - so you may just have to wait until I get a photo of mine!

AND in both classes, the funny and friendly Laura Wyatt was the class helper. She is a hoot - and a newly certified Islander instructor. She started her own sewing school in Fayetteville, Tennessee - I think she said south of Nashville. If she is half as nice and knowledgable as she was at the Expo, grab the chance to take a class with her. Her school is called Its Sew You, and it has a website, but I didn't mark it! Sorry.

Both of those classes have given me a bit of a boost toward getting back to sewing this fall!