Peach Patterns

How to: Fold your fabric for cutting

It's a small detail but one which, as a pattern designer, has been playing on my mind.  Pattern instructions usually state that fabric should be folded right sides together prior to pinning and cutting pattern pieces.  The pieces are then either cut on the fold or in layers.  At the same time, there seems to be no reason given as to why this method of folding is important.

If you're like me and like to bend the rules, you'll know that folding wrong sides together (as in my little diagram below) usually gives you the same results.  So why the insistence on folding in a certain way?

My searches haven't returned much concrete information on the topic but what I have found all seems to boil down to this:

Folding right sides together allows you to transfer any pattern markings more easily onto the wrong side of the fabric.  Which is where they should be.  Apparently.

Is this a compelling enough reason? I would vote no because:

• Many of us use modern independent patterns which are more pared down and simplified than traditional commercial patterns.  They have minimal or no pattern markings (especially for children where there are no bust darts, for example).

• Folding the fabric wrong sides together allows the pattern design to be seen when pinning and therefore allows positioning of the pattern pieces to best effect.

What about you? How do you fold and do you think it matters?  Are there any important reasons I've missed here for folding in a certain way? 

Handmade Alice in Wonderland Costume for Book Week

Because she bears more than a passing resemblance to Alice, the little one decided she wanted a made-to-order Wonderland costume for her first ever Book Week at school.

I used the Wink Designs "Madeline Dress" pattern as the basis for the costume.  The "Madeline Dress" is sleeveless so I did a bit of mix and match on the pattern piecing and used the sleeve piece from another pattern - the "Simply Sweet Blouse" - to make a short puff sleeve.  Luckily, with a bit of gathering over the sleeve cap, it worked really well.

  

I drew up a simple pattern to create a tie-on apron and appliqued some playing card shapes onto the front.  A bit of frilly trim later and we were there!

Big sister went as the Mad Hatter but put her outfit together from bits and pieces in her wardrobe.  Was thankful for that as two handmade costumes probably would have pushed me over the edge! (Especially as I managed to lodge a pin in the metal plate of my sewing machine and had to finish the apron ties with fusible hemming tape.)

           

 

Wink Designs Patterns for Knit Fabrics: On the Drafting Table

Since starting to use Facebook, it's become all to easy to just post there and neglect to update the blog.  But Facebook in its wisdom, of course, shows posts only to the chosen few!  

So, here it is again for those who missed out, a sneak peek of some new Wink Designs patterns for stretch fabrics being road-tested in the 'hood! 

These are still in the drafting and testing (by me) phase before they go out to wider testing and I really need to knuckle down and get them finalised....

Watch this space!