HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: carolyn@bucket.rain.com (Carolyn Peterson)
Subject: Re: Pattern for children's T-shirts
Organization: Rick's Home-Grown Un*x
Date:  7 Oct 92 21:15:46 GMT


This response is written by someone who tried her first Stretch and
Sew pattern last month and now now has *nine* of their patterns.  I
have made at least one garment from seven of these patterns.  I've
been really happy with them, in general.  They fit my children *much*
better than other patterns.  I didn't even need to alter them!

sallyh@StarConn.com (Sally Holmes) writes:

>take much fabric. I bought Stretch and Sew #945.

This is the one pattern I wasn't thrilled with.  I made the puffed
sleeve version with the ruffle around the bottom and it is a loose
fitting garment.  

>Isabel's chest size is 22 inches. There seemed to be a lot of ease in
>the pattern, so I made the 21 inch, which is the smallest on the
>multi-sized pattern. [Isabel is 19 months old]

A 21 size in Stretch and Sew is about a size 4 in ready to wear.  This
pattern runs from a girls 4-9.  The center back waist length of
10" hints to this, but the pattern doesn't give the height of the
child it's intended to fit.  Their size charts are different from the
traditional, baggy fitting pattern companies.  I decided I didn't want
to fool around with test garment after test garment to figure out
where they fell, so I called the company for help in size selection
last month.  A 21 is about a 4 in ready to wear, a 23 is a 5, etc.

>Can anyone recommend a good, basic T-shirt pattern for a small girl? I'd
>like a pattern that can be adapted to give long or short, fitted or full
>sleeves.

Sunrise Designs has a pattern like that called Playground.  It's made
from the same slopers that McCalls, Vogue, Butterick, & Simplicity
patterns are, though.  I always took the sides in at least 1 size, if
not 2.  It's in toddler sizes 1-4.  Stretch and Sew may have a toddler
size pattern that would meet your needs, too, but I don't know.

>I thought Stretch & Sew were a reputable company? What's with this
>practice of just reducing everything by 2" to get a smaller size? Don't
>they realise that you just can't get away with it when the largest size
>on the pattern is 50% bigger than the smallest? Do they do this on all
>of their children's patterns? I'd like to make sweatpants too, and have
>bought #5800. Should I put it away until Isabel's about 4? Will I have
>to alter the armscye even then?

I think they are a reputable company.  Putting the pattern away until
Isabel is 3 or 4 would be a good idea.  This particular pattern was
the one I liked the least.  The ones I've been very pleased with are:
301(turtlenecks), 928(stretch pants & skirt), 953 (princess dress), 
992 (button shirt & pants), 871 (jean skirt) & 917 (drop waisted dress
with sash).  All of these are for older kids, though.

Hope you do find something you like.  I also hope you give Stretch and
Sew another chance.  They have some of the best fitting patterns I
have found for children.

Carolyn
carolyn@bucket.rain.com
From: koo@tcville.HAC.COM (Frances Koo)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: re: Buying a sewing machine
Date: 12 Oct 92 18:17:06 GMT
Reply-To: koo@tcville.HAC.COM (Frances Koo)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA

Sorry about using net space, but I had trouble e-mailing this...

> I read your post about heading out of South Bay and into West LA to get a
> better deal on a sewing machine.  I've been looking at machines recently
> and using my lunchtimes to check out some dealers around here (I work in 
> El Segundo).  Of course, hearing that you found better prices elsewhere, 
> I'm willing to expand my search area.  Could you tell me specifically 
> the where you went?  I'd really appreciate it.  Any other words of wisdom 
> would be appreciated also.
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> Alexandra Raley

I don't know of many sewing machine stores around the El Segundo area.  (If
you know of some, do let me know!)  I had to do the major part of my
searches on weekends.

Getting a good deal depends on what machine you want.  I got a very good
deal on my Viking at the Century City Sewing Center in West LA.  If you are
interested in the Viking #1 in particular, I can give you some more
information.

For other machines, be prepared to do some homework (i.e.  shopping ;-) )
so you can recogize whether an offer is good deal.  It helps a little if
you already know what machine you want.  (I maybe should have, but didn't
check out the New Home sewing machines.)

Places I recommend visiting are:

    AAA Sewing and Vacuum Center
        - on Sepulveda in Torrance (a little east of Hawthorne Blvd)
        - they have lots (maybe the entire line) of Bernina and 
          Pfaff machines
        - they will do demos also

    Treadleart
        - on Narbonne, 1 block south of PCH
        - people are well-informed
        - very interesting sewing-oriented shop
        - it is sometimes difficult to get a demo from them if there are
          a lot of customers
        - they have a selection of sewing videos you can rent 
          if you want a preview of the machine

Century City Sewing Center
        - on Pico Blvd, 1 block east of Westside Pavilion
        - the place doesn't look like much, but it is run by a nice
          elderly couple
        - they have mainly Elnas and Viking (no Pfaffs)

If you are interested, there will be a Sewing/Quilting/Needlework/Craft
show on October 16-18 at the Pomona Fairgrounds.  I remembered seeing a 
fair number of New Home sewing machines there.  This can't be described 
as a small show.  Details can be obtained from a fabric store (e.g. House 
of Fabrics).  I was at this show last year, and it was a lot of fun!  
It's highly recommended (I don't work for them).

Hope that helps ... good luck!

    Frances Koo (koo@tcville.hac.com)
From: Marina.Salume@Corp.Sun.COM (Marina Salume)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: rec.crafts.textiles
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:08:38 GMT

> They think if it
>isn't high tech, it's gotta be kinda stupid.  ;-)

In my book, that's the definition of a "nerd" :-)

>Are there other newsgroups that would be better for my needleworking
>interests?  Perhaps rec.crafts.textiles?  I haven't seen one for
>furniture refinishing. 

Rec.crafts.textiles is excellent for lacemaking, needlepoint and
knitting, and you could try rec.crafts.misc for furniture (they talk
about refinishing furniture and making jewelry, too).

--marina
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: fran@Cadence.COM (Fran Peterson)
Subject: Re: Fabriholism cure & cause
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 23:32:17 GMT

In article <Bv5JIK.uB@acsu.buffalo.edu> gorman@acsu.buffalo.edu (Anne-Marie K. Gorman) writes:
>
>Oh no, what will my husband say?  ;-)
>(A big thank you, by the way, to all you hard-core fabriholics who
>have described your addictions on the net.  Whenever my husband says 
>I buy too much fabric, I cite you to show by contrast how restrained
>I am!)
>
>Anne-Marie


I'm sure your husband supports your addiction in Fabricholics in some 
way, shape or form.  However, if you need more amunition here's some.

My husband reads our local newspaper from cover to cover. I normally
read the Living Section, Travel and sale flyers. Yesterday, 
Sunday, I was in my sewing room (converted dining room) and he came in
and said, "House of Fabrics is having a 40% off sale today and tomorrow."
He more than supports addiction, he encourages it!

I never have a chance to run out of ideas.  If I do my husband is right
there with more than enough to keep me busy.  

I think he feels it's better than $60/hr for a therapist!  So do I.

And we don't need a comedian to keep us in stitches.

F [:)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: durriya@doctor.osf.org (Durriya Netterwala)
Subject: Tips on sewing knit fabrics
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Distribution: alt.sewing
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:50:39


Hi Folks,
        I want to stitch knit fabrics on a non-serger machine. I have
a regular simple Singer machine which has straight stitch, a zigzag 
stitch  and the blind hem stitch. I would like any tips and suggestions
you can provide for neatly stitching knit fabrics with such a machine
without causing any stretch. Also any tips for sewing the ribbings
(for neck and sleeve cuffs) onto knit fabrics will be appreciated.

Also, I have noticed that a lot of patterns indicate using serger
sewing for knit fabrics. Can one just use those patterns for a
regular sewing machine? Has anyone done this? I am particularly
interested in making stuff for my 4 month old baby (except that
now that I am a new mom I have even less time for sewing than
I did before!) - 

By the way, I must mention that this is a great news group and
I have picked lots of tips from here. I love sewing and I used 
to sew a lot but I unfortunately don't get time to sew much now.

Thanks.

Durriya
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durriya Netterwala                       durriya@osf.org  (617)-621-7357
Open Software Foundation/Research Institute
--
Durriya N
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durriya Netterwala                          durriya@osf.org  (617)-621-7357
Open Software Foundation/Research Institute
From: Marina.Salume@Corp.Sun.COM (Marina Salume)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: beginners books on quilting
Date: 13 Oct 92 18:38:44 GMT

> I would like to try quilting.  can
>>anyone recommend a good beginners book??

"Quilts, quilts, quilts" by Diana McClun and a co-author
(sorry her name slips my memory right now) is a recent
book that gives all the basics as well as advice on design
and color composition. It was used as the "text" for a tv series
about quilts recently too ("The Great American Quilt", I think it
was called).

Nancy Martin has two books out with lots of block patterns, which
also give good basic instruction in piecing quilts, suitable for
beginners. Both books have lots of good color photos for 
inspiration, and should be available through any quilt shop or
ask your local bookstore to order them. They're softcover so they're
not too expensive.

--marina
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto)
Subject: Re: The Science of Ironing
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 18:11:49 GMT

In article <TLRRBNAT@cc.swarthmore.edu> nparkhu1@cc.swarthmore.edu (Nao Parkhurst) writes:
>In article <BvtFGE.MG@world.std.com>, nancy@world.std.com (Nancy C
>Reynolds) writes:
>> One item probably not covered is velvet.  I've always read that you need
>> either a neeleboard (which looks like a small bed of nails) or a fairly
>> large piece of scrap fabric.
>> 
>> --Nancy Reynolds
>> 
>My mother taught me to iron velvets & velveteens by placing them inside out
>with a towel on the ironing board and steaming them with an iron at the
>temperature appropriate for the fiber content. Do not press - you'll crush
>the pile; simply run the iron lightly over the fabric, and let the steam do
>the work. If your iron won't steam at the appropriate temperature, you can
>dampen a clean dishtowel(or other piece of fabric) and set it on top of the
>fabric you're going to iron. There may be some reason not to iron velvets
>this way, but it's always worked fine for me!

When it comes to real velvets, my first choice is always the dry cleaners.

When I can't take the velvet to the dry cleaners, then I put away the
iron and break out the "turbo-steamer" (YES!!! the TURBO STEAMER as seen
on TV!!!).  Steam from the inside.  Works like a charm.

Mary Otto
>
>:)
>Nao
>nparkhu1@cc.swarthmore.edu
From: shuju@morocco.tv.tek.com (Shu-Ju Wang)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: The Science of Ironing
Date: 15 Oct 92 00:32:04 GMT
Organization: Tektronix TV Products

In article <BvrFp3.86D@cup.hp.com> morrison@cup.hp.com (Bobbie_Morrison) writes:
>
>Hi.  Does anybody know of any good, comprehensive books on ironing?

Hey, I had an ironing question, too.  I hand wash a lot of my silk shells
instead of drycleaning them.  However, I can never get them ironed nicely,
like the way they come back from the cleaners.  Is there a trick to this?

Shu-Ju
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: re: WOW! Women on the net!
Date: 13 Oct 92 03:14:37 GMT
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

WISENET is a mailing list for Women in Science and Engineering -- possibly
of interest to several people who regularly read alt.sewing  (kinda nice!
I was delighted to find I wasn't the only sewing scientist! ;-)  )

Extracted from the very lengthy list of mailgroups from ftp.nisc.sri.com,
as the file /netinfo/interestgroups:

WISENET
     It is available to anyone with access to electronic mail (E-mail).  To
     activate membership, send the following command in the BODY of e-mail
     to LISTSERV@UICVM on BITNET or LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU on the Internet:

     SUBSCRIBE WISENET your full name

     Owner: Dr. Alice Dan, U16715@UICVM.BITNET Notebooks: yes/monthly

OB: alt.sewing content... I was just ambushed by 10 yards of garnet-red
chamois cloth.  Might just stay warm this winter!

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: anne@dolores.Stanford.EDU (Anne Paulson)
Subject: Re: Giving Up On Clothes
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:27:31

In article <1992Oct13.171401.8033@sequent.com> cyndie@sequent.com (Cyndie Sutherland) writes:

   I am so tired of buying patterns, cutting to the proper measurements
   as specified on the pattern, and then having the outfit not fit that
   I am going to give up on sewing clothes and just stick to crafts.  I
   can buy clothes off the rack, and they fit perfectly.  I don't have
   unusual figure flaws.  I've simply decided that the the sizes listed
   on the patterns are deceptive (not true) and what is 26" to one
   pattern company is not 26" to another.

   Do the rest of you have this same problem???  

It is quite possible to have exactly the measurements specified on the
back of the pattern envelope, but to be shaped nothing like the
pattern companies model.  I, for example, measure out to a size
sixteen exactly-  yet if I make a fitted blouse in 16, I won't be able
to get it on, since my shoulders are wide and square.  Other common
differences are the placement of the shoulder seam, bra cup size
(pattern companies design for a B cup), placement and length of darts,
and placement of the waistline.  

The fact is that people vary in shape.  The pattern companies pick a
certain shaped person, and make all their clothes to fit her.   It may
be that this shape is not representative, but I think it is:  there
seem to be as many complaints about shoulders being too wide as too
narrow, for example.  

The more fitted the garment, the more likely it is that you will need
to alter it.  Lots of people can make a loose shirt and have it fit
acceptably, but very few can make a pants pattern without alteration
and have it fit.  If you make that kind of a pattern, you pretty much
have to learn to do pattern alteration.  

There is another fitting problem that may be affecting you:  "design
ease".  Pay attention when the pattern is described as "loose fitting"
or "very loose fitting".  A Vogue blouse or dress that is "very loose fitting"
will have over 8 inches of "design ease" plus 2  inches of "wearing
ease" at the bust:  in other words it will be at least 10 inches
bigger than you are.  The drawings on the pattern envelope are
misleading.  They make loose garments look more fitted.  Check the
back of the envelope.

If you are making a pattern for the first time, it's a good idea to
pin-fit the tissue.  Pin the pattern together and put it on.  It will
only be half a garment, of course.  Pin it to your underwear at center
front and center back and take a look.    You
aren't going to do detailed fitting, but you'll know if major changes
are in order.   

Hope these suggestions help.  I'm sympathetic, because I have to
dramatically alter the patterns for everything I make.

-- Anne


Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: riggle@adobe.com (Kathleen Riggle)
Subject: Re: Pattern for children's T-shirts
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 17:28:42 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.061851.4698@StarConn.com> sallyh@StarConn.com (Sally Holmes) writes:
>I've recently become the proud owner of a serger. Nothing fancy, just 
>a second-hand Hobbylock. Anyway, I decided I'd try making something out
>of knit fabric. A T-shirt for my daughter seemed simple and wouldn't
>take much fabric. I bought Stretch and Sew #945.
>
>Isabel's chest size is 22 inches. There seemed to be a lot of ease in
>the pattern, so I made the 21 inch, which is the smallest on the
>multi-sized pattern.
>
>It's huge. About 4" too big round the chest, and the armscye is
>enormous. Even the shoulder is too wide. The arms are about 7" too
>long.

I think that the Stretch-n-Sew patterns that are sized 21-23, etc are
for older children.  So, the problem may be when they say 21" chest,
they are thinking about a 21" chest on a 4 or 5 year old, not a
19-month old.  In that case, you would expect the arms to be a little
larger.  That doesn't explain the 7" ease though!

I'm currently making Stretch and Sew #840 (or 835; I get them mixed
up).  It's called something like Doll Wardrobe and it's for childen up
to 24 months.  I cut the 24 month size for Rachel and added an inch to
the length (she's taller than their height table for that size) and it
looks like it's going to fit.  It includes several t-shirt styles and
sweatpants.  It has long and short sleeves, a puffed sleeve variation
and a raglan sleeve style.  It's a nice pattern.

>
>Can anyone recommend a good, basic T-shirt pattern for a small girl? I'd
>like a pattern that can be adapted to give long or short, fitted or full
>sleeves.

Well, (I know you are disgusted with Stretch and Sew!) but I do like
pattern #835 (or 840).  Also, Kwik Sew has a new book called Sewing
for Toddlers.  The book is about $12.00 and it includes patterns for
t-shirts, simple dresses, pants, jackets, etc.  I haven't made
anything from it yet, but it's on my list.

>Is there a fairly simple way to adapt my existing pattern? I can take in
>half an inch down each side of the front, just out from the neckline, to 
>make the shoulder fit, and another half an inch at the side to make the
>total ease 3", but what about the armscye? It's over halfway to where
>her waist would be if she had one! I'm making the puffed sleeve version:
>if I raise the armscye on the bodice, where do I alter the arm? If I
>just take the extra out of the side of the arm, the arm head is much too
>big. 

If the pattern is that big, I'd just hang onto it until your daughter
is older and use it then.  At least it won't be a total waste.  I prefer
to have a pattern that I only have to alter the length (or something
minor) than having to make major changes.

Kathie
-- 
riggle@adobe.com
From: marie@guppy.ai.mit.edu (Marie Lamb)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Hello from a newbie
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:16:31 GMT
Reply-To: marie@ai.mit.edu
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Hi Folks,

Stephanie's wonderful story about fabriholism ended up on
alt.best.of.internet, and reading it reminded me of all
my own bags of half-finished, well-intentioned sewing projects
that never made it past my high school home ec. class!
Given that those bags are long gone, I figure it's about
time to start a few new ones :-).

Is there an FAQ for this group?  If so, please post it or email
it to me.

If not, I'd really appreciate some net.wisdom about buying a 
new machine.  I'd like something that's portable, as I don't 
have a permanent sewing area, something simple and easy to use.
Which features are time and hassle savers?  And which merely
fancy dressing that I wouldn't really need?  Is Singer really
the best brand or does another hold that honor?  Which if any
brands should I avoid?

If people want to email me rather than post, I can compile the
answers and post a summary.

Thanks for any help you can offer,
Marie Lamb
marie@ai.mit.edu

Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: HF.MMX@forsythe.stanford.edu (Marilee Marshall)
Subject: Re: Giving Up On Clothes
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 22:52:41 GMT

Poor Cyndie,

I know how you feel about patterns that claim one measurement, but
delivery something else.  A few years ago I thought I read that the
industry was going to standardize sizes or correspond to ready-wear,
or at least to each other.  It really is maddening.

As for quilting, check out your better stocked fabric stores for
some beginning quilting.  The fun with quilting is you can do
something simple and it can look fabulous, or get really carried
away with creativity and end up with something your glad to hide
under the guest-bed bedspread.

A suggestion I'd make is to check out your local newspaper for club
meetings, and find a local quilt guild meeting to visit.  You'll
find like-minded people, and get inspired, as well as "helped".

Good luck.

marilee
at stanford
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: nancy@world.std.com (Nancy C Reynolds)
Subject: Re: The Science of Ironing
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:31:25 GMT


You might like to get the Singer Reference Library book, "Tailoring," or
see if it's in your library.  While pressing is not its focus, it does
discuss it somewhat.  One thing that might interest someone wanting to get
the proper press is the series of three photos of a pocket showing one
underpressed, one overpressed and one done just right.

The book on tailoring also has a page of photos (and explanations) on
pressing equipment, and not just top-of-the line stuff that you associate
with a drycleaner.  Page 36 has "Pressing Tips."  Page 39 even has basic
information, with photos on how to press both a plain seam and a curved
seam.  A lot of this information is basic enough even if you aren't doing
actualy tailoring, per se.

One item probably not covered is velvet.  I've always read that you need
either a neeleboard (which looks like a small bed of nails) or a fairly
large piece of scrap fabric.

Batiste works nicely as an inexpensive press cloth for many garments that
don't need the iron to be in one spot an unsually long time.  However, if
you look in the section of a good fabric store where the tailoring
supplies are, you will probably find a packaged press cloth; take your
pick of opaque or not.

--Nancy Reynolds
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Please Help
From: liam@durie.amigans.gen.nz (Liam Greenwood)
Date: 9 Oct 92 19:26:05 GMT+12
Organization: It's Home, really...
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Kingsley Morse (kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com) wrote:
>               Please answer these 9 questions and return.
>
> 1.) Do you think equal rights for men and women is generally a good idea?
    First this question....
> 4.) Do you think men should be allowed to legally terminate their parental
> rights and responsibilities before fetal viability?
    Then picks out _men_ only for this one. Let me guess what the results
will look like.
>
> 7.) What religion are you?
> Protestant         [ ]
> Catholic           [ ]
> Jewish             [ ]
> Other              [ ]
    Assumes a religion too.

    Pretty funny sorta questionaire. Looking for 'proof' not information?
    Can anyone tell me the whys and wherefores?
--
 Liam Greenwood ------ liam@durie.amigans.gen.nz ------ Wanganui, N.Z.
                 Don't tell my Mother I'm a programmer,
               she thinks I'm a piano player in a brothel

Newsgroups: alt.sewing