We hit the pavement running! It started last evening at 7:00 with our setting up – by the end of the evening everybody had a project underway.

Contemplating The Pattern Layout

This morning the cutting, pressing, sewing began in earnest.

Hard At Work

The Power Sewing Retreat with Sandra Betzina is all about fitting and each and every one of the ten women here has significant garment fitting issues. To learn to rectify them, we’re slashing patterns and rebuilding them, so that once cut out and stitched, whatever garment someone is making will hang correctly, not be too roomy (unless that’s the style of the garment), flattering.

Discussing Fit

Sandra has a lifetime of experience designing for Vogue Patterns, and she’s been showing women how to create well fitting garments for a very long time. Lots can be learned from watching how she works both with a pattern and garments in progress.

Pressing Fabric

I’m working on pants yet again – Sandra suggested I drop the front waist an inch below the test pair I made before coming which would allow the pants front to hang a bit better from my waist.

I adapted my pattern, cut the fabric, and then began assembling the front and back – pockets, fly front all stitched. Tomorrow I’ll sew up inseams, crotch seam, top stitch both, then stitch the outer side seams. I’ll finish be adding the waistband/back yoke facing and then a buttonhole and a button (along with hemming the leg bottom will see the job done – all before noon I hope…

Sharing Suggestions

It’s a highly collaborative group this year. Everybody is interested in helping one another, sharing equipment, discussing fit…

Tomorrow afternoon we’re going fabric shopping. I really must restrain myself because my suitcases were full when I came – not much room for new fabric and notions. I am, though, looking forward to seeing what’s available.