While some have qualms about purchasing sewing machines online, I’ve never been one of those people. I normally can find the product much cheaper than what I could have purchased it in person.
However, I always make sure that I purchase additional protection. With my recent purchase of the Brother 2340CV, I purchased the extended warranty that I normally purchase; Canopy 3 year Protection. Since this is a sewing machine it falls under “Housewares” warranty. Thus far, I have not had to get any of the Brother sewing machines that I purchased online serviced.
Here’s hoping that my Brother sewing machines continues to work without me ever having to use their warranty. I much prefer the saying, “Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.
On Facebook, I’m part of a private active sewing group, that keeps me inspired with the amazing creations that are shared. We have many within the group that are tailors, pattern drafters, costume designers, etc.,
Continually checking in with this group, keeps me focused by the amazing garments I see, and it inspires me to keep myself in the sewing equation. Recently, one of the members posted an online course titled, The Savile Row Coat. Savile Row is a street in London noted for it’s bespoke tailoring.
Bespoke tailoring is custom hand made outfits. This is not ready to wear or off the rack clothing. The clothing is custom designed for one person only. Several fittings are normally made in order to achieve the perfect suit.
Andrew Ramroop – Owner of Maurice Sedwell, Bespoke tailor
The instructor for this class is Andrew Ramroop!Ramroop is originally from Trinidad. He’s was the first black tailor on Savile Row. I think he looks a lot like Michael Stephen Steele.
…Ramroop came to London in 1970 with a dream and a couple of homemade suits. His handiwork quickly earned him a back-room job in a tailoring shop on Savile Row. Long years of discrimination followed, he says. Less-gifted white colleagues were regularly promoted ahead of Ramroop. But his talent eventually prevailed.
Andrew Ramroop’s bespoke tailoring shop is called, Maurice Sedwell.
I must say that I’m really looking forward to taking this course. Here’s some information about the course…
Over 30 hours of video instruction and written tutorials, plus regular exercises to keep you on track
Individual feedback from Savile Row master tailor Andrew Ramroop
Support from a thriving network of like-minded professionals
At $2060, this course isn’t cheap but the knowledge acquired will last me a lifetime. Since my schedule is tight, an online bespoke sewing course is the closest I’ll be getting to learning from a master tailor. I’ll be taking this online course along with some of my sewing pals who love detailed sewing as much as myself.
I’m pleased to say that I’m almost finished the top I was making. The neckline ruffle has been trimmed and now I like how it looks. I do think I need to move up the shoulder seam a tiny bit. I’m also undecided it I should add a matching ruffle around the sleeves. But thankfully, I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Hooray!
It has nothing to do with it being “hard,” I’ve just changed my direction as I started sewing. For example, since the shirt was so plain, I decided to make a few adjustments. I made it more fitted at the waist and I decided to add
Serged ruffle
a ruffled neckline
Close up of serged ruffle
I measured, cut and sewed several yards of fabric. Afterwards I gathered and serged the ends.
Ruffle on shirt neckline. I’m redoing the ruffle.
The ruffle is the same fabric, I just reversed so the “wrong side” is actually the “right side”. While I like the contrast, the neckline isn’t right and it has everything to do with that ruffle. It’s much too big for my taste and so I’ll remove it from the neckline and make it smaller. This is a easy process to do since the ruffle is not permanently attached; I secured it to the neckline with a basting stitch. I’m actually thinking of adding some embroidery to this shirt also.
What started out as a “simple project” has become a bit more labor intensive and I’m perfectly happy with that. I’ll be sure to post pictures of my progress and me wearing the shirt once it’s complete.
Yesterday afternoon, I started sewing this knit shirt. I worked on it for quite a few hours and still have some things to complete.
Shirt pinning
In the above picture I hadn’t even started to sew and you’re looking at the wrong side of the fabric. The actual shirt is quite colorful and bright. I just pinned the front and back together.
Of course yesterday afternoon, when I tried on the sewed shirt, I wasn’t pleased with what I’d made. However, the fixes needed are only minor. The original shirt pattern wasn’t fitted at the waist, just straight down. I decided that I did want to a slight fit and so I made the waist more pronounced instead of having the side seams go straight down without a hint of a curve. Also, I decided that it would be nice to add ruffle to the shirts neckline. I’ll use the rolled hem on my serger machine to expose and finish the edges. You usually see a rolled hem on delicate scarves.
Serger Machine
I’ve had my serger machine for well over a year and really like how it closes and finishes the raw seams of some of my garments. I don’t always want a french seam on some of my sewing seams and there are times when a french seam would not look nice either. In those instances, the serger does a wonderful job.
Coverstitch Machine
I must say that the coverstitch machine does a nice job with finished hems, take a look at the above picture. It’s my newest machine. I’ve had it for less than a month, but I’m already wishing I had purchased it much sooner. It does a wonderful job finishing hems on knitted garments. It can also be used on woven items also.
Finding information about the Blind Hemming machine has been a challenge; however, I have found a few links that I think are valuable.
You can find that info located in the “resources” section at the bottom of this post. This way, if I get stumped, I can refer to this post for easy reference. Hopefully, it’ll help someone else also because if I’m having trouble finding relevant information about the Blind Hemming machine, others most likely are too.
I can’t comment on how to use a Blind Hemming machine, since I have not purchased one yet, but once I do and am comfortable with using one, I’ll try to post a few tutorials about the process.
Reliable blind hemmer machine
I research before I buy
I guess you could say my recent posts about the blind hemming machine, you get to step into how I go about researching before making a purchase. It’s not a quick process, which is good since I’m rarely disappointed with my purchases. I take my time, educate and learn as much as possible before I buy
This past weekend, I stumbled upon James Steward’s video and I was blown away by some of his designs.
I love elegance and classic style with the designs I make and he was giving me it in spades.
What was interesting to me was that he was doing his sewing on HOME machines. Say what? I thought for sure, he’d have industrial sewing machines. Here’s hoping he’s reached a point financially where he’s able to purchase industrial sewing machines for his design business.
While some have qualms about purchasing sewing machines online, I’ve never been one of those people. I normally can find the product much cheaper than what I could have purchased it in person.
