I took the plunge recently and enrolled in a Craftsy class: Sassy Librarian Blouse with Christine Haynes was on offer, I liked the pattern and I was curious to how an online class would work. I have a lot of clothes making experience but behind the scenes and in the comfort of the back room, I have slip-shod ways and I love to pick up new tips. I could not believe how much I learnt.
Sassy
Demure
Thoughtful
I can liken the process to driving. You may have driven a long time but a little refresher lesson does eveyone good and this is exactly how I found this class. There are hours of carefully filmed footage. There are closeups in all the tricky bits and much of the sewing or pressing is in real time. You can return to a particular section as many times as you wish. Christine is an excellent and thorough teacher, I felt like I was in the safest pair of hands. She is also methodical ( I am not) and she really kept me in check. I was introduced to the delights of a Clover water soluble pencil- my new dressmaking friend- and extra attention was spent to using a seam gauge. This is a mix and match pattern. The simplest version is sleeveless, with no collar and no tucks and would be a great project for someone fairly new to dress making. I was greedy and incorporated every feature: bow, tab, collar, tucks.
The sizing is generous. I didn't make a muslin but I did have to unpick my first initial version and move down two sizes. This was size 0, for UK peeps I am usually a small size 10. Even at 0 the bust was roomy and on my next one I will stop being a lazy arse and move the dart- pattern adjustments are my least favourite job. This is a relatively easy thing to do and the rest of the blouse fits beautifully. there are 'release pleats' around the waist front and back ( first time I have sewn anything with these) and they add great definition. The sleeves also fitted perfectly which is not an easy thing to get right with tops. I cannot recommend this class more highly, Christine encourages you to take your time and it is worth it, i have never sewn clothing quite so neatly! I think classes like this will be a big part of online sewing, I have already bought more- Angela's Machine Quilting Negative Space class and Meg McElwee's sewing with knits class which includes a zillion jersey basic patterns. It has been a very happy purchase!
