Altering Patterns to fit your style

If I recall correctly, BERNINA,  in the not so far past,  posed this question on their facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/berninausa  "Do you  follow a pattern to get to the end result or  use it as a guide to end up somewhere else?" Maybe not in those exact words, but you get the gist...

This wrap-around skirt is a perfect example of using a pattern as a guide to construct a finished product different from the designer's original idea.  
  
With a few minor adjustments and leaving off the bodice, the Favorite Things  Wrap Dress was transformed into a Wrap Skirt.

Favorite Things Wrap Dress

Altered Version- Wrap Skirt

 To make the alterations, follow these easy steps!

•  From the pattern, cut the pieces for the skirt back, skirt front, lower back flounce, lower front flounce and ties. 

• Once the front and back panels are stitched together at the sides, serge/overedge the top edge of the entire skirt.   Turn the serged edge toward the wrong side creating 1/2" hem, pin in place.  Attach the  finished ties on each end of the skirt, tucking 1" of the raw edge under the  folded seam.  The majority of the tie will be extending out from the sides. Stitch both the hem and ties in place.
  
  
  

  

  waist hem

  
  

tie attachment

• Using a seam ripper, open up the left side seam 1/8" from the  top edge creating an approx. 1/2" opening.  Remember you have already created your hem at the waist so you will be creating an opening in both layers.  Using a straight stitch,  stitch horizontally above the created opening, reinforcing the opening on the top and bottom.  An option would be to create a buttonhole instead. 

new opening for waist strap

• Stop the flounce just above the knee on the left side of the skirt front.  This is the side of the skirt that lies closest to your body once wrapped around your waist.  This creates less bulk in unwanted areas!

stop flounce above knee

Next...try it with a knit!  

visit us at: http://www.elegantstitches.com 

Enter the world of blogging

Shelley Holmes and Ruth Sparks (2 of the 3 original owners)

Here we go...

Welcome to the beginning of something beautiful as Elegant Stitches enters the world of blogging!   Did you know that Elegant Stitches was one of the "NEW" Waverly Place Shopping Centers first tenants?  Lately, we've heard "Have you always been here?", "I've never seen your shop before!"  Well... walk right in and enjoy what we have to offer! 

How it all began:

Elegant Stitches began when three full time mothers and neighbors decided they wanted to go back to the basics and create classic heirloom and smocked clothing for their own children after dealing with  the crazy 70's clothing styles.  What started as friendship, camaraderie and desire for classic clothing became a business. 

heirloom sewing

smocking

Elegant Stitches first opened it's doors in 1986 at Ashworth Village, in the heart of downtown Cary,  as a place to learn the art of heirloom sewing and smocking, to purchase heirloom sewing and smocking supplies as well as to order custom made children's clothing. 

 

 

The Move to Waverly Place:

Having established the store as a preferred source for quality fabric, lace, patterns, floss, smocking plates etc. as well as a place to hone ones skills of English Smocking, Elegant Stitches began to literally bust out of it's seams.  Elegant Stitches moved from Ashworth Village to Waverly Place in 2004 where it tripled in size from its original conception. 

Store front in Waverly Place Shopping Center

Classes, Workshops, Machines, OH MY!

Visiting teacher, Sarah Vedeler, Workshops and BERNINA

Custom garment construction became a part of Elegant Stitches past when it began growing, hosting more and more classes and selling machines.  Elegant Stitches expanded its focus not just on children's clothing but quilting, adult garment and accessory construction, and offering a vast range of  ELNA and BERNINA machines to help with any stitching needs. With the association of ELNA and BERNINA, Elegant Stitches hired a full service technician and began hosting more and more workshops and visiting teachers.

Retail Success:

Ruth retired in 2011 and Renee' Spell stepped in and joined Shelley in continuing the retail journey that three friends began almost 28 years ago.  Renee' is a longtime Elegant Stitches garment constructor,  ES part time employee,  ES customer,  Home Economics Major and a Martha Pullen Licensed Instructor in both Heirloom and Serger sewing.    

Renee' Spell and Shelley Holmes (current owners of Elegant Stitches)

 

Well said...

"Shelley and I both learned what a needle and thread could do as children at our grandmother's, aunt's and mother's sides...the techniques, awareness and appreciation for the needle-arts seemed to be "born" in us both.  To preserve the needle-arts and continue to teach to the next generation AND learn more from the next generation,  is what we have based the continued scope of Elegant Stitches on." (quote from Renee')

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