Stonemountain Summer Dresses!

      One of the greatest reasons we all love to sew is that you can create something that you can't find in a store.  At Stonemountain & Daughter you have so many choices for great fabric that just SCREAMS "I'm a Dress!".  With your unique choice of fabric, pattern style and your own sewing techniques, you have something that fits and looks great!  If you want support in your sewing, come take a class here with us!

Whenever it gets warm, don't you just long for a cute sundress? Read on! From Collette to Sewaholic - have we got some great sundresses for you! Sewaholic - # 1201 - Cambie This dress can be made with a full skirt as above or in a slimmer profile as below. The sleeves are gathered and basted before sewn to the bodice - that is how you get that cute shape! The full skirt version can be made in lightweight wovens such as cotton voile, Swiss dot, rayon challis or silk dupioni. This green leaf print cotton voile is really cute. The pink print is a bit sassier. These are so lightweight you may want to line with a Bamberg rayon lining or possibly a silk habotai. Here are two other fun cotton voile prints to try. Here is the same Cambie Dress made up in a slimmer profile. Sewaholic Cambie Dress Sewaholic recommends a linen, cotton sateen or wool for the slimmer profile. Cotton sateen is perfect for summer. This dress would be gorgeous in one of our cotton sateen solids or even in an exquisite cotton sateen print. Getting It Done Right: Sewaholic pattern instructions are very clear, easy to read and understand!

Here's a cute dress from Colette.           Colette - Lily  This cute princess seam sundress from Colette has a curve skimming fit. The neckline and  pockets are adorned with a flap detail that can be made to contrast. The skirt is slightly  tapered and includes a back kick-pleat for ease of  movement.                  Silk Dupioni at Stonemountain & Daughter This pattern would be good in crisp light to medium-weight fabrics such as cotton pique or light suiting. Fancy it up for evening with an elegant silk twill or dupioni.

Here's another cute sundress pattern from Sewaholic.                   Sewaholic Lonsdale - #1102 This halter-style dress dress secures with either a half or full knot in the front and ties in the back at a cute low bow. This dress would be great in poplin or lawn. What about these cotton lawns? Do you think you could rock these out?

Want to make these dresses with some help? You can make them in Beginning and Beyond 101 where you would have four or five sessions to complete it! If you have less time, you could make part or all of a dress project in our Mini Beginning and Beyond 102 which is nine hours of sewing in two or three sessions.                   If you need help fitting your dress, we recommend Pattern Adjustment with Barbara Beccio or the Fit Lab with Lynda Maynard. For fitting or construction assistance you can also take one of our popular Sew Labs! Our Sew Labs are created to assist you on any phase of your project, so you get the help you need!

This flirty dress is from Kwik Sew. Be forewarned, this dress has sixteen panels. It isn't difficult, but it will be take some time to sew. The panels or gores act as fitting devises and work well on any body type. Your efforts should pay off and it will fit like a dream.                       Kwik Sew 3520           This dress is an opportunity to have fun with different fabrics.  I think this would work well with our "retro" historical cottons and create a very contemporary and wearable look!                TIP:  "Pin post-it notes to your pattern pieces or keep them pinned to paper pattern pieces until you are ready to sew. This can save you time and from mixing up multiple pieces on a complex pattern."   -Kate Ruddle  Stonemountain & Daughter Marketing and Web Coordinator.                                           This dress can be made from two or four different fabrics.                Of course there are sixteen panels -                so you no one will stop you if you do more!

Anna Maria Horner's Socialite Dress also has some nice gathering details. The neckline at front and back are slightly gathered before adding the yoke. This creates subtle gathers at the neckline in the front and back of the dress. Very now!          Anna Marie Horner - Socialite Dress          This dress boasts all of the sophisticated swank but none of the suffocating seams. This pattern makes nice use of those big print fabrics, which we all love but can be challenging to make into a garment!           This big print fabric by Tina Givens is full of summer fun! It even has seahorses! Here are a few others from Dena Designs of the Kumari garden and Taza collections. Welcome to Summer Fun in the Sun! We have so many patterns for sale here at Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics which are hard to find!  Check them out on our website - we will ship all over the United States! Thanks so much for reading my blog.  I love hearing from our customers, so if you have any questions, feel free to email me at fabriclady3@gmail.com

Where can I take sewing and quilting classes? Stonemountain & Daughter in Berkeley has been teaching for 17 years!

17 years ago, I sat down in a hotel room up in Portland and put together the plan for our sewing school at my store in Berkeley.  My husband was traveling a lot at the time, so it seemed like a great getaway to create something that had not been done before.  The school and our classes were an instant success as our community really needed it - for all ages, levels and interests.  I consider these classes one of my greatest gifts and accomplishments and truly appreciate the huge collective focus by our teachers and the staff at Stonemountain & Daughter for their commitment to the finest learning experience we can provide.      
             

Summer is a great time to improve your sewing. The slower pace, relaxed atmosphere, and longer days are especially conducive for taking a class after work. Or perhaps you find yourself in between projects; sewing or otherwise! Either way, summer is often a great time to develop your skills or pick up a few new techniques. So what classes are available this summer? Read on to find out!

                     

GARMENT  CONSTRUCTION                    Want to learn to sew with knits? Sewing knits can be trouble-free when you know the right techniques and newest notions that tame even the most challenging knit fabrics.                                        We offer two classic knit classes: Sewing on Knit Fabric with Terry McClintock This class is project based and the next below is technique based. Crash Course - How to Sew Knits with Nicole Vasbinder           Just have a few hours? Consider picking up specific construction techniques in a one-session class. All of your future projects will benefit! Perfect Seams for any Garment                      We also have some fun hand sewing classes. Hand sewing is a nice complement to your machine sewing. Hand sewing allows for great control and precision in your sewing.                      Essential Hand Stitches Stonemountain has a new youth class - Beginner Hand Sewing for Kids ages 6+.              This is a great class for kids who just can't wait to get sewing as well as a springboard to construction techniques in later classes.              A favorite of our 9 - 15 year old sewers for summer is Youth Summer Sewing Camp. Camp is already in full swing, yet there are many sections to join!

                     

Colette has come out with a new dress pattern, just right for summer fun! Their Hazel dress features a flattering V-seamed bodice with side panels cut on the bias.         Since the side panels are on the bias you can have fun playing with patterns such as stripes, dots, and plaids, and altering them for fun effect! This fun Robert Henry polka dot cotton would be fun for this. Subtle because of the dots - but it does activate the pattern! TIP: Experiment with the angle of your bias layout to change it.                             This cherry fabric is less subtle on the bias then the polka dots -             you can really see the effect here!                          Colette Dress 1021 - Hazel Stonemountain & Daughter Sewing Gallery           Here is the Collette Hazel pattern made up by our very own customer service representative, Janet Sandberg for her daughter. What a beautiful fit!           Collette rates this dress at beginner level, we might say advanced beginner to intermediate, because you need to know how layout on the bias and put in an invisible zipper.   If you don't know how - dive right into our one session zipper class this summer with Terry McClintock!                         Fearless Zippers

                     

INTRO TO SEWING 101 Beginning and Beyond is our most popular class! It offers fifteen hours of sewing on a project of your choice. It is for beginning students and for continuing students who wish to work on a project to full completion. We are also offering a new class; a Mini Beginning and Beyond, which offers 9 hours of sewing in two or three sessions.

                     

FITTING Have you ever seen a pattern you liked but wanted to tweak it just a little bit? Barbara Beccio will lead you through the steps of altering a pattern.  Pattern Adjustment with Barbara Beccio Working with your choice of Kwik Sew patterns 3829, 3717, and 3838  (skirt, vest, or jacket) patterns will be adjusted and time allowing the  fabric cut out and sewing begun. If you need more time with Barbara on your project after this one session class jump into one of her Sew Lab sessions and she is there to help you!

                     

PATTERN MAKING          Pattern making allows you greater control over your garments, as you are no longer limited to the confines of existing patterns. Want to get started?                    Intro to Draping and Pattern Drafting                     There  are two main components to pattern making - flat pattern and draping.  In flat pattern you can create a master pattern (block / sloper) off of  measurements where as draping uses a dress form to create or adjust a  pattern in three-dimensions. There are different advantages to both and they can be used together or separately.                     Want to learn more about flat pattern development? Take one of Annette Juilly's classes. In Annette's Create a Block / Sloper class you learn to create a master pattern to alter or help you fit existing patterns for a custom look and feel. Your created sloper can also be used to draft new original designs of your own! In Annette's Copy Ready to Wear class you learn to recreate your existing favorite top, skirt, or pant without taking it apart.             Copy Ready to Wear

                     

QUILTING Want to learn to quilt? Angie Woolman takes you through a structured process of designing your own patchwork sections on paper and growing your quilt on a design board.                     Freeform Doorways Don't miss out on Ann Tarabini's Beginning Quilting Series! Rotary Cutting Rectangles Rectangles are the most common shapes in quilts! Rotary Cutting Strips to Make a Nine Patch Block Learn the very versatile nine patch block. Templates Learn to make a pattern/template for any quilt block you would like to piece. Rotary Cutting Half Square Triangles.

                     

If you haven't seen our class brochure, come by the store to pick your own copy, or review classes on our website. As we have added so many new classes, we no longer send out the brochure in the mail, but if you need us to mail you a copy: email us!

For the love of Linen!

                  

Linen is a great fabric for warm weather. It is light and comfortable. Linen is a classic fabric; a great wardrobe staple that fits many occasions and is always welcome at work.          V8813 - Misses' Dress - Marcy Tilton  This pullover dress is semi-fitted through bust and has a gathered front and draped lower side front with  pockets. This gorgeous Vogue dress from Marcy Tilton was designed for a lightweight linen, lightweight crepe or jersey knit. Make sure to choose a lightweight handkerchief linen as a heavy linen will be too chunky and will not drape correctly for this dress!                     Assorted Linens Did  you know that linen has a lighter and more playful side? Look at these  fun prints! We also have some linens with embroidery and metallic  threads. What a surprising and updated versions of a favorite classic  fabric.

                     

Fred Bloebaum was one of the first teachers at Stonemountain & Daughter. She was highly loved and taught many of us to sew well. Fred Bloebaum was highly skilled and an inspiring teacher with a wealth of free flowing knowledge which she shared with great generosity. She loved fabric and shared her love with many of us. We miss her and continue to celebrate and share her wonderful patterns in her memory. Fred Bloebaum's La Fred Line embodies her skill, focus and appreciation of designer  techniques, tailoring, and figure flattery. She created patterns designed to fit and flatter the female figure. La Fred - Europa Blouse This well tailored blouse is elegant and classic with a contemporary twist. It features a square neck, princess seams, and front buttons. You can choose to do double buttons for a fun fashion statement. The short sleeve is cut on the bias for a flattering fit, the long sleeve has a center tuck at the hem. These fun linens would add an updated fun look to this classic blouse that we think Fred would appreciate.

                     

Daughter's Pix!           "I love the Six Sense Skirt from Shapes and the Urban T-shirt & Pant from Sewing Workshop for linen."                     Six Sense Skirt - Shapes By Louise Cutting and Linda Lee           "I love both of these patterns as they are easy to wear and highlight the linen fabric. Great for stripes and top stitching too! The partial elastic waistband makes them easy to wear all day!  Both the skirt and the pants look great with comfy shoes for long days on my feet." Suzan Steinberg             Urban T-Shirt and Pants - The Sewing Workshop               Also shown here is the Titus Summer Blouse in silk charmeuse!

                     

The Athena Two Blouse is a variation of Fred's popular Athena Blouse pattern. It features a wing collar and a unique square armhole. This shirt features a westkit bottom in front and is meant to be worn as an overblouse rather than tucked in.                   La Fred - Athena Two Blouse           This pattern includes instructions for enlarging through the bust and and for sizes larger than XXL.                         Linen Tips from Sandra Betzina:               1) To cut down on wrinkling, press linen  with a dry hot iron, followed by prewashing in a hot machine wash and  hot dryer. This will soften the fibers, making it drape better and less  likely to wrinkle excessively. Linen does still wrinkle a bit but  perhaps that is part of its charm.                             2) Linen is not needle-particular; an  80 universal is a good choice. 3) Linen is a great choice for bias garments since it drapes well on the bias while being stable to sew.                                              These linens are elegant and make great, classic trousers.                      La Fred's classic Daphne pant fits the bill perfectly.                      La Fred Daphne Pant           This elegant well fitting classic will go with you to work and beyond.

                     

Classes that you might enjoy if you want to make a linen garment are our Sew Lab classes where you can get individual help on personal projects. Also consider our Beginning and Beyond 101 Series which is great as you get to work on a project of your choice for four our five sessions totaling fifteen hours of sewing!  Another choice is our new Mini Beginning and Beyond - class 102 - which is a nine hour version of our very popular Beginning and Beyond class. Wary of making linen pants? Try out Making the "Well-Fitted" Pants Pattern with Barbara Beccio and get a pants pattern that fits you beautifully! Please come the store to pick your own copy, or review classes on our website. As we have added so many new classes, we no longer send out the brochure in the mail, but if you need us to mail you a copy: email us!

                     

Special July 4th Hours         10am - 4pm

I Love Batiks!

Stonemountian & Daughter has some exciting batiks! These rayon gorgeous batiks below are hand-dyed in Bali. These fashion pieces would make a fantastic head turning summer dress! And rayon is such a great fabric - so light, airy, and cool and so friendly to sew.              Make a bag in a matching or contrasting Batik... and you are ready to rule the evening!                      Wouldn't this a batik pattern be nice in this easy New Look pattern? There is even a sleeveless option for the ultimate quick sew! Both dress and bag pattern are included - you are all set.     New Look 6022 - Misses' Dress & Bag This pattern is simple and elegant and will show off the unique patterns of a rayon batik fabric. Less can be more with a batik - many batik designs can really shine, shimmer and show off when made up from a simple pattern!         Stonemountain & Daughter's rayon batiks TIP: With a simple pattern, you  win in two ways - you can sew up something quick and simple AND have an  eye-catching dress! What a good strategy for us with little sewing time. And  why not make up a few extras as gifts or for fun variety? Remember, the  first time you sew a pattern is the most time consuming - get the most from your time investment - your second dress will take at least half the  time!

Our Batik Butik rayons are hand-dyed in Bali and are very versatile. This cardigan is made up in a really cute fabric of theirs that we carry called Lagoon Ginkgo. This cardigan was made up in a Kwik sew pattern designed for knits and it works well! Kwik Sew Cardigan 3916 The top is made up in a batik fabric called "Lagoon Effect" The Kwik Sew Top #3584 can be made up as either a blouse or a jacket depending on fabric choice.

Stonemountain & Daughter has a huge collection of cotton batiks in every color of the rainbow!   Batik is a traditional method of dying cloth. Wax is applied to fabric and the wax resists the dye thereby creating a pattern. Indonesia, India, and Nigeria are especially known for their traditional batiks.  Historically, batik has been used for ceremony and uses storytelling, mythology, and religious imagery in its design.

What about creating a batik quilt? You can get very creative with all of the patterns and color choices of batik. This wall panel was made by one of our customers and shows how you can meld all different types of fabrics for a very beautiful effect.               Customer Sewing Gallery         This wall hanging is mostly from our Asian Fabric Collection              - but you can see how this idea applies to batik as well. Do you have something you would like to share? Email us pics of your projects (under one megabyte please) and we love to include them on our website, Facebook, and newsletters!              We have many fun quilting classes this summer.  Jump on in a class and join us! In June we are offering Angie Woolman's Binding Your Quilt.           In July we are offering Ann Tarabini's Quiting Basics Series:                     Rotary Cutting Rectangles                     Rotary Cutting Strips to Make a 9 Patch Block                     Templates           Rotary Cutting Half Square Triangles                     Take one or take them all!

Nancy Mirman's patterns are a natural for batik fabrics. Here are a few of her bag patterns to pair with a cute batik dress!       Nancy Mirman - Baggitt         Nancy Mirman's Baggitt bag is great for batiks. You can use multiple fabrics in one piece. Here are a few other Nancy Mirman bag patterns to check out that would be great with mix and match cotton batik. Nancy Mirman - Skrappysak Nancy Mirman says, "Skrappysak is a large and roomy shoulder bag which is comfortable to wear and easy to make. The pattern features two sizes, three styles, outside pockets for keys and glasses and inside pocket(s) for wallet and lipstick" Can't you see this bag in a mixture of these cotton batiks? Or for a roomier bag - try the Totesalot! Nancy Mirman - Totesalot Nancy Mirman says of this bag: "Make it sophisticated or make it scrappy! Carry your laptop computer, or your quilting supplies, or your baby paraphernalia." A few more batiks to mix and match!

Traditional batik is a type of resist dying. Wax is applied to cloth in patterns or designs and the dye is prevented from reaching the cloth by wax. It is called resist dying because the wax "resists" the dye.                   Other methods of resist dying use stencils, pastes, or modern chemical dyes. Tie dying is an example of "mechanical" resist dying. Japanese Shibori (the original tie dye) uses knots, wrapping, stitching, wooden pegs or blocks to shield areas of the fabric in order to create elaborate patterns.

Our new class brochure is up online and in the store! We have many wonderful new classes; such as Designer Details, where you learn to make your own bias tapes, piping, covered buttons and ruffles. And speaking of ruffles; we have Ruffles, Ruffles, Ruffles, a whole class devoted to ruffles! We have two weekend Sewing Retreats - Sewing Fantasy with Sandra Betzina and Jean Cacicedo's Felted Wool Jacket. Ann Tarabini is teaching a wonderful new quilting series  - a few of which are : Rotary Cutting Rectangles - to learn all about the most common shape in quilts, and Templates - learn to make pattern / templates for any block you would like to piece. Join us! Please come the store to pick your own copy, or review classes on our website. As we have added so many new classes, we no longer send out the brochure in the mail, but if you need us to mail you a copy: email us! I am wishing each of you a beautiful summer filled with family, good health and creativity.  Blessings! ~ Suzan Steinberg