The Savvy Sewer Salon at Sawyer Brook

We're ready to get started! Jennifer has been so patient waiting for us to get our new store in place and now we are ready to focus on the Salon again! Thanks to everyone for being patient as we stretch in many different directions.

Now a little history. We first met Jennifer at Manchester Sewing Center in Connecticut. We had an on-going relationship with the store and their customers for many years. We always, always remembered Jennifer because she would choose the most interesting fabrics we had to offer! What fun to hear her describe her plans as they unfolded in her head when she looked at a piece of fabric... a true designer!

Over the years we've followed Jennifer's career and are thrilled that she has started producing patterns. I invited her to do a Sew Along with us and she willingly agreed. We think you'll find this video format helpful as a way to get started. Jennifer will be available in the Salon for questions as we go along. Please join in...we know you're out there, but we'd love to encourage conversation in the Salon. We look forward to hearing from you!

Jennifer offered her bio so Savvy Sewers could get to know her before we begin.

For the past 10 years I have worked for a sewing store where I developed my sewing and embroidery skills. In 2000 I began designing garments and digitizing my own original embroidery designs for wearable arts fashion shows, winning a few awards on the way--2001 Best in Show, Pfaff Dealer Convention Fashion Show, 2002--Best in Show, Pfaff Dealer Convention Fashion Show, 2003--Judges's Choice, Bernina Fashion Show at the Houston Quilt Festival, and 2004 Viewers' Choice, Bernina Fashion Show at the Houston Quilt Festival. As I worked on these pieces I realized that what I really enjoyed was drafting the patterns.

In May of 2007, I had a fashion show featuring my first collection of original designs--jeans, tee shirts, tops, skirts, pants dresses and jackets. This was a fairytale event for me--instead of a prince and missing glass slipper, I had a runway and lighting fit for fashion week and 6 models showing my 20 or so outfits, it was incredible. I am developing some of these pieces into patterns for home sewers.

Working on these patterns has been a lot of fun for me. I have learned how to make friends with my new Apple computer and use Adobe software to draw all my diagrams and create page layouts. As a result, my patterns feature easy-to-follow directions with lots of illustrations.

My new adventure is producing instructional videos to go along with my patterns. Additionally, I will be doing a series of videos on fitting and creating new styles from my basic patterns.

I also do a little freelancing for Threads Magazine. I write the Embroidery Essentials department in each issue. I'm also a contributing editor to Craftstylish.com a website that is published by the Taunton Press.

Visit jsterndesigns to view and purchase the tee shirt pattern Jennifer will be making in our Sew Along. The style is fresh and distinctive. It looks so comfy! In the video you'll see it made up in all three versions and watch as Jennifer takes you through the steps with tips along the way. The Sew Along is appropriate for beginners (lots of general sewing tips) and of interest to experienced sewers as we watch the designer sew her own design.

To participate in the Sew Along, visit our Knitsdepartment online for the newest offerings. We're still adding new product daily.

Hi Everyone, I'm in for this! I have made a muslin of Jennifer's pattern and liked it. I also saw a sample made up at the Worcester Expo last April. It's a cute shirt and the cut is very modern and clean looking. Now I just need to decide on fabric . . .

Hi Everybody, I'm having so much fun doing the Sew the Tee video, I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions about sizes or how to adjust the pattern before you cut it out, please let me know, and I'll be happy to help!

Jennifer, I purchased your T-shirt pattern at the VA expo today, and you told me to join in on the sew-along. I cannot seem to find the video or the sew-a-long on this website. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong. Thank you. Norma Kirschner at scarfette@verizon.net

OK, here we go...I'm posting the video now. Just wanted to get everyone ready before we got started!

Thank you for the invitation to the sew along. Over the years, I had forgotten some of the issues that were discussed. Thank you for the reminder and I look forward to the next video. JKW

JKW, I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for joining us!

Hi Jennifer. I'm looking forward to the project. I have made up a muslin of your pattern and I am wondering about the philosophy of your fit! Can you talk a little bit about how much ease you have in mind when a sewer is deciding on a size to make? For instance I usually wear a medium or large in RTW or a size 12, if the manufacturer goes by numbers. The muslin I made up from your pattern was a medium and it was a little snugger than I'd normally wear. So I'm thinking about cutting a large this time around. Then I looked at the pattern pieces themselves and did some rough measurements. Are the front and back pieces different widths? Ahhh, maybe that is something really cool for us to learn and appreciate about your fit?!

Thanks for your help.

Carole

Hi Carole, This Tee is fitted. If you want a looser fit, I suggest cutting the next size up. If you do, I recommend making a couple of 1/4" darts in the center front piece (See Diagram below) Dart legs open a scant 1/4" at neckline and close at the bottom edge of the pattern piece. You can space them an inch or two from the center front point. This will draw the neckline in a little so it doesn't gap away when you are wearing it.

As far at the size of the pattern pieces, the back pieces are less wide than the front pieces because most women don't need as fabric across the back as they do across the front. Certainly, if that is not the case for someone, they could simply widen the back piece by splitting them down the middle to give themselves more room. (You can use the adjustment I suggested above to take the back neckline in as well if widening the back pieces causes the back neckline to become to large.

Hi Everyone,

I've been giving it some thought, and I decided that it would be helpful to show you how to adjust the fit of this tee shirt. Some of you might not want your tee to fit as close as this one does. If you visit my website, jsternsdesigns and click on the blog tab on the home page, you will find a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to adjust the pattern pieces to get a relaxed fit. This is especially helpful if you are trying to adjust this pattern to a plus size. If this is the case, I recommend doing this adjustment first.

If you have any other fitting questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Jennifer, I went to your website to read about your fit and WOW! It was very helpful. Thank you. I loved the contrast paper behind the pattern to really see the adjustments. Thank you too, for showing how to adjust the neckline if I choose to make a large this time. I really appreciate that!

I think I'll make my top out of brown knit. I think it's called Java Jersey. I just love brown. There's another print, Cosmic, I love that's kind of slinky. I may use that too.

I'll be ready to cut out over the long weekend!

I brought home the Java Jersey today and gave it a spin in the washer. It's hanging to dry. Tomorrow I'll trace off the large size of the pattern and make the adjustments to the neckline.

This is going to be a great t-shirt!