Simply Stitchy

Hi all, McCalls 8940 from 1997 is a pattern for 1 hour vests. I’m from the UK, so I know these as waistcoats. I love wearing waistcoats as they give a touch of style to any outfit. So when I found this pattern on my all-time favorite online shopping site, I had to get it. As a buy-it-now with free shipping - it was a bargain! I didn't notice they are called vests on the pattern. Up until this point, I had no idea they were called anything other than waistcoats. To me, a vest is something usually worn under a shirt in cold weather and classed as underwear. It’s a good job I saw the picture for this before the title or I’d have given it a miss. I haven’t worn a vest since middle school. Anyway, there are 7 different views for this vest. I stitched view C. (Top row, middle) The pattern describes the vests as unlined with or without front button closing. Original price back in the late 90s was $9.95. This particular pattern is out of print but a similar one tod...

Hi all,   When you buy a brand new commercial sewing pattern it will come factory folded encased in a pattern envelope. A used pattern may come in a pattern envelope but the pieces will be folded every which way. They could even be crumpled. Both scenarios create tissue paper with creases. It’s tempting to unfold the pattern and smooth the pieces out by hand. Although that works up to a point, there are times when you could be setting yourself up for a fall. Or at the very least, some trouble with your stitching. Even if you’ve pinned the pattern down securely, those little crevices can still bounce back into an annoying little crease. This could alter the pattern as you cut it out. The creases will shrink the pattern as they create tiny folds. Causing you to go to cut out the wrong line or miss a notch or two. If you’re like me and trace your pattern pieces, those little ruts and grooves can hide where the lines g...