Nanapennypockets Sewing Retreat

We all make friends on the internet. Some of us have never met one another but many of us have had the opportunity to meet in person and not just put a face to the name but also to get to know the friend more. For several years I have been a member of an MSN Group called “Nanapennypockets”. The group is well organized and everyone shares their love of not just sewing but heirloom sewing. The pictures alone in the archives are worth every visit and more to the group.

Last fall, when some of the members showed an interest in getting together and having a sewing retreat, I was immediately enthused. Here was a chance to meet fellow companions whose works are so very exceptional that no sewing/embroidery magazine can come up to meet the standards. I offered myself as teaching some techniques and was overjoyed when I was asked to do something with the cutwork technique using machine embroidery. The task placed me was to come up with a camisole using cutwork and perhaps lace.

Now, personally I am not a pattern follower, can never follow a pattern as it is given but rather have to put my own bits into it. If someone gave me a tape measure and a pair of scissors I would do well to just measure and cut out the pattern myself. No two people are alike and I am always amazed at how patterns are made to fit everyone. Actually they are not…one has to fit the pattern to the body…double the work in my opinion. So, the task of finding a cutwork edge design that would fit with every type of body yet be able to take light weight fabrics was a bit of a challenge. I started to look through my various work files to see if there was something that I could create especially for the retreat. It was then that I realised that I already had the perfect design. When I created the “Heirloom Lace I” collection, I had heirloom garments in mind yet with a bit of a twist where even garments in our modern society could still utilise the designs and look in time with the fashions.

The design I selected is a very simple yet elegant design which is excellent for usage with very thin fabrics. I chose cotton batiste as my camisole fabric. Now personally I’m a bit modest, and as the batiste is so very thin, I added a self lining to the pattern with a bit of the Tambour Lace II (crochet lace) at the neckline. A simple camisole which could be in tune with heirloom or modern times. I do like the simple pattern and one which I’m thinking of duplicating using georgette next.

The pattern I used for the camisole is New Look 6385-using the straight edge neckline. Both the designs used in the camisole will work with just about any style of camisole and any size. Preference is for lightweight fabrics preferably non-knit.  Worn by itself or underneath some of those in fashion see through blouses, the designs will definitely draw attention to the wearer.

To friends attending or thinking of attending the sewing retreat, my classes are all day Monday, April 30, with a Trunk show in the evening to showcase how simple machine embroidery designs can be used to enhance anything. A simple 4×4 hoop design and an instant heriloom effect. Hope to see many friends at the retreat and oh…if you do not belong to “Nanapennypockets”…you really should. I  enjoy viewing everyone’s work immensely and definitely recommend the group for anyone who wants to go a bit beyond the ordinary…be it in sewing, or machine embroidery.