Taking the Fear out of Wearable Art

Marla Ferguson   464-4849

• Anything you can do with/on a quilt you can probably do on a garment
• Pick a very simple pattern – the fewer the pattern pieces, the better
• If you have to add shaping to the pattern, try to use a pattern with princess seams rather than darts
• You can either make your “fabric” first, then cut out your pattern pieces OR if you have a specific design for each pattern piece, cut the base fabric larger, do your decorating or embellishing, then cut the pattern piece out
• Determine your placement of design elements ahead of time – a big beautiful flower the hits right at the bust  probably isn’t the best placement, same thing for hanging beads – make sure they won’t easily catch on a door knob or fall in your soup
• If your design elements will continue over a seam, sew the pattern seam first
• Determine the embellishments you use according to the cleaning requirements for them – don’t use things that have to be dry cleaned if you want to throw your garment into the washing machine for cleaning
• If your pattern has sleeves:
• Large open sleeves are easier to sew than tight fitted ones
• If cuffs scare you, don’t use them OR add fabric to the bottom of the sleeve so that it looks like you have cuffs. You can even sew on a button to the bottom of a sleeve and it can look like the garment has cuffs
• Use the serger sewing technique of sewing the sleeve. Sew the shoulder seam of the front and back pieces. Sew the flat sleeve piece to the front and back. Then sew the side seam attaching the front to the back and the sleeve all at the same time in one long seam. MUCH easier!
• If you don’t want to mess with a pattern use a ready-made shirt or sweatshirt for your base. Buy it at least one size larger than you want the finished garment to be and cut it apart at the seams. This is an easy way to get cuffs and collars if you’re afraid to sew them yourself.
• If you’re really going to quilt you garment, use either Hobbs Thermore batting or flannel for batting. The thinner the better. If you use flannel and don’t want your washed garment to look “old” then pre-wash the flannel to shrink it ahead of time.
• Decorate the inside lining of the garment! Or, better yet, make it reversible and get 2 garments for the price and work of 1!
• Let your fabrics do the work for you. Sometimes simpler is better.
• Look at catalogs for ideas for your wearable art. Coldwater Creek is a great inspiration!