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and the living is even easier in . . . . July, 2013
 
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It's Done!!
 
The Four Square Dress

 
 
This one is for the people who really get it, bias-wise -- those who want max fire power with little work.  It fits smoothly without darts or restrictive seaming, has lots of movement and comfort, just skims the body with no cling and looks super chic!  But it comes with a caveat -- you have to focus on the fabric decision so it delivers the look 100%.  Don't go experimenting with the first one. 

Run down on the design:  For bias fans, the whole design is on the bias but it is cut two ways in a single pattern piece -- the top is both cut and worn on the bias. The skirt is worn on the bias too but it is cut on the straight grain. In the samples, the skirt is stitched right sides together. However, with reversible fabric, the side seams of the top can be extended straight down into the skirt, flipping it to wrong sides together which creates 8 triangular "wings" around a straight skirt.
The dress doesn't require lining, zipper, hand sewing, under support like facings, interfacings, shoulder pads, etc.  The edges are all finished by machine. You just toss it over your head and you're dressed!  Make lots -- it's a go-to thing.  Plus, you can do it as a top, short, or full length with a band at the bottom for extra fabric width.  Plus, plus, plus! -- it is the ultimate maternity dress!  The bias cut enables the dress to start out skinny and expand as you do, all the while looking beautifully proportioned with an even hem throughout -- actually quite amazing.  For more details

For a primer on bias thinking and fabric selection for this design, check out Bias Exposed, a Threads Magazine article, which I wrote in January 2012. And to keep up your learning curve, subscribe to Threads!  
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A New Feature
We're getting a number of requests to show interpretations of our patterns that our customers have done and so we're beginning a new Gallery to show them off!  Here are the rules of the game:  Photos should be good photos, showing the clothes on a body, and the piece should be done as the core pattern is designed without major internal changes.  We're looking for variations in appropriate fabrics, changes in lengths, changes in use -- dressy or casual, or changes in accessories worn with it such as belted or not.  Include a sentence about how the pattern worked for you and send it to me:  [email protected].  We'll take a look and post the best!! 

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Still working on the men's Scarf Jacket, a jacket with a bias front which extends as a collar to go around the neck, becoming a scarf on the other side.  The big reveal is coming soon in time for fall -- still testing.  Then I'm hoping to squeeze in the X-Dress and maybe the Shoulder Weave Dress before the holidays -- one is all bias and one is what I call "spot-bias" (bias where it needs to be) but both are yummy with fitted bodices and work great in summer cottons or winter velvets!

More soon and remember summer time is for making things!!

Sandy Ericson
Center for Pattern Design
www.centerforpatterndesign.com
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