Alabama Chanin - new book out!

ironkurtin

http://www.amazon.com/Alabama-.....038;sr=8-1

So excited - own her other two. This one has a maxiskirt pattern! And - for those of you on the beetle thread - the second book has a longer tank pattern. I love this approach for saving items that have holes; I've salvaged several cashmere sweaters this way. I even bought some decorative pattern books to use as inspiration.

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12 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

fern

Veteran

I want to make one of the corset T-shirts. Love her stuff & her attitude!

12 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I've seen lots of great reviews about the two previous books, and this one looks wonderful too.
IK: I'd love to see a pic of your artfully salvaged sweaters;-)

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Hi Inge!

First two pics are of a cashmere sweater where I doctored the holes. I have one more little hole to go. I used white fine cotton underneath for a texture contrast and black thread to show the design elements. With very fine knits you want to make sure you aren't adding bulk as much as you can, so I save old tshirts etc. with beautiful textures to cut up later (or to use for doll clothes for the peanut's collection).

The second two are of a tank I wanted to salvage. I wanted very low contrast to the white so I went with very pale pink and pale ivory thread. This one took a long time but I think it was worth it.

Reverse intarsia is super fun - the biggest challenge is making sure your pattern is correct in scale and shape. I made an entire vest for my sister but didn't vary the scale enough and it looked a little bit grandma. Oh well, live and learn...

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12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

This is great !! I just told my daughter this weekend that we ought to learn how to sew...at least minimally. My mom is a fabulous seamstress and I had no interest growing up. DIY is such a dying art.

12 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

oh how fun! i love looking through her books for inspiration and plain old enjoyment!

yes, we want to see pics IK! heehee, get yourself some linen jersey and you could make some awe-inspiring summer pieces......steph

12 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

**** passes out from sheer admiration ****

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oooh. I need to check this out...

12 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Thanks so much for indulging my curiosity, IK! I love the idea of reusing garments with beautiful textures. I also love the pale pink and ivory with the white, I wouldn't even know where to start with such an intricate pattern (well, I wouldn't know where to start at all:-)

Keep us posted about your next project?

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Sure!

Inge, it's really very simple - and much easier if you have a stencil or a lightboard (like for what people used to use when looking a slides - remember those?).

Chanin has a number of instructions in the books (including different stitches!) but here's my shorthand:

Trace a pattern you like onto the clothing item using washable markers (they have them in the kiddo section of every grocery store here). If you want the color to be permanent, use fabric markers or fabric paints.

Then thread a needle with craft thread - it has to be thick to show. Follow the pen marks and make even stitches, stitching the fabric you want to (ultimately) show through to the BACK of the item. The idea is to make it RATE so make sure you knot on the FRONT of the item - it adds visual interest and texture.

Once the piece is stitched, use embroidery or other sharp scissors to cut out the shape inside the stitches - from the FRONT of the item.

Viola.

You can get a lot more complex than that, but that's the basic.

Like I said, I've used this approach to salvage a number of items which would otherwise be "ruined." It's an excellent thing to do while watching Downton Abbey...

12 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

OK, I need to go lie down for a moment now. You can do this AND watch TV at the same time!?-) You are awesome!

(I absolutely do remember lightboards.)

Thank you for explaining this so clearly!

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Sure! I like to do craft projects while "my shows" are on. It's how almost all of my daughter's doll clothes got made. It works better if you treat TV like a radio, I will admit.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

What a cool technique! I want to try it now.

Actually I have been tempted to buy the Alabama Chainin books in the past, but refrained from doing so because I need another fiber-related hobby like I need a hole in the head. Still, in principle, this one does not necessarily require the acquisition/hoarding of large amounts of fabric, since it's all about reusing used fabrics.

12 years ago

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