I'm Ashley and live in Seattle, WA, USA.  I mentioned that I'm a Triple Geek Threat:  My first career was as a software engineer (computer science + cognitive psych. major), my mom was a Home Ec Teacher (in the South.... in the 50s!) and she taught me to sew starting when I was 7, and (here's the third threat for those of you keeping score at home:) I'm also the president of the local chapter of the American Sewing Guild .   (I guess that makes me a Hat Trick Geek.  Would that be a propeller-beanie hat with 3 propellers?)

I met Geek Sewing at a neighborhood group meeting of our guild.  She brought issues of Stylebook for us to ooh and ahh over.  I ran out the very next day and was able to pick one up -- and a few other fun books (like Pattern Magic).

I also have PatternMaster Boutique (PMB), but haven't used it in quite a while.  It is really handy for it's simple CAD capabilities, to be sure!  One day, if I ever do my comparison of different drafting methods, I'd definitely use a CAD system so I could easily overlay the slopers to see the differences.  (My idea of a good time.)

I haven't had time to sew much in the past 2 years.  Being president of the local ASG chapter keeps me really busy.   I don't have as much energy as a 'normal' person; I have some chronic diseases that cause fatigue and rear their interesting little heads at random.  So for right now I'm choosing to do more chapter managment & organizing with my energy than sewing.  But my term will be up next January, and then I'll have more time to sew.

When I do sew, I like to sew garments.  I seem to fall into the trap of sewing for others more than myself.  It's easier to do because others have lower standards and don't know about all my mistakes!  And then there are body issues, blah blah blah. The most fun I have when I sew is when I sew for my eldest dog.  That's right -- my dog.  She's a marvelous, relatively svelt Newfoundland, weighing in at a slight (for her breed) 110 lbs.  And honey -- you ain't never seen anything funnier than a giant black dog, prancing down the street, coming atcha dressed up in a belly dancing costume , complete with a hot-pink satin bra!  (She is a total ham and loves getting dressed up for Halloween!  It's not animal cruelty, I swear.)  You just can't be in a bad mood when you're sewing a bra for your dog.  Really.  (Forgive the poor pics & graphic editing on the web pages.  And yes, that's our other dog "Mandy" in her cowgirl outfit.  This year, Mandy was a Young Elvis -- but those pics haven't made it up, yet.  And Maya was a square dancer in a yellow-gingham checked dress.  Not as sassy as the hot pink bra, to be sure.)

I love the engineering aspect of sewing.  I love the problem solving.  I love being precise.  I love spending 20 minutes checking and re-checking the grain of fabric as I lay it out. (My feet don't, but my mind does.)  I love being able to move my needle and use the edge-stitch foot to sew one tiny millimeter away from the seamline.  I love it when it all comes together and turns out.  But I also love the creative aspect -- trying to put colors together, learning about proportions, learning about styles.... sometimes not learning at all!  Realizing how much there is to learn.  I have to constantly remind myself not to over engineer & to just jump in there and get it done, already!  For a long time my sig was "Finished Unperfection beats Unfinished Perfection Every Time" and I have to remind myself of that often.

Sharing with others like this is the kick in the pants I often need to actually go sew.  I try to be more limited with my time on the computer these days so that I can do a little sewing.  But I love the styles in StyleBook and the engineering and creativity in books like PatternMagic, so this group is definitely worthwhile to me. 

My grandfather would always end his rambling stories with the phrase "And so like that there."  We're not sure where he came up with it, but we all knew that he meant "OK, now I'm done talking."  (Or, sometimes "I'm done talking about that subject.  Next.")

And sew like that there. 

My user ID is Geek Sewing but feel free to call me Diana. I live in Seattle, Washington. I've been sewing for more than eight years, but I think, I can go back as far as my early childhood (before I was 10 yo) in the Philippines, where I learned to sew tube tops and dresses for my Barbie dolls in a treadle machine. For lack of elastic, I used rubber bands. And I used just about any scrap of fabric I could find, not even realizing who in the household sewed. Even then, I loved the feel of the sewing machine beneath my hands as I carefully avoided the needle from stabbing my fingers. I was self taught.

I moved to the US at the age of 10 (August 1984), and in 6th grade, had my first home ec class with Mrs. Reed. She made such an impression on me that she's the only teacher I remember from that whole school. She made a Winnie the Pooh costume for herself, complete with large tummy and enormous head. Every Halloween she wore it, and I thought I was in Disneyland. My first sewing project from her class was a pleated skirt made in a blue and green plaid cotton. I remember the skirt fitting beautifully around my waist and hips, as the pleats were sewn from the top edge of the waistline all the way to the widest part of my hips, then it flowed and swished from there. I even wore it with a white top and white socks (with lace edging!) and black mary janes. Oddly enough, this outfit resembles my school uniform back in the Philippines. All it needs is a bow tie.

And then my sewing reached a long hiatus. It was beyond the control of a girl, and when enough time had passed, sewing was completely forgotten.

My geekiness has nothing to do with the computer. I use the word "geek" as it is first described: someone who is peculiar and disliked; someone who is "foolish, inept or clumsy." I've always been a geek. I've always been socially inept. It passed quietly through elementary, but it was a quiet nightmare through junior high, and eventually through high school, it was no longer so quiet. I was marked.

University was a better place for a geek. (I didn't meet my husband in college exactly, though he and I went during the same time. He is a computer and linguistics geek, graduated with a degree in Japanese and worked a lot with Mac computers.) I graduated with a degree in English with Emphasis on Writing (a mouthful, isn't it?). And because I'm socially inept and reclusive, I studied characters through watching people. It became a habit. Then I applied my learnings into my short stories. I wrote in the style of Jane Austen: writing in great detail of only what I know, what I've seen.

Sewing became part of my life again when I finally married my best friend. His mother sews a great deal, sews mostly garments, and occasionally a pillowcase. She inspired me and encouraged me with seam ripper in hand. She became my second best friend. (When you're a geek like me, you often dream of having a best friend. So when or if you finally get one, it's monumental.) Our relationship was odd!

When I learned that there was an ASG meeting in my neighborhood, I telephoned one of the contacts in the brochure immediately. I was screaming on the phone I was so excited. It was a chance to share sewing with others and to help bring me out and meet new friends.

Hi Ladies,  my user name is Evenstar Africa, but please refer to me as Evenstar.  I live in the UK, and work as a telecom Engineer, but i have always been an avid sewer, skilled passed down to me by my mother. But i have taken it up a notch!.  I have studied pattern making and advanced garment construction.  Now i am on the verge of setting up my own Bespoke tailoring service.  it so happens that i stumbled across the Stylebook for Mrs, and i thought their method of pattern drafting very original and versatile that i just had to learn it.  i went to the japanese centre here in London, and they were more than happy to order it for me (although very expensive!).  I think i have my head around the concept of their pattern construction, but i have been looking for those interested till i got lucky a couple of nights ago and found you all.  Yippee!  i am so excited - i am sure you can tell.  My designs and fabrics are based on Africa - kind of African designs with a hit of western twist.  But my main focus is that my garments are tailored to very high standards.

my business should be up and running in the next couple of months. My husband and i have decided to move back to Africa, and i know that there is a huge market for fashion/ clothmaking (various terms), i have the skills - so why not?

  As soon as i finish my management project for my degree this month, i start my first collection design process, and i hope to implore your help and support.  Please do check out my blog at http//:evenstarafrica.blogspot.com

Hi everyone,

My name is Jaeng. I'm a Thai girl living in NJ.

It's so nice to have a place like this forum for people who like Japanese Style/sewing/pattern making to

meet and learn together.

Without your help on translating, I will be lost forever...thank you so much for that.

I have been making a few garments from Mrs.Stylebook from issue# 145 already made sloper

but still have no chance to post them. They are not all compleated... such as no belt, no buttons, etc. I live in

the town that sewing store doesn't exist.

Hello - I have just been allowed to join the group - thank you very much.

 I have only recently found out about the fascinating designs of Japanese sewing, largely as a result of reading Fashion Incubator.  So I have bought the two Pattern Magic books and have ordered the most recent Mrs Stylebook.  Some of the designs are too way out for my personal style, but that does not stop me enjoying the design and technical aspects, and I am not as petite as most Japanese women, so most of my patterns will be made using PatternMaker software and the ideas from my Japanese books and magazines, as I am one size too large for the Pattern Magic drafts.  I hope that I will be able to learn from your experience (you may have some knowledge of Japanese for example) and also contribute when I can.  I am sure that you will all be a source of inspiration and I am looking forward to some creative sewing and pushing back the boundaries of my range of sewing with your help and encouragement!

Enmore1 (Anne)

Welcome, Anne and ceelee!

Anne, I'm curious as to how pattern making software work.  Please keep us posted regarding your projects.

Ceelee, I enjoy pattern making too!  I love the process, the no-guessing game that I get from drafting a pattern from the first steps, rather than working backwards as one often would with commercial patterns.

Hi, Hellenne,

I've noticed you post in Stitcher's Guild.  Welcome to our little forum!

Hello, eddie,

I'm sad that you say you'll just be a lurker!  When you've finally drafted and sewed a pattern for yourself, do let us know of your experience!  It'll be helpful for all of us.  So please, reconsider, and share!  BTW, welcome to the forum!

Anne, welcome to our little forum on drafting styles from MSB!

I just moved from Seattle to Gig Harbor very recently.  Gig Harbor is south west of Seattle.

I will get back to you with the issue numbers later today.  Is it okay for me to email you with the answers?

Also, you might want to check out the American Sewing Guild (ASG) in Seattle, where you'll meet stitchGeek, a quiet member here in the MSB forum.  She drafts.  You'll also meet Judy Barlup (Bellevue).  She's a professional pattern drafter.

Let me know if you want information about the Seattle ASG.

Hi all!  I'm Christine, and I live (and sew and knit) in Maine.  I just ordered my first copy of MSB (Summer '08) on eBay, and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.  I have been sewing off and on (mostly off) for about 35 years, and have recently found the Stitcher's Guild and Sewing Pattern Review websites, which have really rekindled my interest in sewing. 

Although I was a Computer Information Systems major in college, most of my electives were Home Ec (I got A's in Pattern Design and Textile Analysis).  I used to work in the computer software industry, but am now a mostly stay at home mom (I have a three year old daughter I can't wait to teach how to sew and knit). 

 I'm sure I'll be asking a lot of questions when I get around to drafting my first MSB garment.  I've spent a little time looking through the message boards, and I can already tell there's a wealth of talent and information here!

Christine 

Hello everyone.

 I'm remaining personally anon for a while, but you can call me Aozora.  I've been sewing 'forever', and have been witnessed to sew in my sleep.  (Procrastination is a main cause.)  I'm recently coming back to sewing after a 3 year's sewer's block of sorts.  

People ask me what I sew, I respond "everything except dog clothing".  I just can't figure out how to fit clothing for dogs.  It's no use, don't ask me.  (People have.)

I'm studying the Japanese language, slowly, slowly, while working as an ESL tutor at a community college.  My major is Business Administration.  I found this discussion log while looking for a tutorial on traditional japanese sewing, and was hooked.  Just the patterning style alone is fascinating.  I look forward to learning more about exceptional tailoring, design, and good company.     

Welcome, Elizabeth!

I can't see the first two pictures of your contoured sloper that you recently posted.  It may be because my McAfee settings have not been changed properly or there was a problem with how you inserted the images' addresses in the insert hyperlink pop-up box.  I'm assuming that it's the first, that my McAfee settings are still for infants, since you successfully posted the bottom two pictures.

I'll have to ask the computer geek in my house for help.  Unfortunately, he's still in bed . . . and waking him up could take a while.

Petro, welcome to our little forum!  I've been visiting the Japanese Couture Addict's community blog and found it inspirational.  You must have great fabric stores in France!  A friend of mine had bought several fabrics there when she went for a visit, and her choices were fabulous!

Diana

Welcome, Audrey, to our little forum!  LOL.  That's my automated welcome to all members who decide to delurk and say hello.  But what else can I say?

Thank you for posting a picture of you and your blouse!  You both look lovely.  This is definitely encouraging to all of us.  I know that making the slopers fit is a tremendous and intimidating job.  But don't you agree that when the sloper finally fits, everything else becomes a piece of cake? 

I am in the middle of choosing three MSB patterns.  My delivery date is next week!  And I'm deciding on which MSB patterns will work well for nursing tops.  I hope to encourage others as well, although I don't know how often I can do this with a newborn.  I'll sure try though.

And I should also get in gear with those two articles that I had been promising to have translated for the past two years!

Diana

Hi Petropetro, I saw Pattern Magic at the Japan Centre here in London and it looked very intimidating.  I look forward to seeing what you're doing.

Diana, I didn't know you were expecting!  Congratulations!  My own little Charlotte is 7 1/2 months now and it's really wonderful.  <busybody>Remember that birth is a natural process and your body and your baby already know what to do - if you concentrate on relaxing as much as you possibly can the whole way through it is very very helpful to the whole birth process.  And get someone to look in on you and help you with your baby's latch when breastfeeding - I found the info at http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html, especially the videos, to be really helpful. If the latch is bad, you'll be in agony when you feed, don't ask me how I know...</busybody> For nursing tops I like knits - buttons in front are OK but it's really hard to button yourself back up again one handed with squirming baby. The ideal for me is a t-shirt to pull up and a cardigan sweater to hide my exposed belly flesh on the back & sides (baby hides it in the front).

Audrey, what a lovely blouse!  Look forward to seeing your other things.

Thanks for the well wishes, Petro!

Petropetro, I'm going to London in the end of Sep.

Please post the experience about shopping in Japan Center. I would

love to here about it (and wish to go check it out too).

Hi, Kym, and welcome to our little forum!  I'm glad that you are not new to Japanese pattern drafting.  You're input would be valuable to all of us!

Thanks for sharing the link to your reviews.  I will definitely check them at PR.  I'm not a frequent contributor but love the message boards, particularly the "Sewing Machines & Sergers" subboard, being a self-confessed sewing machine junkie.  I just bought a Husqvarna Viking Platinum 770.  I've yet to write a review on this machine . . . the verdict is still out.

The only place I can direct you on where to purchase Mrs Stylebook is at Simply Pretty, an ebay store.  Others have purchased from yesasia and Sasuga.  You can type "Mrs Stylebook" in their search boxes, but I've never been successful in navigating the other online stores.  Others have had success.  You can visit this thread in our forum where we have posted links to several online stores.

I know what you mean . . . "babies came along."  I'm way past due with my fourth!  But I've got a sweet set-up with my sewing space at home, which means I can start and stop and leave my sewing projects whenever I need to.  No more putting stuff away!

Diana

Yes!  She was born on Sunday, August 3rd!  We don't have a name yet unfortunately.  We all think the reason why she was way past her due date was that she was breech.  I came in for an induction, but they soon found out that she was breech.  Since I was already having contractions and was dilated 6 to 7, they had to do a C section.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  The whole time I was under high stress.  But my husband said that it all took about half an hour, from the time the doctor decided to do a C section to the time they pulled her out.

She's lovely and healthy and in high demand.  Everyone in our large family wants his or her turn to hold her.

You have eight?!  Congratulations, Kym!

Well, she chose a great month to be born in. I'm August 1 - every year!

Congratulations on that little one. The "how" she got here is not as important as the "that" she got here and that she's healthy.