Overlocking Workshops and Palmer Pletch Fitting with Celia Banks

This week saw our first retreat with Celia Banks.

Many local people asked for sewing skills courses, so we found Celia and brought her to Bridlington only to be let down by all the local people who didnt put their money were they mouths were!  BIG MISTAKE! you missed some superb tuition.

Celia turned out to be a great tutor and as well as general sewing skills, her specialty is palmer pletch which is a method of fitting paper patterns to ensure the best fit possible. She teaches all over the UK and visits Denmark twice a year as well as the USA to keep her qualifications up to date.  She has also recently been teaching and working with the wardrobe department from Granada Studios Coronation Street.

Our first day was overlocker skills. followed by two days learning the techniques to fit a blouse.

So many people go out and purchase an overlocker and don't really get to grips with all the wonderful things these machines can do.

Celia guided us through threading, tension & various different stitches. We threaded our machines with 4 different colour threads to enable us to see clearly where each thread goes in each stitch.

We also had a wide variety of other fabrics to play with too

Later we made a simple cushion cover to practice what we had learnt.

Ceila at the machine demonstrating.

The Palmer Pletsh course

Paper patterns are all well and good, but generally only have a couple of alternation point marked on. this is fine if you have the 'perfect' body shape.  If not then when the garment is made it will not be the 'prefect' fit for you.

If you have low bust, high bust, fuller bust, bigger back, hollow back, larger shoulders etc and in fact any problem other than the perfect body - this course is a must for you.

After selecting the best size of pattern, the pattern pieces were carefully cut out and the areas around the armhole were re-enforced with scotch tape.

The pattern pieces were then pined on to the body

The patterns were readjusted

and refit

and then a similar process with the sleeve

 when the pattern was perfectly adjusted the garment can be cut and made up

  ( Thank you Val for being the model for the pictures )

Here is the back of another blouse showing the back dart adjustments

Celia at the machine demonstrating how to make the perfect dart

 Celia recommended this company as a great supplier for many different stiffenings, shoulder pads etc

This course is very personalised and all the ladies without exception went away with a blouse pattern which fit perfectly. Everyone had a great time and learnt a great deal and so much so that they have asked for Celia to come back again.  Watch this space!

Details of our workshops and retreats can be found here - http://www.quiltsandwich.co.uk/#!workshops/c24c2