It is Saturday #2- come find me at 589 Markham Street September 24th, 10 am to 6 pm; or by chance during the week; or by appointment anytime- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

To expand on the previous post, here is little bit more information about labels:

Removing labels from the back of a garment is understandable; despite efforts from the fashion design community, tags are scratchy. Scratchy because they are often sewn in with clear (or nylon) thread which has, because it is a filament fiber, sharp ends. It is necessary to use the correct instruments when removing a label- big dull kitchen scissors just won't do! Grab a pair of thread clippers, embroidery scissors or a seam ripper; small and sharp will insure that the correct threads are clipped. Nail clippers, eyebrow scissors or a box cutter will also work.

Take the time to do this job correctly because holes that occur somewhere on the garment as opposed to on the seam of a garment can not really be repaired nicely. Pictured above is a variety of acceptable tools for the job.

(Rant: labels annoy designers for a completely different reason- they must be designed, the design then sent to a supplier who always has a minimum orders of about $150 which means about 150 labels, which is a lot for a small fashion house, then they take 6 weeks to arrive, then they have to be sewn in... then the customer hacks them out with big dull kitchen scissors- a former boss of mine would call that a "make work" project.)

This post was inspired by a conversation with my wonderful husband.

He purchased a knit sweater and instantly cut the tag out, remarking that the hanger appeal was compromised by its application. It looked sloppy because the label was not sewn flush to the back of the top. There is a reason for this- knits have give and thus the label has to have a little give; it allows for the garment to be pulled on and avoids nasty little holes.

Pictured above is a stretch velvet dress with a totally awesome tonal rose print- the fabric can only really be described as "bad/good", a term that my contemporaries and I developed in fashion school to note that ugly can be wonderful. This dress, along with many other rad pieces of clothing, is available from the "I made this for you."- Sara Duke Factory Store (589 Markham Street) each and every Saturday between 10 am and 6 pm, or by chance or by appointment any time- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

Hello There,

I just wanted to use a bit of this space to send out a little note. Thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday for Super Open Saturday- it was truly a super day!! Lots of people I recognized, lots of friends and lots of strangers stopped by- I met all kinds of really great people. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

THANK YOU DEAR PUBLIC!

Also, a very special thank you to my beautiful super model Sasha A. who was a great sport and modeled all of the new if you see cake fall product. She has been all over this blog all week and is pictured above. Thanks Sash!

So it is now official, the "I made this for you." Factory Store will be open every Saturday for the rest of my life, by appointment, or by chance. Let me know if you would like to stop by between Saturday at 6 pm and the following Saturday at 10 am, I will make sure to be there, just for you! Contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca for an appointment.

And now back to your regular blog posting.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Sara Duke

Ta-da! I am ready for you. See you all 10 am for super open day! 589 Markham Street, lover level.

SAT. SEPT. 18TH IS WHEN IT ALL STARTS

589 Markham Street, 10 am to 6 pm, the "I made this for you." -Sara Duke Factory Store will be having the grandest of grand openings, offering 25% off all brand spanking new if you see cake fall 2010 product. 

Fall in love! 

 

Follow the link and find out what other wonderful things are happening on Markham Street this Saturday

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-made-this-for-you-Sara-Duke/138342036203495?ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=150544248309949&ref=ts

Epic. 

Only 4 more sleeps until the "I made this for you." -Sara Duke Factory Store is open and ready with all kinds of if you see cake Fall 2010 product, just for you! Pictured above is the coolest pair of pants ever! They are unisex and one size and look pretty great on every bum that has ever been in them. On top is the prettiest little crop- vintage fabric, bias bound neckline and very old army issue buttons. Love. Available at 589 Markham Street this coming Saturday, September 18th 10 am to 6 pm; or by chance; or by appointment any time- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

Pictured above is a great top over a great dress. This coming Saturday is the big day when I open up the front of my studio just like a shoppe, just for you! if you see cake fall 2010 product available at 589 Markham Street starting this coming September 18th 10 am to 6 pm, by chance or by appointment any time- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

Get ready, get set- next Saturday, the front of my studio will be all the way converted into a shoppe. You and yours are welcome to stop by and take a look-see at all of the new if you see cake Fall 2010 product. Pictured above is an all the way black and all the way cotton top and skirt with grommets and vintage fur detailing. Available at 589 Markham Street this coming Saturday, September 18th 10 am to 6 pm, by chance or by appointment any time- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

 

A French seam is when the raw edges are hidden in the seam allowance of a garment. French seams are constructed by doing double the work- half the width of the seam allowance is sewn, then the garments is turned inside out and the other half is sewn. Tidy, durable and a mark of quality. Often found on garments made of sheer fabrics, and mandatory on dress shirts.

Pictured above is a custom piece for a very lovely client under the "I made this for you." -Sara Duke label; silk georgette over jacket for a three piece outfit (pictured below). If custom work is of interest, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca 

Back to school! Dear students, folding knit garments (neatly) and storing them horizontally in a dresser drawer, as opposed to hanging them vertically in a closet, will help prevent elongation and the twisting of seams.

Pictured above is a humongous pile of assorted T shirts that are currently available at Honest Ed's- 581 Bloor Street (honesteds.sites.toronto.com)

Bias binding is a beautiful way to finish the seams on a woven garment- it's a strip of fabric that has been cut on the bias and is folded around all of the raw edges then sewn into place.

Pictured above is one of six if you see cake vintage cotton with antique button and silk satin bias bound neckline detail tops, available from the studio on Saturdays (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) starting in mid September 2010- 589 Markham Street, Toronto (imadethisforyou.ca)

Or, alternatively, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca

This post has gotten all kinds of comments and questions since publication- I had no idea that there were others out there as nerdy as I am!

Although they are often amputated, hanger loops are totally radical.  Arm holes are cut on the bias and will stretch out from the weight of a garment when hung; hanger loops help to distribute that weight.


Pictured above is one of two if you see cake deep green burn-out velvet dresses, available from the studio on Saturdays (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) starting in mid September 2010- 589 Markham Street, Toronto (imadethisforyou.ca). 


Or, alternatively, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

So the question is: if hanger loops are necessary, how can one keep them from slipping out? 

Because I am in love with clothing, the hanger loops pictured above are the same silk satin as the straps of the dress and are sewn in about an inch down the seam as opposed to right at the top- all this in an effort to prevent that slippage; or in the case of slippage, attractive slippage.

To fix up faulty hanger loops, little snaps can be purchased from any sewing supply store and sewn in with a couple of hand stitches- one side of the snap should be tacked to the side seam and the other to the hanger loop. Ensure that a little bit of slack is built in so that the seam lays flat.


Pictured below is all necessary hardware and a t shirt that I got a couple of years ago with hanger loops that help to compensate for the open neckline.

Or safety pins!

Satin is rarely silk. Satin is a weave or a method of constructing fabric, not a fiber- check the label of the garment to see if you are getting polyester or nylon or silk.

Pictured above are assorted not silk, but still satin dresses that are currently available at Honest Ed's- 581 Bloor Street (honesteds.sites.toronto.com)

Blazers should always be hung on those nice big, fat jacket hangers; the interfacing that is used inside jackets to give them a crisp shape is like paper and will crease on one of those wire hangers from the cleaners.

Pictured above is one of three if you see cake reworked, dead-stock blazers, available in store at Coal Miner's Daughter in mid September 2010- 587 Markham Street, Toronto (coalminersdaughter.ca)

When fitting evening wear, make sure to purchase the under bits first and to wear those very same under bits when shopping or to each and every fitting.

Pictured above are assorted fancy panties that are currently available at Honest Ed's- 581 Bloor Street (honesteds.sites.toronto.com)

Woven cotton shirts can get vicious creases that just don't want to press out. Try taking a scrap of plain white cotton, wetting it and layering it between the garment and the iron- a soggy pillow case will also do the trick. Remember to turn garments inside out before ironing, extra especially if it's black.

Pictured below is a before pressing photo on the left and after pressing photo on the right- there are two of these if you see cake all the way black, all the way cotton tops with reclaimed fur and silk satin bias bound neckline detail in the entire world, available from the studio on Saturdays (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) starting in mid September 2010- 589 Markham Street, Toronto (imadethisforyou.ca)

Or, alternatively, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

Although they are often amputated, hanger loops are totally radical.  Arm holes are cut on the bias and will stretch out from the weight of a garment when hung; hanger loops help to distribute that weight.

Pictured above is one of two if you see cake deep green burn-out velvet dresses, available from the studio on Saturdays (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) starting in mid September 2010- 589 Markham Street, Toronto (imadethisforyou.ca). 

Or, alternatively, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.

Hello there.

I am Sara Duke- a fashion designer working out of a great little studio in downtown Toronto where I design, draft, cut and sew for two separate labels: The Le Black Project is a very serious study of the little black dress for a particular season and if you see cake is pure fun. However, most of my time is spent making very special couture garments for private clients under the label "I made this for you" -Sara Duke.

I have created this space to tell you all about how really great clothing is made - every couple of days, you can expect to find a fantastic picture, followed by some applicable tidings. I promise to be concise and, I promise not to spend too much time trying to show off.


Pictured above is an  "I made this for you" -Sara Duke portfolio piece made from a deconstructed vintage wedding dress. Please contact me if you are interested in commissioning a similar garment; I am available in the studio on Saturdays (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) starting in mid September 2010- 589 Markham Street, Toronto (imadethisforyou.ca). 

Or, alternatively, for an appointment, please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca.