Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MaryW
Date: 10-05-2006, 01:53 PM (1 of 21)
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I guess everyone knows how I feel about Sandra Betzina and her patterns. I love them. They fit nicely, the instructions are plainly written and very clear. What is another bonus is that she will show you how to make the necessary adjustments to your pattern before you cut the fabric. For pants, she shows how to shorten crotch or widen the waist, whatever the adjustment, she will show you how to make it. A mini fitting lesson in every pattern envelope.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: searose
Date: 10-05-2006, 03:25 PM (2 of 21)
i like her patterns very much. i just wish that she was back on TV. i always enjoyed her programs so informative and you could always see exactly what she was doing. also her personality is so upbeat and she made you feel that you could do all her sewing techniques. Miss her. searose:: 
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User: searose
Member since: 09-30-2006 Total posts: 45 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 10-05-2006, 04:54 PM (3 of 21)
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Are SBetzina's patterns published by Vogue, or are they her own private label? (Trying to guess whether or not I'll be able to count on a good $3.99 sale anytime soon!)
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Skye
Date: 10-05-2006, 05:39 PM (4 of 21)
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I agree Mary she has great instructions uinfortunately most of her styles dont suit me - but I have bought her patterns just for the instructions when they are on special. Burda seem to fit me with the least alterations |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 10-05-2006, 10:31 PM (5 of 21)
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She's Vogue, Andrea, so look for the sale. As for her television show -- I learned so much from her. Before her show I had to make it all up as I went along. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MartySews
Date: 10-06-2006, 06:46 PM (6 of 21)
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I think Loes Hinse has a great line of patterns not only on her on website as that of Textile Studio patterns. They are really quite simple to put together and have a tailored look about them without all of the work. I've made only two of Sandra Betzina's patterns and they look nice too. Happy Stitching! Marty 
It takes one moment to change a life.
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User: MartySews
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 504 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 10-09-2006, 05:39 PM (7 of 21)
I'll be the voice of dissent... I love SB's books and show but her patterns don't fit me at all !!I find they are too short in the waist and to reduce the bust to where I need it to be changes the shape of the bodice too much, I actually fit in standard vogue patterns much better. Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: MaryW
Date: 10-09-2006, 06:10 PM (8 of 21)
Oh, poor baby.  I think SB patterns are for the more "mature" woman who may just have a few figure flaws.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: mommydionne
Date: 10-10-2006, 09:04 AM (9 of 21)
Hahahahaha
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: MaryW
Date: 10-10-2006, 12:37 PM (10 of 21)
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Okay skinny butt, which other patterns do you prefer and why?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: mommydionne
Date: 10-10-2006, 08:53 PM (11 of 21)
Alrighty then.... I like Vogue and Jalie, I have a bunch of Silhouette patterns I like the skirts and jackets have not tried her pants, the blouses only go down to a B cup so that just doesn't work for me. I like Loes Hinse jackets but that's all I've tried of hers. and I have figure flaws (no bust, baby pooch combined with no butt - I look like a Dr Seuss character without my well padded bra  the ravages of 4 kids!! ) I'm just really good at hiding them!! I've used all of the other big companies (butterick, mccalls simplicity) but they are sometimes "funny" and don't go together well, do you ever get the feeling that sometimes no one sews the pattern up after it has been drafted?? Oh yeah, I love Burda magazine patterns, very cool and you can mix and match parts most of the time if they are in the same issue (ie this sleeve with this jacket etc) have not subcribed for a year or so, hmmmm may have to do that again soon. Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: Sancin
Date: 10-10-2006, 10:51 PM (12 of 21)
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How does one locate Burda Pattern Magazine?
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: Brenisback
Date: 10-11-2006, 07:05 AM (13 of 21)
 Hi Nancy...I just looked this up on Google for you and her is what I came up with...http://www.uniquemagazines.co.uk/magazine-subscription-708/Burda-World-Of-Fashion-magazine/Burda-World-Of-Fashion-magazine-subscription.html Brenda
People come into your life ...for a Reason a Season or a Lifetime. |
User: Brenisback
Member since: 09-20-2004 Total posts: 228 |
From: lendube
Date: 11-04-2006, 09:53 PM (14 of 21)
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Thanks for the tips, Mary, on the S.B. patterns. I went to her website to check for a jacket pattern. I liked #7976 but the $18.00 price tag made me put the purchase on hold for a bit. (Don't really know what I'm thinking since I have absolutely NO time to do any personal sewing for a while!) Anyway when I went back to my seach page I saw, "Check out S.B. patterns on Ebay" so I did. There, low and behold, was only one pattern but it was the exact pattern #7976 that I was interested in! It was in my size too! It was only $3.99! There's $2.00 shipping but what a deal. To top it off it's coming from a town only an hour away from me. Was I meant to have this or what? The seller is rated 100% since 1998 and I'm the top and only bidder but have to wait till the 9th. Anyone tried this particular pattern of hers??? Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 11-05-2006, 12:14 PM (15 of 21)
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I attended a session with Sandra Betzina at the Inspirations Needlecraft Show in Ottawa last weekend. For a person who hasn't sewn my own clothes in a long time, I found it quite interesting. She started off by measuring each of us and telling us the size of jacket and pants that we should try on. She had a "Chanel" style jacket and three different types of pants made up in every pattern size. We then tried on the size jacket and pants she recommended. After that she would analyze the fit and tell us where to make changes. I tried her pants pattern 7940 and the jacket pattern was 8043. For me the interesting part was how she told me to change the fit for the jacket. I always have problems as jackets tend to pull across the back and sleeves. She told me to use the E size for the front and the top of the back and switch to the D size below the shoulder blades on the back and side back pnly. She even indicated how much to add or take off the pattern at the neck (+1/2"), shoulder edge (-3/4"), shorten at shoulder blades (-1/2"), etc. She would also reflect all the changes in the appropriate places on the sleeve, too. Also, since I have short arms, I needed to take off 2" in the arms. She indicated to take 1" off in two places - above mid-sleeve and the other lower sleeve. I never thought of that before. Would just take it off in one place. She did the same with the pants. She said I need to use size E for the top of the pants and D for the lower part on both the front & back. She also told me the adjustments I need for the crotch area and since I'm short how much to adjust the length and between the waist and the hip area. Another part I liked was she sat us in a circle and brought out actual patterns where she went over the alterations she made and why so we got to see how she did it. As a result, last weekend I went shopping at Fabricville since they had 50% off the Vogue patterns and bought both of the ones I tried. I'm gonna attempt to make these up with her suggestions to see if I can get the perfect fit! Wish me luck! TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: lendube
Date: 11-05-2006, 12:49 PM (16 of 21)
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Wow, Judy! That sounds wonderful and so much fun! How do you find out about shows like that? Does she come around very often? Was it expensive? Good luck with your fitting. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 11-05-2006, 03:13 PM (17 of 21)
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Lenny, the Inspirations show (http://www.inspirationsneedlecraft.com) is held every year the last weekend of October. Every year there are different classes and invited instructors. I started going as the classes were mainly quilting related. But this year there were hardly any quilting classes. This year was the first time that Sandra Betzina came. I think she was at the show in Toronto as well. That one is usually a couple of weeks ahead of the one in Ottawa. I thought it was a bit expensive ($75 Cdn) but it was the only class I went to and I really want to start sewing clothes since I am having more difficulty finding clothes that fit. So as long as I am able to get some new clothes with what I learned then it will be worth it to me. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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From: MaryW
Date: 11-06-2006, 09:42 AM (18 of 21)
Sandra can be expensive especially with the  dollar but I think she is totally worth it. Once you have the knowledge, you can have patterns that actually fit.Lendube, I have the jacket pattern but haven't tried it yet. There are 3 darts in each front piece and 2 on each side in the back. It looks like an all occasion type of jacket, which is what I want. I have some brown/black boucle I want to make it from. My son has a woodworking workshop. He is making me a unique wooden button to put with it. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: lendube
Date: 11-06-2006, 11:56 AM (19 of 21)
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Haven't heard that I'm outbidded yet so I'm assuming that I'll be getting that pattern. Don't know who's going to get it made up first since I've got several projects going on already but it'll be fun to compare notes when one of us does get around to it. I just want an all purpose blazer to wear with jeans since that's about all I wear in the winter. I need a casual fabric that's warm and will dress up the jeans a bit. Does the Inspirations show ever come down to the States? Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 11-06-2006, 06:16 PM (20 of 21)
Lenny, the Inspirations show is just in Ottawa. So you'll have to plan a trip to either Toronto or Ottawa next October. 
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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From: lendube
Date: 11-06-2006, 06:23 PM (21 of 21)
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Would love to, Judy! I was in Quebec City this past April/May and just loved it! It's quite a way to go just for the show though.  Oh well, thanks, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
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