Do It Your Self Luxury - Sewing

I grew up around seamstresses and tailors and learned to drape, draft patterns and sew long before I knew what those terms meant. Even though I have these skills I find is much easier and more time affective when I do sew to use a printed pattern and adjust it accordingly. One of the best kept sewing secrets is that the 3 major pattern companies most sewers grew up with are all under the one umbrella of the McCall Pattern Company http://www.mccall.com/ and that you can buy sewing patterns from their respective websites

McCall’s (http://www.mccallpattern.com/index.htm)

Butterick ( http://www.butterick.com/ )

Vogue Patterns ( http://www.voguepatterns.com/index.html )

Another little secret is that each every few weeks the lines alternatively put their patterns on sale slashing costs by more than 50%. In some cases that means the patterns are priced between $5.99 and $6.99 each and if you join the site's sewing clubs you can take an additional 10% off even if the patterns aren't on sale. So if you sew, or dream of sewing, sign up for the emailed sales notification and other offers, it's worth the extra e-mail.

You'll need fabric to work with, so another spot in New York worth the effort of a visit is

Paron Fabric 

( http://www.paronfabrics.com/stores_locations.htm )

This fabric store was once a staple of New York's 57th Street but eventually consolidated to their current location at 206 West 40th Street. Not as glamorous as some of the other fabric stores in the area the store does offer top quality designer fabrics from all over the world. They take most major credit cards and the staff is extremely helpful. I have been given swatches without comment and am always fondly greeted when I visit the store. If you are sincere in your search and need for a particular type of fabric they will work with you to find it and though minimum yardage must be ordered they will track it down for you if need. The variety of their stock is amazing but the most amazing part of the store is the 50% off section, which is a store unto itself. Don't let the discount fool you. You will find the last yards of fabrics that at one time may have been laying on the sample table of some of the major fashion houses on 7th Avenue. Whether you have a list or an idea floating around in your mind or desire some inspiration it's worth the visit.