I loved the competition - it was all very tongue-in-cheek. For those of us who couldn't see that, ah well . . . And how different is that than designing for a supermodel, or some other plastic personality who contributes nothing to the world? At least Miss Piggy entertains little children and makes us adults laugh!

Besides the normal wish for more space, my ideal sewing room would have lots of daylight, room for storage, space to keep my embroidery, serger, and sewing machines out all the time, and most importantly, lots of flat surfaces for laying out fabric, cutting, and pressing.

Right now I live in a very small house. I use a combination step stool/flip iron for most of my pressing, and part of the dining table for rotary cutting. I really have nowhere to lay out anything bigger. My project boxes used to stow projects and fabrics share space with bookcases in a dimly lit area in what used to be a garage. I do have an Ott Lite I can move around as needed, but oh, how I'd love a larger space with flat surfaces!!

My first sewing machine was my grandmother's "portable" Singer, a black and gold beauty with an oak carrying case. It was very heavy and sewed only a straight line - no reverse stitch, no zig-zag. But I loved the knee bar, and lovely hum it made as it stitched away, and the secure feeling that I had when I sewed on it. I was nine years old when I started sewing, and that machine served me very well for some time. (How I wish I still had it, but I gave it to a stepsister when I got a newer Kenmore and she needed a sewing machine.)

I sewed very happily away on it until one day it just froze up. Stopped cold. No stitching. Nothing. My mother took it to the local repair shop. The man looked at my mother with disgust and said, "Lady, you have to oil it every 40 years or so."

What a workhorse! Forty years before it got its first drink of oil!!

As another boycotter of this season, I can see from the photos and read from your comments that I'm not missing much. I think the caliber of the show decreased dramatically when it went to Lifetime from Bravo. Besides the dreadful outcome of last year's competition, I was sick to death of Michael Kors' snide comments. As a wheelchair user, I didn't take kindly to his remarks about something looking like it belonged to "someone using a walker" or "the wheelchair crowd." How insensitive can you get? And Nina Garcia is just as bitchy. They play off each other, and denigrate the contestants with too much enjoyment for my taste. I'll content myself with looking at the photos, which aren't impressing me too much. I do miss Tim Gunn, but it isn't worth sitting through an hour or more of Nina, Michael, and choreographed "drama" for a few moments of civility and perhaps a few minutes of creativity.

I had two influences:

The first was a summer school teacher. In the good old days, when school districts had money, you could go to summer school for fun. I took sewing when I was nine, and I had a wonderful teacher who showed us how to make a one-piece facing for sleeveless dresses and tops. She also taught us to cut through pattern notches and instead clip slightly into the seam allowance, saving time and making a much more accurate mark. I learned that pattern instructions weren't set in stone; that you could find and use workarounds and sometimes they were better than the original instructions.

The second was my great-aunt, who sewed for a living most of her life. She taught me how to match plaids and work with napped fabric. She explained to me what those funny little "grain" arrows on the pattern pieces were for. She taught me how to make tailor tacks, and I still prefer them. She taught me an easier way to put in zippers. But most of all, she gave me the confidence to tackle any project I put my mind to, and consequently I sewed things I probably wouldn't have tried if I had known better.

I figured out how to make a lined and piped slipcover without a pattern. I tailored a man's sportcoat. I made several wedding gowns and formals. I made my own jeans thanks to Calvin Klein's pattern for Vogue. I made my husband's dress and sport shirts. I made silk neckties. I made my children's clothes from the time they were born until they went to middle school. Everything came out beautifully.

Now I've started quilting - a new adventure. I enjoy piecing the tops, and I'm just starting to work on actual quilting. I learned how not to hand quilt by entering a small quilt I made for my youngest grandson in the local fair. I've done a couple of "stitch and ditch" quilts. I'd like to do some more intricate quilting, but lack of space is a real hindrance. But I have fun, and if the recipient is important, or picky, I send the quilt out to be finished by a professional. If not, I stitch in the ditch and try to be a little more daring with each one I do, space permitting.

I just checked in out of curiousity. After Gretchengate, I don't watch the show any longer. It looks like I'm not missing anything.

I suppose that PointPatou thinks making a dress from a pillowcase is "cheap." Perhaps PointPatou doesn't understand that not everyone has an extra $5-10 to spend on one dress, but does have a caring heart and found a great deal on some pretty pillowcases. Or perhaps PointPatou grew up poor and wore hand-me-downs and resents passing something she (or he) considers akin to a hand-me-down being sent to a poor child. The good news is that PointPatou doesn't have to make pillowcase dresses, and you don't have to feel guilty about making them and sending them on with love in your heart.

I doubt I will watch - Gretchengate soured me on Project Runway for good. Rewarding someone for their ho-hum, store-ready "line" when they penalized the previous season's most creative competitor, Emilio Sosa, for creating a very wearable collection by calling it a "line," left me dumbfounded. Michael C should not have been eliminated. The public spoke when it bought his entire collection, and Mondo's too, and left Gretchen's and Andy's collections largely untouched on Seenon.com. I'm still waiting to see Nina Garcia in granny pants.
I'm tired of Michael Kors and Nina Garcia's bitchiness and rudeness. I have real trouble finding the expertise in the celebrity guest judges. Tim Gunn should have more of a say in the judging; he is a true arbiter of good taste and good fashion.
I am sick of the drama, the backbiting, the snarkiness as some have put it. I want to see the design process, the construction process, the way challenges are met. I enjoy the offbeat challenges, and how the designers cope with uniqe materials. Show us more of the hands-on process, and less of the arguments and name-calling. Then the audiences might come back.

I started embroidering when I was a Brownie Scout. I remember cross-stitching my tablecloth to my uniform! I've gone on to master crewel, needlepoint, and counted cross-stitch. I bought a sewing machine with embroidery capability, but I've yet to try it out. As a schoolgirl I became fascinated with the Bayeux Tapestry (I think a teacher read a story about it to us), and found a copy of the National Geographic featuring a story on it just so I could save those pages. I still have them. I studied the stitches and marveled at the women telling their story through yards and yards and yards of hand-woven fabric and hand-spun and hand-dyed thread. Over the years (I'm almost 60) I've embroidered so many things - my children's clothes, household linens, Christmas ornaments, wall hangings, charity items - it's a great portable item to take with you when you have to wait at the doctor's office, or on the train to visit my daughter.

Hands down my favorite was Ann Hathaway in just about everything she wore, but especially her first gown. It was stunning. Let's face it - she can wear anything. But that dress was gorgeous, and it should have been photographed and featured.
I was so disappointed in Cate Blanchett's Givenchy. I truly wanted to like it, but the lovely overly featured an empty circle - it just needed something. And it was so washed out. Cate's coloring can be exquisite, but not with or in that gown.
Hailee Steinberg was perfection. It was delightful to see a 14-year-old look like a 14-year-old, not a 30-year-old. Her gown was lovely, just the right length, and her makeup was lovely as well. I hope her taste level will continue to develop at this level!
Jennifer Duncan's gown was beautiful, but I wish the neckline was a tad higher. I know she's proud of her new body, but the dress only made her breasts look artificial. The color, however, was stunning with her skin tone, and the cut otherwise was oh so flattering.
I felt that Marisa Tomei's gown was a disaster. Yes, it was vintage, but vintage doesn't always mean good. Something just seemed amiss. The asymmetrical pouf wasn't flattering. I'm wondering if the purple tint on the skirt was actually discoloration of the fabric?
I thought Melissa Leo looked lovely. Her dress was so different, and very eye-catching. And it seemed to reflect her personality.
Reese Witherspoon was regal from the front. But, as my husband noted, from the side she looked like the Queen Mary. Perhaps it was the construction of the underlying foundation, perhaps it was her posture or the way she walked. Fortunately we only saw her for a brief period from the side.
All in all, the gowns were very good. No real disasters.

A shortcut I learned many years ago - I can't remember if it was from my first sewing teacher or my dear great-aunt - was about marking the diamonds on cutting lines. I cut the outer edge of the diamond off, and snip into the part of the diamond that extends into the seam allowance. Much faster than trying to cut around them while cutting out your pattern pieces, and just as easy to match up the little slits and double slits into your seam allowances - and they don't look so obvious on your finished product.

Yes, but not until high school, and it's called "Fashion Design." It's an elective, which means not everyone can fit it into their schedule. My daughter never got to take the class because she was on a college prep track and even with an extra period there was no room. My foster granddaughters didn't have room either - one because she was making up missing credits and the other because she was college prep.
I long for the days when "Home Ec" - i.e. cooking and sewing - were required classes, at least for one year somewhere in the educational system. So does my daughter with two Master's Degrees! She laughingly says she can't cook anything that doesn't come in a box, and her sewing machine breaks in self-defense every time she looks at it.
We bought our foster granddaughters sewing machines for Christmas last year, and I wish I'd had more time to teach them sewing before their mother took them back home. They loved playing with fabric and putting pieces together to see what they could make. I hope they'll continue.

Were they kidding? What hypocrites! Last year Emilio didn't win because he turned out a "line," not a "collection." Last night Michael and Nina are praising Gretchen's "line," which I expect to see at Walmart or Penneys very soon. Granny panties? Really?
Michael Costello got the boot because he was monochromatic. What were Gretchen and Andy? Except for a spot of green, everything Andy had was grey. Gretchen was a sea of brown.
Mondo too juvenile? I'm 59 and he had a couple of pieces I'd love to wear, and pieces that were very adaptable to mass market wear. But the point was they were fashion - runway fashion.
I too am determined not to watch again. What started out as an intriguing program showcasing designers and throwing them interesting design challenges has turned into a bloated, commercial-infested personality drama with little camera footage of the design or construction process that made it such a pleasure to watch in the past. I'm sure poor Tim Gunn is embarrassed. He is the only touch of class left on the program. The only hope of salvation left for the program is to get rid of Michael Kors (I read he designed the dress that made Jessica Simpson look like a parade float) and Nina Garcia, move it back to Bravo, and cut it back to an hour of actual design process. Will it happen? I doubt it. Perhaps when they lose their audience - if they have a next season - they'll figure it out. Polls on the web are running 99% against their decision.

Heartwrenching. I've watched finales where it seemed the entire collection was black. So Michael's palette was too limited? Please!
Gretchen's collection was revolting. What was that dingleberry swinging back and forth on that one dress? That was one of the most unflattering things I've ever seen. Andy's silver jumpsuit was riding so high up his model's crotch I was surprised she wasn't screaming. Doesn't fit count any longer? Mondo was Mondo - chic and interesting. But with Nina's "circus" remarks he may be out and this may be the year Project Runway crowns the Queen of Thrift Shop Chic. With a fashion icon like Jessica Simpson as judge, who knows?

I was so glad Mondo won this one. I think Jackie O (she continued her fashion style after she was first lady, and some of the photos they showed were from those days) would have worn his outfit. The giant houndstooth check in purple was classic but bold, and the jacket with the purple lining was chic. Loved it.
Poor Ivy thought she could slide by by putting a pair of classic Jackie sunglasses on her model! The pants and top were great - classic - but the jacket had major problems, which was why she showed it open (and I don't think Jackie would have worn it with the big bow in the back). Yes, she had great construction skills on the jacket, but if it don't fit, it don't win!
As for Gretchen, do you really expect to win if you send a model down the runway wearing a coat and never have her remove it to show what's underneath? And it wasn't an attractive outfit to start with. Poor silhouette and awful color. Did she purchase too much of the camel fabric during the "Team Luxe" challenge and want to use it up? Come on! I'm glad to see that Michael C has learned to play her, and just smile, nod his head, and move on.
Did Andy really think Jackie (or any other fashion icon of her ilk - Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn - would wear parachute pants crawling up her crack? With ankle boots? Really?
Chris' dress was stunning, and really seemed to channel Jackie. But he seemed to have painted himself into a corner when it came to the second part of the challenge. Choosing fur was unfortunate. I don't think I would have chosen something with which I've never worked at that point. A twist on a classic opera coat would have been lovely.
I've seen vests over light jackets this season, and Valerie could have fought harder over hers. Or she could have bit the bullet and made a coat. I wasn't sure why she didn't want to do that. Lots of people wear coats over jackets, particularly in the East and West, particularly in inclement weather.
Poor Michael D - I started out liking his cartridge pleats, particularly at one point when he had a very delicate-looking black lace-looking something (waistband) supporting them. It made an interesting contrast and could possibly have been carried off on a slim model. But it just didn't work. In the right fabric, perhaps, with some movement to the skirt, and the pleats slightly above the hip - maybe. And his jacket needed refinement and the blouse was unfortunate. But I enjoyed his personality, and he had some interesting design ideas. I just don't think he had enough realization of the female body, and how things really hang on it.

I guess I'm truly too old for haute couture. My husband and I both thought Gretchen was headed for the bottom three. Her outfits looked like something out of the seventies home-made boutique. I suppose the fact she worked with feathers worked some kind of voodoo on the judges but honestly the lines were old and boring, and the hairdressing was some kind of pre-Raphaelite princess which made me think of my daughter dressing up like a princess when she was three years old. The overall effect was about the same. We thought Andy would be the winner - his day dress was far more exciting. We didn't really care for his couture look, but it was certainly on task, and he achieved his goal. But perhaps it wasn't colorful enough for an "advertorial." (My, the lines of journalism and advertising are blurring!).
I did love Mondo's couture look, and only he could pull it together. But I thought his day dress, while flattering, was a bit pedestrian.
I didn't think Michael C's was irredeemable. He did seem to go a bit over the edge, but then they do tell people to go "outside the box!" I didn't mind the wired hem, but he should have tamed the train, or at least cut off the caboose! Ivy's couture dress, particularly the bodice, was a nightmare - it looked like she glued random pieces of fabric on it. The day look managed to look a model look fat. I thought the deep blue was lovely, but it didn't look so beautiful on those dresses. Poor Valerie seems to be getting out of their depths. I don't what's happening to Valerie - I had such high hopes for her. I hope she gets back her self-confidence, and develops a wider color palette. And I do hope there's a challenge where April is forbidden to use black, and Gretchen is forbidden to use black or camel (and is forbidden to play mini-Tim Gunn and critique everyone else in the room. Since Michael C and Mondo have also won two each, and far more recently than she, I don't think they need her help. And do we really need her opinions so frequently during the show?)
I would also love to see a challenge where Heidi, Nina and Michael had to whip something up under Project Runway conditions (maybe Nina and Heidi could have a seamstress but Michael would have to do his own sewing) and send it down the runway with snide, rude judges a la themselves. I grew disenchanted with Nina and Michael some time ago, and their rude manners are rubbing off on Heidi. I am rapidly growing disenchanted with the bloated show on Lifetime, where we have added an extra half-hour for more commercials, more personalities, and less construction and design.

What resorts do these people go to? Where do they wear black? I agree, April's look was lingerie - my husband was so bugged by the straps holding her arms down he thought maybe it was a bondage look! I thought Andy was the hands-down winner in terms of color, flow, and the sheer resort "feel" of the outfit.
I was glad to see Mondo figure out and admit that Michael C can sew, and stay on the show so that maybe Michael C will at last have an ally. I hate to see the show devolve into personalities, but maybe Mondo will eliminate some of the backbiting. I so hated it when Michael C won the second time and Gretchen and gang just stared at him with those hateful eyes.
I thought Casanova's outfit was lovely, and it certainly said resort to me. Beautifully cut pants, a flattering, off-the-shoulder blouse with some interest at the waistline. And I too don't think he said he was designing for his grandmother - he said that was what he was accused of.
I don't think Ivy has a clear design esthetic. She might be a terrific seamstress (and a heck of a taskmaster), but the amount of fabric she comes back to Parsons with each week in which she hopes to find a vision is becoming a cliche, and this week a burden to her sample maker. This week she was throwing two people under the bus!
I have thought Michael Kors was too full of himself for several years now. And his remark about people in wheelchairs this week was the limit. I'm in a wheelchair. i don't choose to dress unfashionably. It's very difficult to be fashionable when you're seated all the time. You have to take into consideration not just the way your body changes due to the fact you're seated, but due to the reason you're in the chair, and to the results of being seated - things like pencil skirts, flowing sleeves, etc. are eyesores or logistical nightmares. Why doesn't Mr. Kors design for people like us, who are no longer model size with long legs and skinny waists? Hey, he won't have to worry about what the back of anything looks like!
With the aid of my DVR, I have finally learned why the show now takes 90 minutes but we don't get any more construction or planning details - its the commercials. We have more commercial breaks, some of which take as long as five minutes! Maybe we could petition to put the show back on Bravo, where it seemed to be edited more for construction content. With the exception of last season, which really had a cast of exceptional designers, I have been disappointed with the move to Lifetime.

My husband and I have a VERY small house and I have carved out a sewing/office area for myself in part of what used to be the attached garage. My sewing machine and desk and printers are at one end. At the other are bookcases, a bachelor chair (folding stepstool, ironing board, chair), and my stash. I use Creative Options #705 and #708 boxes because they are a nice size, stack well, are clear so I can see what's in them, are affordable, and my husband can tolerate looking at them. (Fabric.com is a great source.) I have sorted and labeled by ongoing projects, planned projects, fabrics of a certain type (music, for instance, as I purchased quite a bit for possible choir gifts and the Wizard of Oz just because I like it), and finally true stash bits, pieces, and remainders by color.
I'm sort of a fanatic that way. My thread rack, like my crayons when I was a child and learned the colors of the rainbow, is organized by color starting with red going through orange into yellow, then green to blue into violet. Browns, greys, black and white are at the bottom. My stash fabrics are organized the same way. Prints are placed into boxes depending on which color dominates the print.
Next to my sewing machine, between it and my desk, is a bookcase which stores my patterns, sorted and labeled in boxes by type - costumes, childrens, accessories, dresses, tops, bottoms, etc. I have my zippers, trims, buttons (colored, white), lace, etc. in clear shoe boxes on the shelves. It took time to do this, but it's so nice to know where things are and where to find them. I also do a bit of crafting and have those items - jewelry making tools, etc. - in clear containers

There was indeed an I in team, and its name was Gretchen. Does no one listen to the instructions? There is no leader, make your own individual looks, but make them work together. There was no call for Henry Ford and an assembly line that I heard. And what Team "Luxe" got was a real Model A look, as in Awful. I was ashamed to find myself so delighted that it was so bad, and hoping against hope that Gretchen would be sent home. I believe she's been manipulating others to do badly to eliminate them - it's a game, right? in her mind. Her people skills are important, because in the fashion industry you must be able to work together.

At least AJ tried sewing French seams. It might not have been a wise choice, given the time constraints, but he was going for some luxe construction. Ivy's look was a nightmare, and could have been grounds for going home.

I don't understand what everyone has against Michael C., and I'm afraid that now the others will be like piranhas sniffing for fresh blood. They've drawn tears from him, and they'll keep trying. Another win by him will be more food for them. Poor Michael. I can't see what "poor construction" they're complaining about, and neither can the judges. Is it because he's straight?

Casanova seems to have found his place, and I hope he will calm down and do well. I like Peach, but I'm afraid she is a one-trick pony. Construction alone won't do it on a design program. I think Michael D, Mondo and Christopher are real contenders.

All in all, it was very satisfying to see the underdogs, who themselves expected to lose, win hands-down, and deserve it. Their "collection" was cohesive, fresh and fun. And I (in my 50s) would actually (with modifications) actually wear most of their clothes.

I think we all agree drama is a good portion of the show. I too am puzzled that with an extra half-hour we seem to see less of the creative process (and more of the drama) than we saw when the show was on Bravo. I could appreciate why the judges chose Michael C's dress, although I still think the proportions are way off (and it's way too short). And it was poor Peach's time to go (and she is my demographic, too) - that was one too many peplum, and avocado was a horrific choice. The entire dress was a disaster - sorry, Peach - but I think she knew it. I too adored Mondo's dress, perhaps because it reminded me of my youth in the '60s.
I think Michael D got a raw deal because he got last choice, a large model with a dress with a dearth of workable fabric (especially when you discount the highly-constructed bodice), and only 2 yards of additional fabric he could buy. Why he chose to buy what he did, I don't know. The original fabric was lovely. The bolero helped somewhat, but he did make his model look even larger with the full empire skirt. I don't know what she had asked for, but that wasn't it. The remodeled bodice with sweetheart neckline was lovely, though.
I am sick to death of Gretchen and Ivy and the bitchiness. Must we see so much of it, or is there really that much that they can't edit enough out to give us a show without it? I've been tempted to quit watching just because of them. I was so hoping they would let Gretchen go last week! Her design this week was incomprehensible. Was someone really hoping to look like a volleyball huntress?
I normally admire Valerie's work, but what was she thinking this week? Too tight! And there are other colors besides red and black that go with white, Valerie! Expand your color palette. I can't believe that with all that marvelous silver pleating, all April could come up with was black. Again, expand your palette! I did like the dress, though. For once she got it right.

While I really have trouble with Gretchen's ego and her appointing herself substitute Tim, I did like the fabric she used for her top. However, it was very matchy-matchy, and her outfit was a bit too Diana the huntress for me. It was worth it just to see she didn't make the top three for once!!

I was happy to see Michael C win, but I really felt Michael D had the superior outfit with sculptural quality of his pleated top (particularly the neckline) mirroring the shape of the hat. And while the technique of the skirt wasn't groundbreaking (although perhaps it was for Project Runway), the silhouette was gorgeous.

I loved Christopher's jacket - the fabric, the shape, the neckline. Perhaps a pencil skirt would have been a better idea? Poor Valerie - always the bridesmaid. While I love her work, I wasn't sure about this week's tying into the challenge. But I loved it anyway.

As for April, why is she still here? Her first week she didn't even sew. She turned a tuxedo jacket inside out and cut off the collar and sleeves - wow! This week she gave us triple layer panties with a quilted outer layer - very unflattering. I agree Kristen's dress was a disaster. She talked sensuality while she was making it, but where was it? Another fabric in another color, and I might have seen it. Bt this wasn't April's first visit to the bottom three and her ensemble looked a mess.

But then I've decided I have no idea what the judges are looking for. I guess I'm out there in left field with Tim!

The coat is gorgeous, obviously from another time, but classic. Alas, on my monitor it is more a fire engine red than magenta, but it is still lovely. And yes, magenta was a popular color at that time. My mother had a dress that color even thought it was not flattering with her coloring.

I worked at I. Magnin my first summer out of college. Their clothing was impeccable, and even the "budget" line was beautifully made - everything was lined, though not by hand as was the couture line.

Those without imagination need not waste their time looking at this coat and picturing with a gown fir for the opera. Those without grace need not offer an opinion. As my mother taught me, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Thank you for sharing the "inside story" of a beautifully made garment.

At last a win for someone besides Gretchen, or the Manipulative B as she's become known in our household (yes, my husband watches a lot of "House"). I have to wonder if it wasn't Gretchen's plan to get Sarah off the show by playing on her insecurity and having her change what could have been a delightfully playful little frock. I try not to dislike someone so actively, but Gretchen running around giving everyone critiques and telling them to clean up the workroom is a bit much. And I haven't seen anything award-winning in her work yet.

Andy (and Valerie) deserved the win. And kudos to Peach and April for helping him! We haven't seen this kind of teamwork very often,, but it's nice to see it is possible and it can pay off in the end.

Casanova should have gone home long ago. And I'm beginning to wonder about Michael Kors. He is getting soooo bitchy, and he actually liked the back of Casanova's dress? The language issue isn't fooling anyone any longer, and the viewers aren't finding him interesting, only exasperating. Of course, if Gretchen had won again I swore I wasn't watching any longer. My husband, who secretly watches in his office, said he wasn't either!

It's not last season. With the exception of Ping, there were so many talented designers who all wowed us right away. Every episode gave us such great designs, it was tough to see who would be in the bottom, and it got down to minute issues determining who would go home, and which great look would win. Not so this year, I'm afraid. Oh well, at least we don't have Diaper Man (Suede). But a Chris Marsh would be fun!

I too preferred the red dress over the drab black jumpsuit - does Gretchen work with color at all? I wasn't impressed impressed with her first win, either - a little bit of sparkle on an otherwise drab dress. I guess I'm just not judge material. Yes, the billboard was terrific, but that was the magic of photography and a great model, not a great design. Mondo's design was far superior to Gretchen's, and would have made a great billboard.
I was glad to see Jason finally go home - no real talent, and his obsession over his model's boobs last week was downright embarrassing. His insistence on safety pins and his poor construction (why must people work with such an unforgiving fabric as satin) and the belly button keyhole photo really did earn him the boot. I felt sorry for Nicholas, although I did think he stole Gretchen's idea.
I love Peach, if just because I'm a woman in my 50s, and I do hope she comes up with something a tad more creative than the Junior League ladies lunch dress soon! Perhaps if she stops wearing the Palm Beach golf course capris it will help to inspire her!
I do think Casanova has to go. The "I no speaka da English" is completely false. He absolutely understands what is being said, he's just doing what he wants and then playing ignorant if it doesn't go his way (I too am fluent in Spanish).

I too was outraged McKell was given the ax. I thought her blue dress was charming, and I appreciated Tim for at least affirming his original opinion when she was sent home. Casanova could easily have been sent home - his taste level is more than questionable. Also the young lady who turned a tuxedo jacket inside out, cut off the sleeves and lapel and didn't finish the edges - this is fashion? And takes five hours? Please! And of course Jason with the staples was inexcusable. I thought they had standards of sewing to adhere to?

Dear SewLady - Butterick makes a maternity top pattern, No. B4201, in sizes from 8-24. You can see it at:
http://butterick.mccall.com/b4201-products-1419.php?page_id=370
Simplicity has several patterns which can be seen at:
http://www.simplicity.com/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=maternity
You can also try eBay for older maternity sewing patterns. Good luck!

I was floored when Seth Aaron was declared the winner, just as I was floored when Mila won the "shoot-out" with Jay. While Mila's clothes are wearable, they are what Heidi would call a snooze (and I am talking as a 58-year-old woman). Jay at least had a forward-looking point of view. Seth Aaron's clothes were ultimately unwearable; Emilio's were classy, beautiful, and WEARABLE, for women of many ages. There were outfits I would wear, outfits my grown daughter would wear, outfits my teenage granddaughters loved. Calling his outfit "a line" instead of a collection was a real head-scratcher. Throughout the season Emilio turned out consistently high quality, beautifully crafted, wearable garments you wanted to wear. For the finale he showed off tailoring, something he didn't have a chance to do during the show. He proved himself the most all-around designer of the three. I'm very disappointed with the results of the show, but then again, I'm not surprised.

I LOVE mending. It gives me a chance to sit and relax, and think about the person whose clothes I'm mending. I'm at my daughter's house this week in Louisiana, and I've just finished mending two reusable shopping totes, a pair of my grandson's Cars underwear, a cami for my daughter, a pair of her slacks, and put buttons back of three of my son-in-law's shirts. I live in California, and only get to see them once a year, so this is a real blessing.
When I was a child in the 1950s, we never gave clothing to the thrift shop; we mended it. (Of course, clothing was made much better back then.) when it was too far gone to mend, we took off the buttons and zippers and put the fabric in the rag box. What fun I had making doll clothes (and clothes for the cat, I confess) with treasures from the rag box. The zippers and buttons were re-used, and I still have some of them in my collection, waiting to be used again.
I have my great-aunt's old sewing box, what appears to be an old chocolate box with a wooden lid, and my granny's sewing box, what looked like a treasure chest when I was younger. I just inherited my mother-in-law's, a toffee tin. I love using their needles and threads and old trims when I can, although I wonder how in the world they could thread some of those impossibly small needle eyes!
Mending is a connection back through time. I see them when I sit down, and I remember the wonderful crazy quilts I slept under, probably made with pieces from their own rag boxes. What a shame our world today is too busy to take a little time to slow down, and too disposable to save a bit of something and make into something special.