Unfortunately, even though I am a big Bernina fan, I will not be able to participate in this contest. I closed my Facebook account due to privacy concerns. This contest excludes all those who do not have Facebook accounts. I have a feeling I am not the only Threads reader without a Facebook account....oh well.

I too have agreed with the judging thus far. I loved Austin's dress. It was beautiful.

His work is absolutely beautiful. I would love to win a copy of this book!

Couture construction AND the article about designer Charles James.

Mondo rocks!!

This tutorial is excellent. Thank you Susan!

I predicted this outcome a long time ago based on how the judges bent the rules all along so that she could stay on the show. Unfortunately, I was right. :(

I went to this exhibit and the garments were spectacular. The shoes were "out there" but they were also works of art.

I sincerely doubt, in fact, I just don't believe that Anya learned how to sew just 4 months ago. If you go to the below link (toward the end of my post), her Project Runway home visit, you will see toward the end that she says her creative space is where she designs, drapes and has client fittings. You will see tons of patterns hanging on the wall. 4 months? I don't think so!

In one of the first episodes, they show her not knowing how to even thread an industrial machine but in the home visit, she is sewing on one with no problem! Then there was the episode where she made the pants where she said they were the first pants she ever made. But in the home clip, she was working on a pair of pants!

So I don't know what is going on here. Are the producers up to something? Or is she deliberately misrepresenting herself so that people can be impressed by how fast she "learns"?

I was annoyed by her garment last night. While I did like it, I feel it was more a collaberative effort by a group of designers and she should not have taken all the credit for it. It was Anthony who came up with the idea of dyeing the fabric, and then several other designers helped her sew and fit it.

People who misrepresent themselves and take credit for other people's work drive me crazy. I believe it shows a lack of integrity but maybe that's just me. Does integrity matter anymore? Lack of integrity seems to be OK on this show thus far. Google "Pilar by Anya" and you will see that she has an established clothing line. As far as who were her teachers, she got her Bachelors of Arts from Parsons.

Cut and paste the below link into your browser to see what I am talking about.

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/video/home-visits/season-9/episode-1/anya-ayoung-chees-home-visit

Anya is not a novice sewer! If you see her Project Runway home visit on Lifetime.com, you will see her saying that in her sewing room, she sketches, drapes, sews and has client fittings. On PR, you see her struggling to thread the industrial sewing machine but in her home clip, she has no problem sewing with one! On PR, she said that those pants were the first ones she ever made, but on the home clip, you see her working on a pair of pants!

If the link is not "live," I believe you can copy and paste the below into your browser and get to the video clip of the home visit.

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/video/home-visits/season-9/episode-1/anya-ayoung-chees-home-visit

Christian Siriano - he was one of the winners of Project Runway and from what I can tell, has been very successful. He has shown several times in NY Fashion Week and his designs have received very positive reviews in WWD.

Some more suggestions:
Jason Wu - he created Michelle Obama's gown for the Inaugural ball.

Some more suggestions:
Jason Wu - he created Michelle Obama's gown for the Inaugural ball.

I disagree that very few American designers do not sew. And by the way, Vera Wang is an American designer based in New York City. She was born and raised in the US.

While there may very well be American designers who do not sew, there are also those who do.

The show Project Runway is all about designers competing to establish their own fashion line and in the competition they sew all of their own garments. Thus far, there have been 8 seasons of Project Runway with mostly American designers who sew - where did they all come from?

The design schools in the US have sewing as a requirement in their curriculum. I know because I attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City at night.

I believe people may get the impression that American designers don't sew because once a designer becomes successful in the mass market, they no longer sew. They must then run a business. They still are very much involved with the designs on a conceptual / visual level, but then they must hire patternmakers and technical designers and send their designs out to factories for production. This is necessary because they receive orders for thousands of garments and it is no longer practical for them to sew and they no longer have the time. I also know this because I work for a major women's apparel retailer based in the US.

How about Isabel Toledo - I saw an exhibit of her work at FIT and I know for sure that she sews. She is truly a talented and masterful designer.

Elie Tahari? However, I don't know whether he sews. But his clothing line is very beautiful and high quality.

Narciso Rodriguez - He is known for his minimalist designs.

When you have a garment made up in an article or in the Pattern Review section, can you say what type of fabric you used please.

Please continue your historical/educational articles on designers (like you did about Valentina, Ralph Rucci)...how about Balenciaga?

Please continue your articles on couture techniques - more please!!!

Please provide more info regarding altering armholes and sleeves.

PLEASE do articles regarding fitting on larger than a D cup. I am a 30GG with narrow shoulders and have a terrible time with fit.

I admire and appreciate the workmanship and attention to detail. But like some other posters, I do not like the style. It makes the wearer look frumpy and is not flattering to her at all. (Just my opinion.)

I pre-ordered this Sew Stylish Spring 2010 issue but have not yet received it even though I see the issues at my local newstands/stores. I thought the advantage of pre-ordering was that you would get the magazine before it hit the newstands. Well, next time I will just get it at the newstand! LOL