RTW techniques

Summer isn’t entirely over. But there seem to be a trend in sewing blogsphere at the moment for starting Autumn projects. My next project will also be a Autumn garment – a classic trench.

But I’m not trying to be trendy! Not at all. It’s because my only trench – a TopShop RTW number – is beyond putting up with. The hems are all fraying, the lining falling apart, mysterious stains refusing to come out. Nope, my hands’ been forced. And if I don’t start now I won’t have one in time for Autumn.

I was going to wait until my new replacement is made before retiring this RTW one. But I got curious about the innards of the RTW version and whether there are tips I can incorporate into my own make. So the RTW has been sacrificed to the gods of sewing geeks & dissected to bits.

I know not everyone’s a fan of RTW techniques – “RTW” sometimes being deemed synonymous with cutting corners. But I reckon this will at least show what is important, the bare minimum required. If even cost conscious manufacturers do it, surely we should achieve at least the same standard if not better. FYI this one was around the £100 price point.

Be warned, below are lots of (15) photos of the interesting bits…