More patterns

Dos de Tejas (literally, two from Texas) is one of several mother-and-son pattern companies. Here's their terrific Tresillo skirt. The Spectrum Dress is nice, too, and so's the Texas Two Step shirt that has a freestanding back yoke -- almost like a short cape -- which offers a wonderful chance for embellishment.


And then there's the Park Bench Pattern Company, which offers wonderful "trunk shows" and where the designer brings actual sample clothes for you to try on right in her booth before you buy her patterns. I'm particularly fond of the Williamsburg, the Woodstock skirt (all straight seams lead to a FABulous swingy long skirt), the Chesapeake Bay jacket, Golden Gate Park, and the wonderful Santa Fe jacket -- stunning in red velvet with dark trim. The designer builds her clothes for real people, not just for those who are tall and slender. -- Rachel Holmen

La Fred, a terrific designer of women's clothing

La Fred (a woman named Fred Bloebaum) lives here in Oakland, and I was lucky enough some years ago to run into her stunning "Athena blouse" pattern at Stone Mountain and Daughter fabric. The Athena blouse has a square armhole, which gives an interesting detail to the blouse. Other patterns I've liked are the Thalia pants and the Cassandra skirt. Her website is www.lafred.com.

-- Rachel Holmen