Dear Fabric,

although I didn't see it at first, you and I were wrong for each other. Maybe I did see it, but didn't want to admit it to myself. You were so handsome. That's all I saw. But once I got to know you better, I realized you were thin and transparent. Really thin and transparent. You just did not have the substance I was looking for. Sensing my nascent misgivings, I should have sent you back where you came from, but I did not. I foolishly keep up the charade. I thought I could change you. Make you into something you were not. I lashed out at you. With my scissors. Please forgive me. I'm sorry I hurt you.

Unfinished business

I am a monogamous sewer. I cannot have more than one project going at a time. It drives me crazy. I had cut out an extra t-shirt (Burda 3197) and a skirt when I had the patterns out a couple of weeks ago (which I usually never do), so I had to whip them up before I could move on with "The Smoking Jacket". Here's the t-shirt:

It reminds me, I've been thinking about painting my dining room.

Back to "The Smoking Jacket". Sometimes I just can't get started on a project, or I feel ambivalent about the outcome of a project after I start it and I get kind of stuck in the mud. That's how "The Smoking Jacket" is going right now. I have reservations about the fabric & I haven't purchased the contrast or lining yet either. The fabric's been hanging out on the cutting table for 3 days. We've been eyeing each other up. I should just take the scissors to it. I know I've just got to just get on with it because I can't do anything else until its out of the way, one way or the other, and I can move on. 

The tandem buttonhole


The Irene Lentz suit I got the buttonhole idea from for the jacket I just made.  From http://www.coutureallure.com/ It was sold, but there's lots of other lovely stuff left! I could spend all day looking.



The Buttonhole Gods were smiling.

I just love this pattern. Vogue 8654. Its hard to descibe how beautifully this jacket hangs on the shoulders and feels on the body. Its almost like a trapeze cut. I made the first one about a year and a half ago and I'm surprised I waited that long to revisit this pattern. Its easy and quick to make. Like all Vogue patterns described as "loose fitting" it has a ton of ease, so I cut a much smaller size than the chart would indicate, then did a FBA. Other than that, its right out of the envelope. You do have to be careful cutting this out because the 2 fronts and 2 front facings are 4 different pieces. Its pretty heavy home-dec cotton, maybe from Ikea.I made this whole jacket the other day when I was home sick and under the influence of cold medication. I had seen this detail on a vintage coat and decided it would look great on this coat. A two- button- bound- buttonhole thats-closed-in-the-middle. I am really happy how this little detail turned out.  

This is the first jacket I made with this pattern:

Its 100% silk I got from Fabric.com. I remember it took longer to lay it out and cut it than it did to sew it. Its cut entirely on the crosswise grain and there was nothing left over. Its got some wicked matching.

 I think there'll be a number three.

New fabric!

I watch a lot of old movies on TCM. Of course the ladies really knew how to dress, but lately "Somebody" and I have taken an interest in men's smoking jackets. So I promised him one for his birthday. Last month. I did have the pattern by then, but it took a bit of looking to find the right fabric at the right price. I found this at http://www.fabric.com/. Its a little lighter than I anticipated so I think I'll have to line it.

Naturally, I wanted to qualify for free shipping so I got this for me:

Three pieces of crepe in three colorways, a bizarre linen print and some black stretch denim.

Too bad I have other things I've got to finish before I can indulge in these.

No room for sewing today

But I did make this necklace:

And....I'm expecting a package from a certain e-monger of fabrics by the end of the day.

Nice Schmatta!

This is not the kind of pattern I would normally buy. I think I was looking for a "fabric eater" and I am a sucker for an uneven hemline on a top, so I gave it a chance. Its Butterick 5652. I don't think its awful, but there are only two places I would wear this: the house and the backyard. Oh wait, three : the hospital!!

However, the pattern was still hungry for more fabric. I didn't like the v-neck so I eliminated the center front seam and gave it a round neckline. It looks pretty much like a tent from the side, so I did an FBA (for shape, not to make it bigger) then trimmed the side seams by the amount the dart added. (didn't help):

I feel like I should be playing mah jong & drinking in the afternoon when I wear it. I might go in the front yard in this one, but only if my house was on fire.