In Sewing News Today...

Just off a big project and tidying up the sewing area. There are a few things that I need to tackle before I think about my next project.

First up, hemming a pair of pants for Papa R. Even Mama R thinks that these will have to be re-hemmed down the road since Papa R is notorious for his lack of patience when it comes to the fitting process.

I believe that in the Portuguese culture bad sewing karma will fall upon your sewing machine if you tell your kin-folk to take their alterations to the tailor. But I have to tell you it is a secret fantasy of mine. I much rather sew something from scratch than mend or alter.

That said, I really can not procraftinate any longer. This weekend will be devoted to all those mending and alteration projects that I just need to get done.  

What is on your sewing table?

Happy Sewing!

New Spring Coat: Burda 7304

Stash Busting 2013:  Project #22

Fabric Used:                  3.2 metres 100% polyester fabric

Pattern Used:               Burda Style 7304

Seam Binding Used:  15 packages of seam binding.

Buttons:                         Six

*****

“The great doilies are stories in crochet, with a beginning, character development, and plot twists, periods of conflict, growth, and redemption. And the best of them have slam-bang endings.” 
~Doris Chan~

This project certainly had its challenges. I don't know where to begin.  

1.  The Fabric!  

I believe that I actually gasped when I first spotted this bolt of fabric in the home decor department. It is a 100% polyester, not the kind of fabric I usually fall head over heels over, rather it was the texture and print that won me over. I fell for the doilies that graced the surface of this fabric.  

This fabric proved to be a challenge to press and finish. Oh my goodness, did it ever fray! I finished all the seams with a bound seam finish. I didn't make my own bias tape. I cheated and picked up several more than several packages of pre-made seam binding.

I went against Burda's advice to use a fulled fabric.

Fulled fabric is a kind of felted wool, the surface of the wool is slightly felted so that the right side looks the same as the wrong side. The quality is smooth, but sturdy, and has a perfect wearing ease. You usually sew jackets from it without lining, which are perfect for autumn and any transitional season. Due to its property, edges need not be neatened, the fabric does not fray and is comparable with fleece.

Garments sewn from fulled fabrics have got volume and stability, and look nice from both sides.

Do I love my fabric? Absolutely! But next time if I reuse this pattern, I will look for a fabric that is suggested by Burda.

2.  Bound Seams!
I love the look of this coat from the inside. All the seam edges are finished with bound seams, it was a lot of work though. This coat would have been pieced together a lot quicker if I serged all the edges. Despite the time-consuming work, I'm glad I bound those fraying seams.

3.  Pressing!
Everyone who sews knows that pressing is one of the most important steps to creating a well-made garment. Sew I won't go on about this step other than thank goodness for my tailor's and sleeve hams.

Despite all the challenges this fabric and project provided, it will go down with one of the most rewarding.

Happy Sewing!

Reasons Why I Sew: Reason # 7

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My name is Graca and I am fabricholic.  Today is my twenty-fifth day without adding to my fabric stash.

Some days are tough. I am presently tempted by this gorgeous fabric over at Gertie's etsy shop. And don't even get me started on all the beautiful fabrics found over at Marcy Tilton.

I shouldn't even be looking because I have one serious fabric stash. Some pieces have been in my stash for decades! Others have been gifted.  

I might be in need of an intervention? And needless to say, it is another reason why I sew.  

Happy Sewing!

QUICK! Someone pour me a drink...

I need to celebrate that Burda 7304 is almost finished. Yup, that is the excuse that I'll stick to...

I'm at the button hole stage of this project. I have one of those fancy-smancy Janome sewing machines with an automatic buttonholer. I found this video over on YouTube that shows a buttonholer just like the one on my machine. Don't be jealous.  

You see in theory it is the cat's meow. But my admiration for this automatic button hole feature hit a snag today when the perfect buttons would not fit in the button hole foot slot.

"Seriously?" I thought to myself thinking back to all the struggles that I have endured these past few weeks while making this coat.

I wasn't going to let this stop me. But then I realized that I live in a small prairie city and where would I take this to get button holes made. Gawd, I miss living in a large urban centre at times like this. The next option was to hunt through the button stash to see if I can find another large button but just slightly smaller than the perfect buttons that would not fit in my button hole foot.

Long story short... I found one. And this seems to work at making a button hole that I can squeeze the perfect button through. Although sewing will have to wait until tomorrow. Right now, I have to celebrate that it is almost finished.

Happy Sewing!

Progress on Burda 7304

It has been a week since I sat down to work on the coat. I've been busy fighting a cold, still.

But this weekend I was back at it. Let's see, I've finally finished the sleeves and cuff feature. Along the way I finished off a few more package of bias tape.

Under collar

The only part of the coat that does not have bound seams is the inside of the collar.
Both the upper and under collar have pinked edges.  

Right now I'm finishing the outer edge. Burda suggest using a fulled fabric for this garment. Life would have been so much easier if I listened to this piece of advice.  

Fulled fabric, according to Burda, is a like a felted wool that does not fray. This is not the kind of fabric I chose, so I'm finishing off these edges with more bias tape.

I think it just might be safe to say that I spent more money on bias tape than I have on the fabric.

There is much more work to do but I think it is time to call it a night and make a cup of tea.

Happy Sewing!

Loathsome or Lustful? Leggings

In this weekend's Globe and Mail Russell Smith answers a question from a reader:

Is it true that men in the big cities are starting to wear tights and leggings? If so, is there anything we can do to stop them?

Everyone is a critic lately. I really don't find the look all that shocking, to me it just looks like another reincarnation of a skinny jean.  

Apparently, there are several terms used to describe this fashion trend. Meggings, aka man leggings, are described to be made of a thicker fabric and footless. They are meant to be worn out in public.

Here in Canada we call this footless tight-fitting knit fabric garment by a more manly-man term, long-johns.

It was only a matter of time that these traditionally unseen fashion staple were repackaged for an outer appearance. Seriously, is it really a surprise considering that pajama bottoms, sweat pants and yoga pants have become part of our Canadian suburban landscape in recent years?

I think not.

Would I want my dream man to wear a pair of these? To be completely honest, he could wear whatever he wants as long as he irons. (I'm not as picky as I was in my youth.)

I wouldn't even blink if he wore mantyhose.

As long as he helps out with ironing, he can wear whatever he likes.

I just have one question, if a man wears mantyhose, do you think he should shave his legs?

Happy Sewing!

Stash Busting...

Pattern Review is hosting another Fabric Stash Contest. According to the contest rules the goal is to reduce your fabric that has been part of your stash for more than six months.

Boy, do I ever have a fabric stash that fits that criteria!

Since I've failed at that not-buying-any-fabric resolution earlier this year, I should give this a try.

Happy Sewing!