FriYAY...

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Friday is the reward for five days of alarm clocks, rolling out early and dealing with all the week brings our way.  On Friday evenings and no one has to guess twice about my whereabouts.  I'm happily situated in my sewing room, in here about to hyperventilate with all these pattern possibilities!  So whether sewing actually takes place or not this is the way I choose to end the work week.  It takes something rather drastic to make me do otherwise.

In the last episode of "Faye's Sewing Adventure" I was all excited about finishing up the "I've just got to have a cropped white jean jacket in my life" saga.  Well, the jacket is not finished yet because:

1.  I discovered that I needed to remove and rotate the sleeves;
2.  Low back strain aggravated my sciatica (or was it the other way around); and
3.  Hibernating carpel tunnel syndrome decided to show back up.

It was a rough week people that left little desire for sewing.  But after two chiropractic adjustments and a week to recuperate, I'm back in the sewing saddle again praise God.  The sleeves have been rotated, the cuffs are on, and there's only 3 things left to do on the Finish Line List. 
 

It's been a simple but fun project; and I think it's going to be the cutest little jacket.  I haven't even minded doing all the topstitching after setting up a separate machine with a double needle.  So I'm off to do my weekend work.  See you soon with a finished project...

OPPORTINITIES TO COLLECT WARM FUZZIES...

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I'll be joining forces with Rachelle of Smoking Needles blog  in one of her Church Outreach Ministry projects.  They have set a goal to make and send 500 scarves to the women in a Ugandan village as gifts. The project production end date has been set for August 31st.  The finished measurements of the scarves need to be 21 x 21 inches, large enough to be worn as head scarves or neckerchiefs.  Guess I need to get busy finishing up my jean jacket, put a new blade in my rotary cutter and get some production started.  This ought to be a good way to bust some stash - wouldn't you say??? Giving always leaves me with such WARM FUZZIES.  If you'd like to join in, for more information on this project please refer to Rachelle's blog.

Last July I participated in Simple Simon and Company's SKIRTING THE ISSUE PROJECT.  That project gathers lovely handmade skirts that are donated to school aged foster children from your own state.  It only took a little bit of my time to fashion up 2 cute little skirts that I'm sure 2 little girls enjoyed wearing to school.  I busted a little stash, and it left me with a warm fuzzy feeling so it was a win win situation.  They are shooting for 1,000 skirts this year.  I think I'll join in again this year as well...

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW...

...what type of sewing frenzy I might end up on.  During the past two years I planned to, but did not end up make any summer jackets.  This summer I've already made two - blogged about (here) and (here).  Now I'm planning my third one of the season

Butterick 5616, view B

Over the past few years I have learned a whole lot about jacket and coat making. I do know, however;  that I still have even more to learn about fitting and construction.  Every jacket project teaches me more and more.  Just in time for my next project I found that Gentleman Jim has just released his Tailored Jacket Construction Shortcuts Course. 

I found out about the course through his Facebook Page (just type in Gentleman Jim and look for his June 24th post if interested.

I couldn't wait to peruse his PowerPoint presentation, PDF and watch the video clips.  I found an awful lot of value for the cost, and gathered some very helpful information in my first viewing.  I will be using some of his techniques and tips in the construction of my upcoming project even though it's not a tailored jacket. Of course I'll be letting you know about my new jacket progress...

INTENSE YET A WHOLE LOT OF FUN...

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I had some intense moments while participating in Michelle of ThatBlackChic's Blazer Sew-a-Long this week.  It was not for the faint of heart by any means.  When I first heard mention of the sewalong I already had the Simplicity pattern in stash.  Fell in love with it hot off the press and really wanted to make it.   But... had it not been for the sewalong, maybe I would have never gotten around to it.

Mmmmm, so what do I have to say about this week long event?

• I learned some interesting techniques, really I did.  I had never really used bias tape successfully to trim a project.  Really was bit intimidated by it.  How to sew it on securely, and how to neatly apply the ends, and how to MITER those corners.  After this project I feel like I'm a bias trim pro!
• LOVE the way the collar is attached to the jacket.  Effortless after applying the bias trim.
• I can't ever remember making coat/jacket with a sleeve vent.  This was the part that I really feared.  I now have that fully under my belt.
• I've worked with several projects that involved a two piece sleeve before.  I have to admit setting the sleeves in this jacket did test my patience.
• Michelle is an EXCELLENT instructor.  I'm looking forward to her next sew-a-long!

Of course I thought I had to add some couture/tailoring techniques to the project:  (in hindsight wish I hadn't - they just take too much time and effort.  But for some reason I just can't make my self stop doing these things). 

• Used hongkong seam finishes everywhere including the shoulder and sleeve seams.
• Stabilized the shoulder seams.
• Added a back hem vent.

I am very pleased with my finished project.

Thanks to all that cheered me on and listened to me bellyache during this jacket making process.  I know you  cringe  every time I announce "I'm about to make a jacket."  You are my friends, my support team don't run and hid - continue to hang in there with me - there will be other jackets!!!!

HAPPY...

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Happy Friday everbody.

 

I'm still in hot pursuit of finishing my Simplicity 1421 blazer.  I did complete the very scary (to me) sleeve vents.  They turned out not be too hard after all.

The "That Black Chic" Blazer Sewalong" officially ends today; but due to sewing machine problems yesterday I was thrown behind just a bit.  But, with all indications of today's work I'll probably finish up tonight or early tomorrow.

Hope your Fri was all YAY!!!

MYSTERY PICTURE...

...CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS IS??????

DIARY OF A WHINY TAILORIST...

...If I love making jackets and coats so much, why oh why do I whine through the entire process.  And you know that my poor Mother is the main recipient of all my whimpering.

• who ever coined the phrase "Rippin Ain't Easy" did not lie.

• I spent quite a bit of time un-stitching top stitched seams yesterday after I discovered it just wasn't going to work.   Every seam puckered due to top stitching - and I actually thought that I could press them smooth, but nope - that didn't work.   I think it was due to the the amount of stretch in this fabric.

• I applied hong kong finish to the majority of  seams.  After I was finished I thought "if I hadn't already done all of this work - I'd stick a lining in this puppy and call it a day"!  Alas, I am very pleased with the end results.
• Managed to match the vertical strips with on pockets.
• and I'm quite pleased with my interfaced back hem.

• I jumped the gun with the collar construction.  Trimmed it for turn of cloth and pad stitched as per my usual before reading the pattern instructions or watching Day 2 of the That Black Chic video.  Serves me right!, had to cut a new under collar - cause construction for this collar is totally different from regular traditional methods.
• I was a little intimidated by the bias trim process, but guess what??? with the help of an exceptional instructor got it right on the very first try!!!

Well tomorrow is another day.  Stay tuned for continued progress...

RING, RING - TELEPHONE CALL RECEIVED LAST NIGHT...

...FABULOUS

HaHaHa! She's here ya'll!  Let's all turn up!

 Just kidding.  About the only thing I'll be turning up on is this Simplicity 1421 pattern..

  Since the sew-a-long start's on Sunday, I thought I'd go ahead and get all the million pattern pieces separated.  There's a million because the pattern is sized to fit different cup sizes, which is a good thing, but creates more work for me. -  Oh well.

Needed to separate this thing out so as not to confuse myself.

Since it's FABULOUS FRIDAY, my plan is to make a quick (oxymoron because nothing is evah quick) and dirty muslin to check for fit issues before the actual sew-a-long begins.

In the meantime, HAPPY FABULOUS FRIDAY!!!

IT'S A SHAME...

...I know it isn't Saturday, (usual day for cutting table status pictures) but I thought I'd better take control and stop clutter in it's tracks NOW.  IT'S A SHAME, but posting these status pictures help keep me out of the dark hole of sewing room clutter.  Hey; what ever it takes...

This afternoon (Before)

(After)  Only took ten minutes to clear. Time well spent.

 

McCall's 6751 used for the third time this season.  This time for my supervisor's birthday. This is turning out to be a great summer time easy breezy top.

 

 

What's going on in your Sewing Life???

WHOOT WHOOT...

...I've decided to join Michele's (ThatBlackChic) Blazer Sewalong:

• I haven't made a structured Summer jacket in quite some time. 
• Aside from the fact that we had temperatures of 100+ degrees (record set in the 1940's) here today - I still need a jacket at work.  Oh Dear God I do so thank you for air conditioning (although it's almost painful at times)!
• Even if I don't wear the blazer a lot this Summer, it will work just as well for Fall.
• Since I haven't promoted a sew-a-long myself in a while, I think it'll be fun to join in on someone elses.
• I figure it's time that I learn something new - which I'm sure I will with this blazer. (The cuffs in the picture are scaring me a little bit already.)
• I was so inspired following her (and all the other ladies) during the Pretty Girls Sew Rippin Ain't Easy (RIP) Challenge all those weeks. 

 So I'm in the process of gathering up all my supplies and making a fabric choice because the sew-a-long starts on Sunday, June 21st.  Here's hoping that my blazer will be F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!!
 

NO MORE YARDAGE SURPRISES FOR ME...

...has this ever happened to you?

The yardage you thought you had turns out to be only a remnant

I went stash diving recently and discovered this nice animal/floral print challis that I thought would  make a nice flowy summer top.    But then surprise,  turns out that it's only a nice sized remnant - I can't even remember when I cut it.  How many times has this happened? - far too many! 
 
I was talking with Rochelle (Smoking Needles) last weekend and she mentioned that she got this nifty remnant control method from Sheila (Sheila CTK ).

Roll/fold nice sized pieces of  left over fabrics (that are too large to throw away) and secure with a rubber band.  When you pick up one of these bundles later, you'll automatically know it's a remnant that's already been cut into - simple but genius.  I knew that box of rubber bands would come in handy one day.

A great idea that traveled from New York to Michigan to Georgia -What state will it travel to next???