October 21, 2010

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR A POST...

When I was growing up a phrase that I often heard was - "I feel like I've been run through the mill". Don't know if you've every heard that one, but what it means is "I've had a hard time or have been through something very trying". My Lady Gray coat has "run me through the mill"; most of it being totally mental.

My last post ended with me basting sew-in interfacing to my jacket front, trying to get to the part where I pad stitched the lapel area of the coat. Before I finished stitching one section of the coat front I decided that this was not going to work for me because try as I might, my stitching showed through the right side of the fabric. After removing those stitches I decided to go ahead and use fusible interfacing instead. Mind you, by this time I've pre-shrunk two different types of interfacing at two separate times. After carefully fusing one of the front sections I noticed that even though I had used a shoe on the iron and a pressing cloth I ended up with iron prints on the right side of the fabric. Thank goodness the pattern called for an excessive amount yardage; I had enough of it left over to cut another single front section.

After much contemplation I decided to fuse the interfacing to a batise (sheer mist) underlining and then attach that to each pattern section. This did add some body to my light weight wool flannel shell fabric, which is a good thing. Of course, decided to try my hand at bound buttonholes. Figured I might as well seeing that I'd already been "run through the mill" with this thing. So last night and tonight I practiced making Spanish Snap (Roberta Carr's Couture Sewing DVD), and window pane bound buttonholes, (Marta Alto's Jackets for Real People - Tailoring Made Easy DVD). Had to remind myself NOT TO FRET, because these were only for practice, and if it didn't work out - I could always use a regular old buttonhole.

The practice sessions went pretty good. I really liked both types but decided to go with the bound buttonhole. Here are pictures of both.

First the Spanish Snap:
and the the Window Pane Bound:



and finally the one I installed on the coat front:

The coat will have two buttonholes, but one is concealed and a regular buttonhole will do just fine there. Wow! I really never thought I would even attempt bound buttonholes. I guess I should never say never, because this really wasn't that hard at all. I'm already far behind the sew along schedule so giving up two nights for practice didn't slow the pace any more. I really thought I'd get to tape the lapel roll line and start pad stitching the lapel tonight, but that didn't happen ( I'll start pad stitching tomorrow night). I'll be using the Roberta Carr DVD to help me with the pad stitching. I'm so very glad that I had these resources in my library in addition to my books (which I've about worn the pages out of). Now that I've completed the buttonholes I can really understand why they are put in so early in the construction process.

MORAL: I'm glad I stretched and learned something new.....

28 comments:

  1. This coat is going to be awesome! I can't wait.

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  2. Faye, those buttonholes look great. I can't wait to see your finised coat. I so wish that I had the time to enter. Having the pattern & fabric in my hand is a start. Maybe I'll give it a go. Keep at it you're doing great.

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  3. Anonymous10/21/2010

    Well done, the buttonhole looks great. :) Sometimes the thought of doing something is more intimidating than the actual doing.

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  4. Those are some professional looking bound buttonholes:) It's indeed fun to try something new and get great results. Have fun with you pad stitching:)

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  5. That's a wonderful job! It's always good to practice and expands skills. Congratulate yourself and have a little wine or chocolate, or both and hug your amazing self!

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  6. Great job with the buttonholes Faye! The good thing about being "run through the mill" is you eventually come out on the other side :) Hang in there.

    P.S. the word verifaction is baste. so fitting don't you think?

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  7. I'm so impressed with your buttons! I can't wait to see your progress. I am still far far behind with little time to sew.

    T

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  8. Look at you with that fancy bound buttonhole!! I'm way impressed!!

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  9. Congratulations - your bound buttonholes are beautiful!

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  10. Great button holes. I haven't made bound ones in years!
    thanks for stopping by with encouraging words on my recent post.

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  11. Anonymous10/21/2010

    Your buttonholes look great. I've never heard of the Spanish Snap - love it. Was it easier than the bound buttonhole?

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  12. The buttonholes look great and I can't wait to see your finished coat!

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  13. Your coat is going to look so good! The buttonholes look great!

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  14. Your buttonhole is perfect. This coat is going to be gorgeous when it's done. Remember when you said you wanted to add colour to your wardrobe? What a wonderful way to do it!

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  15. The "Spanish snap"! You crack me up. Those buttonholes look perfect.

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  16. Hang in there. The button holes are very cool.

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  18. Faye, You're such a courageous sewist and with those wonderful resources and your expertise...you can't lose. Keep it going and can't wait to see the finished product.

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  19. Faye, You're such a courageous sewist and with those wonderful resources and your expertise...you can't lose. Keep it going and can't wait to see the finished product.

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  21. Faye sorry but I don't know how to stop the duplicates of my comments. Please all, disregard.

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  22. Anonymous10/25/2010

    Hey Faye, congratulations for cutting, and your buttonholes look great. Not to mention your fabric!

    Sorry your sew-in didn't work, mine is working well. But I have a heathered tweed as a fabric, good for concealing stitches. I'm pleased so far. You are ahead of me on the sewing though, I'm just about to start padstitching tomorrow.

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  23. OOOOO ! Those look really good.Keep going.You are getting it done. I can't wait to see the coat.

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  24. Wow! I am impressed that you've learned a new buttonhole, and especially for something as important as this. Your purple coat is going to be beautiful.

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  25. Wow, your buttonhole looks fantastic! Hehe... I need to do a couple of practice ones, too, before I actually work on mine. I'm still basting my front sides. For the basting, you really have to only catch a couple of strands in back of the wool or it totally shows through. That's why it's taken me so long to do it...

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  26. Those buttonholes are works of art...!

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  27. Oh Faye, your buttonholes look awesome...thanks for posting!!

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  28. many, many congratulations! join the bb club! making bound buttohholes is one of the most rewarding challenges. they are difficult but attainable, and so very beautiful!

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THANKS FOR LOOKING IN. YOUR COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED!!!

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