INQUIRING MINES WOULD LIKE TO KNOW...

...many of us subscribe or purchase Vogue Pattern magazine.

On the cover of each and every issue is a "Free Pattern Offer".  I've never taken advantage of the offer.  Do you???

CIAO BELLA...

... if McCall's 6844 was not named 2014 pattern of the year - it certainly should have been.  I loved this pattern from the very first time I laid eyes on it.  I talked about ladies crowding me at the pattern cabinet while trying to get to it (here).  I was so serious about adding it to my collection that I was ready to fight for it if necessary.  So glad that I didn't have to fight for it; I would hate to get banned from Hancock Fabrics.  The pattern is so versatile offering four view ((but what would I know about all that versatility - I can't seem to move past View C.  The pattern has been well used - this  being my 5th - LOVE IT!!!)

Here it is being modeled by my friend Dawn - must say she styled it perfectly.

So if you have yet to try McCall's 6844 you might want to give it a whirl.  I am almost sure there are a few more of them lurking in my future...

TEST DRIVING MY COAT...

...38 degrees and rainy in Georgia this morning and a perfect day for a coat test drive.  So I did just that

The coat fit well and kept me warm even as temperatures continued to drop on this misty Monday. I also wore my black knit Vogue 8939 dress made Fall of 2013 - still love this dress.  Mmmmm, I'm contemplating declaring this The Week of the Dress, we'll see...

2014 WINTER COAT PROJECT - COMPLETED...

...how in the world can it be January 11th already???, anyway moving on (just like the month is doing).  First, I'd like to recognize my cheering squad - the people who constantly give me votes of confidence after I've committed myself to a long drawn out project such as this tailored coat.  When they comment I can visualize them, pom poms in hand on the sidelines, telling me "you can do it Faye"!  At times I don't think I can make it through to completion without their help!

Here's my full length black coat - made because I finally figured out that this fashionista's wardrobe wasn't complete without one.    No more having to wearing a red coat with my masala knit dress on a cold day.  (ha ha.  Yes, I did do that.)  I fell two days short of having the coat finished in time for our Georgia freeze last week (Thursday's morning temperature was 19 and Friday arrived at 20 degrees).   But, alas, I'm sure weI'll have a few more cold days this winter.

I don't think I moaned-cried-and complained during this project as much as I have done on other long term projects - I'll have to ask my Mother about that.  I do not like projects that take a long time to finish.  Will I undertake another lengthy project-  YES I'M SURE I WILL.  I guess I'm just a person who enjoys self inflicted punishment (ha ha).  Now I get to move on with my sewing life - there's so many things I want to make.  Thanks ya'll for reading my humble blog...

WINTER COAT PROJECT CONTINUES...

...Oh Lord help the seamstress finish the project! AMEN! So ready for this to be completed!!! So I can move on with my sewing life. 

Heavily involved in top stitching today. I've had to pull out the big guns (Singer Model 5830C) heavy duty with a heavy duty needle to get through all this thickness.  Wheew!, it's been quite a job dealing with all this bulk.  I've still got to do the 5 buttonholes and sew on the buttons. Hopefully will finish TODAY!

WORK WEAR...

... first work day of the year - can we start Christmas back over again?  Just kidding!
As planned I wore my new poncho today and it kept me warm and toasty.  Wrapping oneself in 3 yards of wool is a sure fire way to ward off the cold.   

WINTER COAT CONSTRUCTION RESUMES...

...pin city - What more can I say???

I used an unbelievable number of pins to secure the front facing and lining to my coat.  All the layers together have created so much thickness in some areas that I'm thinking about switching to one of my heavy duty metal machines to get through it.  It seems that I'm moving at a turtle's pace in knocking down this construction list, but only 4 more items to complete:
.  interface hem areas
.  hem
.  make buttonholes
.  attach buttons
I have to call it's quits for today as I have to start preparing to return to work tomorrow.  I'll keep plugging away on my project throughout the week.  It's going to be a real coat one day soon...

GET OUT OF MY HEAD...

...ohm-goodness!  Is it just me, or do you too find it hard to coral all the sewing ideas in your head?   I have had so much fun over Christmas break; glorious days off - but it resulted in way too many ideas floating in my head - I need air traffic control!  In an effort to remedy of the situation, I acted out of my norm and broke my #1 Sewing Rule:  Finish a project before starting another.  Truthfully, I am really good about upholding this self inflicted rule.  But I set my 2014 Winter Coat Project aside (for just a minute) to give myself some relief from flying objects ideas.  Can't ever remember even wanting a poncho, but after being inspired by TheTellTaleTasha's Olivia Pope-ish rendition I just had to have one to GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD and into reality.

I'm calling this my Rustic Poncho, it's from McCall's 6209 - I made View A.

A quick make, most of it completed while I enjoyed a nice talk with my Brother last night.  I'm in love!  Can't wait to wear it with my cowgirl boots and jeans as my first day back at work outfit next week...

HELLO 2015...

...

2014 WINTER COAT UPDATE...

... it's beginning to look more and more like an actual coat, especially since I've got the sleeves in.  After a slight snafu in trying to substitute a two piece sleeve (oh, how glad I am that I had residual fabric) I decided to proceed with the original one piece sleeve.  You will notice a caving at the upper back sections, but I am positive that this will be corrected with the insertion of shoulder pads.  I lightened the pictures so the completely (lintified) black coat would be more visible in the pictures.

Indentation at the lower back of the coat spreads out correctly after my hips and butt are inserted into the coat (lol).

I'm happy thus far, but will of course arrive at a point of utter over-joyment when the project is finally completed.  In an effort to see light at the end of this outer wear tunnel, I've updated my finish line list as follows:
.  install sleeve headers and purchased shoulder pads
.  install bias cut horsehair canvas in sleeve and lower hem areas
.  install front facing
.  make and insert lining
.  hem
.  make button holes (which, by the way, will not be bound but rather double stitched machine worked)
.  sew on buttons

Note:  I'm always confused as to using the word "installed" when referring to a sewing application.  Should I say install or insert???

I am trying to complete this project ahead of the next cold snap which I know cannot be too far off even though we've had temps in the mid 60's this week.  So keep cheering for me Mom and my other support team members I'm trying hard to get to the finish line before you all tire from reading about this winter coat project...

IN WITH THE NEW...

...With 2015 knocking at the door my heart is filled with joy, thanksgiving, gratitude and ANTICIPATION!

Really, my mind is overflowing with thoughts of the endless POSSIBILITIES God has placed within each of us.  Sometimes just thinking about them makes my heart race, and it makes me feel a little hyperventilatey (self-created word) (calm down girl)!

Can you imagine someone getting that excited sitting in a sewing room?  Of course possibilities extend beyond sewing and the sewing room; but I’m just saying, even a pattern envelope contains endless possibilities if we take full advantage of it.

I pray that I will have the gumption to step out on just a few of those possibilities in the New Year – if so, how wonderful that will be!