Another Jacket done! Simplicity 1320

I finally finished this Jacket that I started in Jan. It will be ready for fall. I seem to always do the wrong seasons jacket... I have to plan this better. I used pattern Simplicity 1320 I completed view C

The solid fabric is a cashmere wool very drapy and soft. The woven fabric is a boucle that is a synthetic blend. I loved the collar. I spent a lot of time fitting this jacket. I have many fitting challenges. I had to adjust for square shoulders, short back waist, full bust, slim arms, full waist, narrow hips.
I decided that I wanted the woven print down the middle instead of on the sides I thought it would give me a better line. There is a tab belt that needs to be sewn on the back woven panel that will give the illusion of a waste.
This fabric was given to me so this was my "toile" if you were. I am not sure I like the colorfulness of it yet. I think it has to do with a fall color pallet in the Spring. I am not sure I will make it again. I kind of like it and kind of not like it. I have the satisfaction of having finished something.
Now to start making the pants that I hope will fit me well.

I'm a 'Tight A**'

Honey do these pants fit? A question to never ask your significant other or spouse? Flash-Flash I got him to take pictures. Well now all of my previously 'good pants' are in the give away pile. I realized that I don't have enough room in the seat area of my pants. This would be the crotch length. I also have too much room in the thigh area, skinny legs of an inverted triangle. If I size up then they are way too big everywhere. The seat curve is wrong as well I need a deeper curve. These statements probably make sense if you have ever attempted to make your self some pants. In March I am going to have a pants fitting session with Sarah Veblen, she is from Baltimore and has a book on fitting that I recently purchased. 
 Sarah Veblen Complete photo guide to Fitting

Baggy thighs

The best fit but pockets are too far apart

crotch depth too short legs too baggy

Boyfriend Jeans

I might have worn my jeans like this in the 60's

makes my derriere look flatter too tight

Almost there

new pants went up a size still don't fit

more of the same bad fit pockets way too far away

 I will be posting more as I start my adventure on pants making. Wish me good luck> Do you have a favorite pants pattern that you had lots of success using? I want to make jeans.

New in 2016, Millinery, flat pattern hats

The Millinery has been busy. I have made some new felt hats and a few flat pattern hats. Yes I can sew and I do love to use all of the

features on my machines.Patty was gracious enough to model for me.

I have been sewing up a storm to finish all of my projects started in 2015. I took a few refresher and new courses in 2015 so hopefully you will see my millinery skills evolve to a new level in 2016.

Winter hats and more

I have decided it is about time I post some more hats pictures. I have been busy in the millinery.

This one I re-trimmed and finished the edge with a binding Do you like my ribbon turkey?

brown straw with embroidered flower

A nod to my Irish heritage

I have two winter coats, one is a blue wool the other a camel hair coat in that color. So I like to coordinate my hats to my winter coats. I have other more casual jacket I wear and usually wear cloth brimmed hats with those. These hats are ones I blocked at Wayne Wichern's in September. I had a chance to take a class from him to refine my skill set. I left the final trimming to be done at home.Do you wear coat hats? I think it is fun to dress up in a coat hat in the winter.

Chanel Jacket FINALLY done!!!!!

I have been literally working on this Chanel jacket for over 1.5 years. I intend on making three of them. This first one was the trial one where I can make all of my mistakes. I did a lot of hand sewing. The organza selvage strips used to reinforce all of the folds and edges all hand stitched. The seams of the lining all hand stitched. The double layer of the trims ribbon and top trim all hand stitched.
A few of the jacket seams were machine stitched as well as the quilting of the lining was done by machine. 
The fitting of the muslin was a real labor of love. You would think it would have been easy as it is a boxy jacket and I have a boxy build, but it was not. I have very horizontal shoulders way more than the pattern allows.
Over all I did enjoy the process very much. I used the Craftsy class "The Iconic Tweed Jacket" as my teacher and used the Vogue pattern 7975 as my basis for the jacket. The fabric I used was a type of synthetic tweed wool blend. The lining was polyester. I have to say that polyester had a mind of its own and was a beast to work with.  I will use silk for the lining next time so much easier to work with I think.I am going over to Visible Monday on her new website hosting page see ya there.

new hair color Lighten up!

The photograph below is the old color. You can see is a dark brown with gray accents. I have a lot of makeup on in this picture. I know it doesn't look like I have any on. The bottom picture is the new hair color. I have no makeup on in that picture because I am a low maintenance woman. I like the look with the lighter hair. I think it makes my face brighten up. Would you change your hair color?

There is progress on the Chanel Jacket

I have made progress on the Chanel Jacket. I have it all sewn together the chain is stitched onto the hem. I am now painstakingly

sewing the ribbon trim and then the braid on top.You can see the navy ribbon peaking out on the sides of the trim. This is to make the braid pop. The buttonholes will be added after the trim is place on the jacket. The jacket has been a labor of love but I will be making another one with better fabric the next go around.

I wanted to mention Craftsy because that is the online sewing service I have been using to guide me through this jacket. The class is called the Iconic Tweed Jacket. I do recommend this class it is well presented and the video are great because you can watch them repeatedly if needed.
So my blogger friends that sew what are you working on?
Here are some examples of real Chanel jackets that I found on line.

 The one on the right uses the rough edges as a trim

Hope you enjoyed looking at the real deal.