Thursday Thoughts

Yesterday I made a very dedicated effort to go to work but got no farther than the end of my driveway! To add insult to injury I also locked myself out of the house. I had to walk around the corner to a friends house in almost knee-deep snow and ask him to drag himself out of his nice warm bed with his wife and assist me! He helped me get in the house and he and another neighbor managed to get the car unstuck. Not all was lost. I did manage to finish my jacket and can I say "I LOVE IT!"

The lining made all the difference in the world. Between Claire Schafer's High Fashion Sewing Secrets and Jackets for Real People I tried several new techniques that all worked perfectly. I especially liked Claire's tip for fusing the hems-both jacket and sleeve. After I interfaced the hem with fusible interfacing, I marked and turned up the hem allowance and steamed it in place. Next I fused Steam-A-Seam 1/4" from hem edge and removed the paper backing. Using the JFRP bagging technique I sewed the lining in only allowing a hem seam allowance of 3/8".  I treated sleeves that same way. Once the jacket was turned inside out I fused the hems into place. It worked like a charm.

I just need to give the jacket a final steaming and start on the matching slacks. That's one jacket down and eleven to go! I like this jacket so much I can imagine making eleven more just like it! After the work I put into drafting the lining, which I must say fit the jacket perfectly, I will make this jacket again but not immediately.

I'd also like to add that having good sewing reference books is a must. Every sewer will eventrually run into a situation that requires knowledge they may not posess and what better way than a good reference book. Sure the internet seems to be where everybody gets there information nowadays but I'll never give up my books!