Minimalist coat

I really did not mean to go off the radar for quite so long.  "Stuff" got in the way of normal blogging interaction, and the longer I stayed away, the more difficult it seemed to get back to "normal" - whatever that is.  Once again, I'm terribly embarrassed, because I did not reply in a timely fashion to the Cennetta's nomination for a blog award.  Thank-you so very much for the honour.  Now it's far too late to continue that thread and I apologize for being such a dud.
I must have the blogging mentality now well ingrained, because despite the lack of posts, I did photograph almost all that I sewed during my absence from here.  Shall I start at the latest ?  (Well, the last that was actually photographed.)

My UFO coat from last winter.  I desperately wanted to make a double-cloth wool coat when I used to do alterations years ago, because altering the seams done in this style is absolutely NO FUN, and I wanted to see what it would be like to put something like this together from scratch.  Somewhere down the line I did acquire a remnant.  It sat around for a while (like a few years), and last year I finally started on it - rather late in the season.  The weather warmed up and I abandoned the project, thinking that I'd be much more "moved" to work on it in cold weather.  One thing and another, and this poor coat was not getting the attention it needed.  Besides, it's not really a "dead of winter" kind of coat - more of a "it's really cold, but not quite cold enough for snow" kind of coat.  By the end of February I decided that it was "do or die", and if I didn't get a move on it, this coat would once again get packed away for the summer, and I was really determined not to pack up any winter UFO's this year.  So, despite lack of enthusiasm - because any project that drags on far too long just isn't all that interesting anymore - I did finish!
Ah - pattern used - um - some combination of these two  - extended to full length.  I only had a remnant, and I was determined to get a full - length coat out of it.  Talk about zero-waste cutting!  This is all one layer -- no lining -- no facings.  And to make up for the lack of collar - I "just happened to have" a suitable piece of challis for a scarf.
So - a few more pictures...

no scarf view

back view

I was not going to mess with buttonholes or any other closures that could potentially mess up this coat!  Snaps were the order of the day - sewn very carefully through only one layer so's not to show on the outside.
Only downfall of this coat - no pockets!!!  Oh well, life just can't be perfect, now can it?
What took so long?  ... construction details to follow in the next post (yes, I took pictures!)  This post is long enough for my first post in over 3 months!!!
Oops!  Almost forgot - I do have a picture of "coat in action".

Trying to teach Mum to take the pictures - this one's not too bad, she only cut off my head

The inspired skirt

Way back in September, Rhonda posted some inspirational photos from the Etro collection.  The following day I was out "getting thread" - my usual excuse for popping into Fabricland.  Of course, I had to browse through the fabrics, if only to determine that there was absolutely nothing there that needed to come home with me.  High on a shelf, almost hidden from view was a velveteen that for some reason reminded me (vaguely -very vaguely) of the fabrics in the Etro collection.  It was love at first sight.  I bought a metre.  A straight skirt  - sort of 1940's length...

Now, a new skirt would require a new top.  Black would be the perfect thing to set off the print.  Two black tops were cut - one in a knit, one in silk.  That was back in September.  Then came the chaos, and the two black tops sat quietly waiting for their turn to come to life.  The poor skirt feels forgotten, hanging in the closet.  Finally the knit top (one seam at a time) did come into existence.  Stay tuned, because very soon the two will come together and actually get worn!  (About time!)
Not to forget...  The lovely Denise of The Blue Gardenia asked me to remind everyone about the amazing sale of her gorgeous vintage patterns.  Click here for the details. 

Uh-oh! Pattern accumulation

I finally did it!  I ordered patterns from Club BMV.  I've been avoiding this for a long time, but I finally succumbed.
I've done my part over the years in over-accumulation of  patterns, and I was trying very hard to use what I already have.  There are still quite a few patterns in those drawers that have never been used.  A shame, really.  Every time I would see someone using a new-to-me pattern, I would convince myself that I already have something similar.  No need to buy.  I did wait for the pattern sales at Fabricland to purchase the few new patterns that I really wanted.  No more pattern sales at Fabricland, at least not like there used to be.  Just recently I was pondering over the catalogues when I went in for thread.  Came home without patterns.  Decided to browse the Vogue patterns on-line, and what do they have - a 75% off sale!  OK - I'm just browsing.  I don't really need anything at the moment.  But, but, but...  So if I make up new rules about pattern accumulation...  1. I must have fabric on hand, or in mind for the pattern.  2. I must actually use these patterns, before I purchase more patterns.  Well, you guessed the rest of the story - out came the magic plastic card, and I clicked my way to four new patterns.
Perhaps you might be wanting to see what I ordered - whether you do or don't - here they are.

Vogue 8854

I saw this sweater on someone's blog (sorry! can't remember who's) and I was in love.

Vogue 8847

Vogue 8699

Vogue 7937

I've been dreaming of the skirt with the flared back hem.
So there you have it.  Now let's see if I manage to stick to my rules, or ... I just might become a pattern-buying maniac.
Question - do you buy patterns with a definite project in mind?  Or - do you just like to buy whatever strikes your fancy with no particular reason?  Just curious about how others approach pattern buying.

Wishing everyone a very

 Merry Christmas!

Life just keeps on getting more interesting

My 100th post.  I was going to do something special.  I always have phenomenal plans ... and then ...  Two months have zipped by and all I have to say is - life got a whole lot more interesting.  My mother moved in.  My daughter and I were just settling into life together, when my mother sold her house and moved in with us.  This had been talked about theoretically.  When it happened, it happened all too quickly.  My daughter moved in with a suitcase and a few boxes - a fairly easy matter of sorting things out.  My mother moved with almost the entire contents of her house.  Thank goodness for large garages!  I emptied, cleaned and painted one bedroom.  Sewed new curtains.  All of this happening at rather breakneck speed.  Then the stuff started descending.  I don't do well in chaos.  Not well at all.  To add insult to injury - my sewing room was the only place to stash my stuff that had to be cleared.  More mess to deal with.  My game plan is to deal with only one area at a time.  Priorities had to be set.  When I finally couldn't live without sewing at least something - I cleared the cutting table (large flat clear surface where it is so easy to set down a box or two or...) and enough space at the sewing machine to at least be able to some rather mundane stitching.  I'll just keep on sorting and tossing and organizing a little at a time.  I've now come to realize that this is not going to come to an end any time soon.  My diplomatic skills are being stretched to their limits.  There is finally a glimmer of hope that I will be able to get my car into the garage soon.  Thank goodness that we haven't had any major snow as yet - I hate having to clean off my car in the mornings!
Ah, yes, sewing.  That's what this blog is supposed to about - not about the trials and tribulations of everyday life.  In September I made a skirt, cut two tops to go with.  So far - the tops are somewhere... in pieces...  I'll find them and sew them up eventually.  The doublefaced wool coat that I started in the spring... also somewhere... need to clear some more space to be able to deal with it.  Finished projects - yes, some things did get done start to finish before the "avalanche".   A quick skirt for my daughter...

Made this from the free Hot Patterns download that I used for my kooky skirt.  I used a "suiting" fabric and I lined this.  (DD is not a big fan of wearing slips.)  A plain and simple addition to a wardrobe that is going to need some serious revamping.
I even managed something for me - modeled by Taya, here.

A cape/poncho - don't know what to call it.  This is from Kwik Sew 3543 that I used previously for my class samples.  The pattern calls for polar fleece, which requires cutting out and no sewing.  I had this cozy wool/mohair piece, which needed a little more work to bring it to a finished state.  I added 1 inch on both sides to allow for hems.  I fringed the hanging edges.  (That really does make a mess!)  And I fashioned a facing to finish off the cut-out in the middle.  Now that the weather is really too cold for such attire out of doors, my plaid creation has moved to the computer desk, where it keeps me nice and toasty while I work.
In retrospect, it was not so brilliant a move to clear out my wardrobe as brutally as I did, given that sewing hasn't been happening at quite the anticipated rate.  Guess I'll just keep on plugging along, doing the best I can under the circumstances.  Moral of the story - never make serious plans!
Now that I've written this post, I feel that I can once again try to get back on track with reading blogs and commenting and being inspired by all the lovely things that everyone else makes.

Just a quick update

Just when I think that I'm getting a handle on organizing my life  - things start to happen.  Just when  I plan my schedule to include not only sorting and fixing of cold weather wardrobe, but also plenty of new items - my family "intrudes".  My daughter has moved back from B.C. to return to school.  We're still in the process of getting her sorted out and "moved in".  Well, at least I won't have any more guess work when sewing things for her - she'll be right here!
I'm really no further on a real game plan for fall and winter sewing than I was when I started pulling out the "winter woolies".  I've been diligently fixing and steaming and pressing, so that every piece that goes into the closet is in real wearing order.  Unfortunately the jackets with the shiny elbows did not rejuvenate themselves while hanging out in the garment bags over the summer.  Neither did hooks and buttons re-attach themselves to their proper places.  I was very sad to have to let the jackets go, and all that maintenance work has seriously eaten into the time for more interesting sewing.  "Real sewing" so far has been quite boring, but at least there is some accomplishment.
I finished the rest of the "cherry pies" for my niece.

While moving the winter fabrics into "rotation order", I once again wondered what in the world I would make out of this plaid piece of mohair.  Then I promptly decided not to deliberate yet again, and made it into a lap blanket by binding it on all four sides.

the blues are a much better match in real life

While it was still much warmer weather I used up some remnants and made a few tank tops...

then I churned out some very boring, but very useful t-shirts with a variety of sleeve lengths and necklines.

There have also been some more interesting projects in the works, but those I'll leave for later.
On Friday we were in Toronto at the Creative Festival.  I must have been in the wrong mood, or way too tired, but somehow I didn't find all too much to get terribly excited about.  My daughter, on the other hand, was thrilled with such an array of beads as there was.
We did meet a new friend, who was promoting his own wares...

and my daughter just had to have her picture taken under this street sign.

Hopefully I'll have something a little more interesting to show shortly.

Thank-you for all the lovely comments!  When I stay away from blogging for any length of time, it is always such a pleasure to find such encouraging comments on my return.
I'm awful - unlike so many of you, who reply to each and every comment - I just cannot seem to figure this bit out.  I apologize.  I do, however, try to answer questions that really do require an answer, in some way or another.  To that end...
Yes, Sue, I did make the rose on the bag.  It's made from the same fabric as the red "lining" of the dress.
I finally managed to get to the sewing shop - with camera in hand - to take pictures of my class samples!  (I'm in and out of the shop all too often - camera stays at home.)

Group shot

People love to see something different from time to time when they come to the store to sign up for classes, so I feel obligated to keep churning out different versions of the same Pamela's Patterns pieces.  I did cheat a little - the skirts are from a previous  time.  I just wasn't quite motivated to do absolutely everything over again - just the pieces that I had fabric for.
The hats and mitts - those are for a beginner class that comes as a package deal - buy machine and classes to learn to sew and this is what the boss wanted as the project.  The pattern for these is Kwik Sew 3543.  Can you tell that I did not pick the colours for these hats?  Way too bright for me, but they do stand out rather well in the display.
The pants - cheated again.  A pair that was already made up.

OOP - available on etsy

The piece that took the most work was the blouse.  (for Fitting you Top class)  The pattern has been sitting in the drawer for probably far too long.  Copyright 2003 - rather well aged.  Honestly - I was afraid that it would be a horror to fit, and every time I pulled it out, I shoved it right back in.  Time to face my fears.  I'm supposed to be teaching a class, and I'm afraid of a pattern?  (I think that I have become overly critical and overly paranoid, and if I just got over it and got on with it, I would accomplish so much more  - and that probably applies to so much more than just the fit of my clothes!)  That front panel with the gathers - it's a bizarre curved thing.  There is no side seam - just one of those all-in-one side pieces that defy altering.  To make a long story short - I just cut the pieces as is, then took in at the tops of the princess seams and went from there.  I was ready to hate this blouse.  I actually like it, once all was said and done.

Definitely not a blouse for those mornings when dressing in a rush.  It takes time to do up 12 buttons with loops!

The back is cut on the bias.  The side panels are on straight of grain.  (That hanger is too large for my shirt!)

In case you didn't get it from the last picture ... the stripes are perfectly chevron-ed on the back seam.  Sometimes things work out well!  Cutting out this shirt was a bit of a horror.  Initially I cut two layers together, thinking that all the stripes were perfectly aligned.  Not so!  Thank goodness for too-big pieces of fabric - every piece (not quite, but almost) had to be cut again to line up all those darn uneven stripes.  OK - so who's brilliant idea was it to use this striped fabric?  Next time that I deal with stripes, I will definitely take the time at the outset to cut in a single layer.  Promise.