Saturday, November 29, 2008

Claire Shaeffer's Custom Couture



This jacket is made from pattern V8428, Clair Shaeffer's Custom Couture. I made this jacket out of a brocade fabric content unknown. It was from my stash and the hand of the fabric seemed perfect for this jacket. Unfortunately I did not have enough fabric to make the bias tubing so I used a button. I loved making this jacket and the way it fits.

Claire's instructions were detailed and fun to read. Some special features use in construction included: collar and lapel padding. The collar is hand stitched. She uses many of the special techniques that I learned years ago that have seemed to become lost techniques.

Tomorrow I will be starting on my first pattern from my PMB4 program.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Simplicity Thread collection.


After a long summer I am back to sewing. My mom had been in a nursing home and other family concerns occupied time. Now these issues have been resolved and I have been able to get back to sewing. This fall I purchased PMB4. The first thing I did was make a sloper. I used the sloper to make a coat. I wished I had used it on the jacket.

This jacket if Simplicity 3962 Threads Magazine Collection. I love the Jacket. My only problem with this jacket was the sleeves. It is a lined jacket but there was no ease in the lining pattern and the jacket lack some movement that would be nice to have. The grading of the arm whole was not the best either. I find the arm hole just a little tight. Had I made the sloper soon I would have been able to adjust for the lack of ease.

This coat is Simplicity 4403 Threads Collection. I used the sloper to get and good fit and am very pleased with the results. The only thing that I need to remember to adjust is the length of the sleeve. I have long arms. The picture on the right is after I completed sewing the coat but I had not pressed the coat or put the buttons on.