Finished Object: Coline

My last hat of 2009 was Coline.  I saw it on {a black pepper} and the knit combined with her always gorgeous photography made this jump onto my list.  She has such wonderfully intricate sweater patterns that I would love to try but alas my knitting has now been relegated to things I can finish quickly (i.e. not sweaters) so I will have to settle for her rather extensive and lovely hat collection

Yarn: Queensland Llama Seta
Inspiration: Coline (Raverly Link Here)
Needles: Size 5 for the ribbing, size 6 needles for the rest
Yardage: approx. 176 yards (2 balls)
Modifications: Used Ysolda’s Cable Cast On.  Knit 1×1 ribbing using US5 instead of stockinette
Enjoyment Factor: 9

The Good:

• Yet another stashbusting exercise.  This one was a little less of a stashbust as I had allocated this yarn for sale, but because I loved the yarn as a hat with my slouchy copycat hat I decided to steal a few balls before I put my final count of yarn up.  Good decision on my part
• The pattern is very well written and produced a wonderful hat.  I just love how the inside of each bubble is a different pattern

The Bad:

• I really wanted a slouchy hat and this pattern just seems a bit stiff for the “just keep knitting and it will become slouchy” pattern modification I have been doing to the hats.  Unlike the other hats I blocked this one rather hard to get the slouch and it seems to have worked out…sorta.

The Ugly:

• I got nothin’

Sorry for the rather concise blog post on this one, but I am super tired and need to get to bed.  This going back to work after semi-retirement (a.k.a. 16 days off) is for the birds

And So it Begins…2010

This is the way the 2010 begins
This is the way the 2010 begins
This is the way the 2010 begins
Not with a bang but a whisper.

-adapted from TS Elliot

That is exactly how I have felt with the coming of 201o. It is just snuck up on me and silently, quietly, peacefully transitioned me from yesteryear to a new decade.  Unlike last year I spent my New Year’s Eve quietly at home celebrating East Cost style with a personal toast at 9 p.m.  Although I can’t say I am going into 2010 with lots of gusto I am trying to go in with commitments to myself.  It is nice to know that 2010 is already looking as though it will make a sizable dent in my 101 in 1001 which is only 10% complete as of today.  It is also nice that I feel as thought I am at peace.  I hope that will stay throughout the next 365 days.

Speaking of 365 or 366 for 2010 I have started up again.  I don’t know if they will all be portraits or just pictures or what but I do miss the chronicalling of the year.  Imagine if I had had the pictures from 10 years ago. WOW!  However, I do have some great memories that I hope to make into a photobook (yet another of my 101 goals).

Oh and since this is a crafty blog afterall.  I also made a DIY Ringlight to get the shot above.  It was quick easy and I absolutely love the look of ring lights.   I do need to make another as the tube circumference was smaller than my lens.

Anyhoo, as is customary at the end of the year here is my 2009 wrap up.  Not much for 365 days worth of crafting but it was all great. My favorite item of 2010 has to be my Burda maxi dress.  I can’t WAIT to make at least two more of those for the warm weather.

1. Gretel, 2. Butterick 6881, 3. Fabric Covered Moleskins, 4. Butterfly Collage, 5. Clapotis, 6. Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 07-2009-116, 7. Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 07-2009-118, 8. Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 02-2009-112, 9. Sequin Tree, 10. Wallpaper Decorated Ikea Chest, 11. Slouchy Copy Cat Hat, 12. Jane, 13. Stripey Slouchy Glittery Beret, 14. Wallpaper Accent for my Sewing Table, 15. My First Woven Scarf, 16. Sewing Machine Cover, 17. Click Camera Case, 18. Peacock Apron & Cathrine Holm Pots

Here is to more crafting in my future CRAFT ROOM in 2010!

Finished Object: Stripey Slouchy Glittery Beret

This little slouchy beret was totally spur of the moment.  I was combing through my yarn stash and started winding some skeins of miscellaneous yarns that just looked messy.  During my hunt I found some leftover Microspun from at least 2 or 3 years ago and a skein of Glitterspun that I obviously had no idea what to do with.  Definitely part of the “what were you thinking” era of yarn buying.  Anyhoo…I had been wanting a black hat for a while but didn’t want to purchase more yarn.  Alone they were not enough to make a hat…at least so I thought…but together I give you the Stripey Slouchy GLITTERY Beret.

Yarn: Microspun and Glitterspun in Black
Inspiration: Stripey Slouchy Beret (Raverly Link Here)
Needles: Size 5 for the ribbing, size 6 needles for the rest
Yardage: approx. 100 yards of Microspun and Glitterspun100.8 yards (little less than 1 ball of both)
Modifications: Used Ysolda’s Cable Cast On.  Used smaller needles as I have no US7 16″ circulars.  Used a 4×4 alternating stripe pattern
Enjoyment Factor: 8

The Good:

• The ULTIMATE stash buster.  Two yarns destine to the bottom of the stash bucket find new life in simple beret pattern. Who knew?
• I finally have a black hat…whoopee.  It has been worn quite a few times already.
• The glittery yarn gives it a little pizazz without getting too glam.  I specially like how the center ends with the glitterspun
• Easy pattern….it is stockinette afterall

The Bad:

• Microspun is not a hearty yarn so I don’t know how long this hat will live.  And OMG is it splitty!
• It is a little more limp that I might have liked but that leads back to the lack of body in the microspun.  I had to use some shirring elastic doubled to ensure that the ribbing did not lose its elasticity.  However, this is not a bad idea for most hats.
• I still have a little more of this dang yarn.  It might find its way to the trash rather than back in the stash…gasp!

The Ugly:

• Black is very hard to photograph…LOL!
• I dislike stockinette stitch only a little less than garter stitch.  The monotony is almost unbearable.  Too bad it produces such utilitarian garments.  Guess I just have to suck it up

Finished Object: Jane

This is the second hat in my Mad Hatter Phase.  I absolutely fell in love with the hat when I saw it.  Not necessarily the gorgeous photography or the simplicity of the pattern but THAT HAT!! I had to have it as it was exactly. Low and behold I had a skein of Old Gold in stash.  Bingo!  My copycat Jane was born

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Old Gold
Inspiration: Jane (Raverly Link Here)
Needles: Size 6 for the ribbing, size 8 needles for the rest
Yardage: approx. 200 yards (little less than 1 ball)
Modifications: Used smaller needles as I have no 7 or 9 16″ circulars, casted on 90 stitches to compensate
Enjoyment Factor: 10

The Good:

• Super simple pattern that was made better with the doubled brim.  I loved it in the picture but while I was knitting it I started having reservations.  I even considered cutting it and making it a single thickness brim but once done and on my head it was love!
• Stash Busting once again!! Hat the exact colorway in stash.  It was meant to be
• I like sewing/knitting into my caston edge.  I think it is super fun.  Glad I got to do it here.

The Bad:

• Who likes paying for patterns?!  However, this one is worth it.  Not necessarily because it is complicated rather I just like the entire presentation of it.  Hell, presentation is a huge part of what made Apple so successful   For that alone this pattern had me at hello (btw I hate that movie and don’t really like renee zellwegerthat much either…lol)
• The back sticks up a bit but that might have been due to my smaller needles making a stiffer fabric plus not blocking it.  I will get to that as soon as I don’t want to have it on my head…that may be a while

The Ugly:

• My pictures of my knitting lately.  Kinda creepy sans face…LOL!

Yet another successful hat done.  Two more to show and then on to the WIPS!

Finished Object: Slouchy Copycat Hat

Having loved the slouchy hat my sister bought me from Nordstrom’s last year, I knew that slouchy hats were going to be in my wardrobe for the winter months.  Little did I know that my prophecy was quite an understatement as I am in love with the slouchy hat look.  So much so that I have been in a hat making frenzy as of late.  This is the first  of 4 hats that have come off the needles this season.  This is truly an amazing feat as it nearly DOUBLES my knitted output for the year!! LOL!  Ah well, I will take it where I can get it

Yarn: Queensland Collection Llama Seta
Inspiration: Slouchy Copy Cat hat (Raverly Link Here)
Needles: Size 5 for the ribbing, size 6 needles for the rest
Yardage: approx. 185 yards (2.1 balls)
Modifications: Used Ysolda’s cable cast on method
Enjoyment Factor: 10

The Good:

• I absolutely LOVED this pattern.  Quick and easy but with a look that looks a bit more complicated than it truly was.
• Stashbusting!  Given hats do not make THAT much of a dent when you are a yarn hoarder, but once again I will take what I can get.  Two balls out of stash…hooray!  Especially since they are scratchy against the skin due to the silk strands so it made the perfect hat.

• The ribbing.  I used Ysolda’s cable cast on and I don’t think that I will ever go back.  This cast-on produces a nice stretchy, neat edge to the hat.  Absolute perfection.

The Bad:

• I did start this pattern with the cast on and needles called for but once I was into the pattern I noticed that the yarn, although worsted as the pattern called for, was just not working right.  So I tore it out, used the cable cast on, and went down to size 6 needles resulting in perfection!

The Ugly:

• None

I will definitely be making this hat again in the future.  Of the 4 hats I have made so far I think this is the MOST perfect, but the others are good too

Man, I Miss You Guys

In fact I have been missing a lot about life lately.  Yet, another season of workaholism has left me neglecting those things I enjoy the most but for the next 16 days I am free!! It is almost like a semi retired state.  Yesterday,  I stayed up late watching movies. Today I woke up late, had a new visitor to the apartment, got another present and shopped for some upcoming recipe adventures.  I even finished a hat…my third hat in a row.  I still have to take pictures and stuff but that will happen soon enough.  For now I wanted to stop in and say hi so my upcoming blogfest would not be so awkward.  Hope the holiday season is treating your well.

The Voodoo/Sequin Tree

When I saw the sequin tree tutorial over on Centsational Girl I knew I had to make one.  How could I resist?!  The colors were the same as my Christmas decor and it had BLING!! I have to say I do love myself some bling…LOL!  Plus I had the cones in my crafty arsenal already and was itching for an instant gratification project.  So during my Black Friday adventures at JoAnn’s (believe me I am not crazy…JoAnn’s is a pretty easy in and out in the wee hours of the morning…20 minutes tops), I remembered about the sequin tree and bought a few packs of sequins and a 350 pack of pins.   Right after I got home I set about making the tree thinking I would have it finished in a day or two.  3 hours later I only had three rows at the bottom.  Hmmm…curious…the picture didn’t look that cumbersome. 5 hours later…what the heck this is taking forever! 6 hours later with a crick in my neck I finally decided to look back at the tutorial.

So first, let’s recap some key things in the tutorial that I did not bother to read or just did not sink in.

“It’s a simple, yet time consuming process..”

“Styrofoam cone or ball – small cones (around 8″ tall)”

“Sequin…8mm”

“Beads…4mm”

“…and you’ll need a ton of pins…”

Next, let’s recap my mindset and my supplies

“…itching for an instant gratification project.”

Styrofoam cone – around 12″ tall

Sequin…5mm

Beads…2.5mm

Pins…550

As you can see the math does not add up to instant gratification.  Instead it added up to sore appendages, assembly line style repetitiveness, and lot and LOTS of patience.  I did get a rhythm going that sped the process and since I had resigned myself to this being a process project I worked in spurts instead of killing myself to get it done.  I did have to make a few runs back to JoAnn’s for pins but all in all the assembly was just as the tutorial had suggested “…simple, yet time consuming…”

So the final supply total was

Styrofoam cone – One around 12″ tall

Sequin – 2 pkgs blue, 2 pkgs green 5mm sequins

Beads – 1 pkg 2.5mm beads

Pins – 2,000!!!!!!!!

Nope, you didn’t read that wrong.  It took me over two THOUSAND pins to finish this tree! TWO THOUSAND!!  This my friends was a labor of love or masochism..you decide.  It took me 1 week of off and on pinning to finish my voodoo/sequin tree.  Meticulously sticking the poor styrofoam cone so that the sequins overlapped juuuussst right.  I even added a dab of quick dry tacky glue because I decided that if I was going to go through the pain it better last FOREVER!  When I got to the top of the cone it became a bit more cumbersome as there were so many pins in such a small area that you had to angle them in juuuust right to find available space.

Now all that said let’s do another recap

Do I love my tree? – Yes, it is all the bling I had hoped for.  Plus you can use it on someone as a massage tool as the pins make it feel nice when grasped or as a bludgeoning tool since it is pretty heavy.

Could I have bought something similar at the store? – Sure…but we all know that crafting is about the activity not the cost or time…OBVIOUSLY!

Would I do it again? – Yes and No.  Would I do THIS size again NO.  But I am obviously a masochist as I have already started another with the RIGHT sized materials.

Call me a glutton for punishment…but look at the BLING!

Old Lady Update presents…Weaving!

• Yarn:
  • Warp – Noro Silk garden (1 ball)
  • Weft – Noro Silk garden (little less than 1 ball)
• Length: about 72″ (not counting fringe)
• Width: 5″
• Loom: 16″ Ashford Rigid Heddle Knitter’s Loom
• Dents Per Inch: 7.5

So after my hectic week of travel, work, and team training, I finished the week off with an all day weaving class at the new and wonderful Yarn Lady.

The class started at 9:30am although the other three students were already there and setting up. I on the other hand had no loom of my own so I was the lucky recipient of the teacher’s attention as an example for the class and received a lot of personalized assistance due to my need to finish the scarf by the end of class.

Despite all the help it still took me every available minute of the class to finish my scarf. Phew!

Our teacher was one of the best I have ever had and she infused the class with a wonderful energy of excitement and creativity. I loved her samples that she brought in and the enthusiasm she had in creating yarn pairing throughout the class to keep us thinking.

The new store was wonderfully decorated in a more contemporary fiber arts direction which definitely appealed to me.  Their selection has also improved greatly.  It has been a long time since I have wanted to buy yarn but this store struck a cord with me.  Resistance may be futile!

Through all of this I came away with a new fiber love. I haven’t been this excited about a new hobby since I learned how to knit. I fought the urge to buy a loom but kept checking patterns and sites for potential deals. It was obviously kismet because I found a great deal on eBay for the loom and stand. It came on Tuesday, oct 26 th but it took me until Saturday to summon up the time and courage to get it warped.  The warping had some issues because I picked the wrong dent reed which kept catching the slubs on one of my warping yarns.  After I finally got going, with only 24″ left, one of my warp strings broke and I cannot wrap my head around fixing it.  Guess I will have to wait for this Fridays social weaving to get some info from the ladies.  Until then I leave you with a picture of my first warping.

Talk to you soon!

Peacock Apron & CathrineHolm Pots

My obsession with Cathrineholm has finally been satisfied to a sufficient enough level for me to refocus my obsessive nature back to decorating. However, the amazing colors have now saturated all areas of my creative mind and are popping up all over.  One direct result of this infusion of color is my new peacock apron. This apron is a combination of the McCall’s Vintage Apron 3979 and the waistband directions from the apron in In Stitches.

The fabric was one I have had in my stash for some time.  I loved it and wanted to make it into a skirt, but with just a little over a yard I knew that I was never going to fly.  So I waited for inspiration which came via my CathrineHolm pots and their combination of blue, green, and orange.  Through them I finally decided that my future fancy kitchen would need a fancy apron to don while making my culinary masterpieces.

Now I have already shown you my green and yellow pots but these are my latest and potentially the last additions to my set.

The blue set was an ebay buy.  I was lusting after a yellow set, but that went by the wayside.  Fueled with ebay adrenaline I spotted these and bid.  I am so glad I won these even though they were not my first choice.  I love the depth of color and the fact that they are helping me to expand into other areas of color.

I found this fondue pot at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market in NY.  I bought it for 5 bucks!! There was a yellow pot there too but it was pretty beat up.  This find was the highlight of my NYC shopping trip!  It has a chip on the other side but for 5 bucks I was not going to get all indignant about it

BTW…thank you all for your wonderful suggestions for NYC! I didn’t have much time so a lot of sights went unseen but I will give you the lowdown via a future post.

Week in Chic: 10/9

Heh, just realized I jumped into the future last week as it actually said 10/9 in the title before I changed it

Anticipating… A great time in New Jersey/New York due to all the wonderful ideas!!  Thank goodness for blogs too because I just found out that I am going to NY on the first Yarn Crawl of the City!  I hope to visit a few while I am there but neither my mom or my aunt are knitters so I don’t want to bore them.  Between Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, Housing works thrift stores (various locations), Purl Soho, and Mood that is a pretty busy schedule for only 1.5 days of shopping in NY.  The rest will be quality time with the extended family.

Oh and I still need some help with can’t miss NJ/NY food choices too.

If you know of any good places to eat near any of the locations I stated above please do tell.  If you have an eatery suggestion that is not near any of these locations but is so good I need to make the journey, please share that too as the schedule is still pretty flexible.

Loving… My new Cathrineholm pot…soon to be POTS!! I got my first one and the quality of this pot is fantastic!! So the fact that it looks gorgeous is just icing on the cake.    These are not show piece pots though so I will be scoping some recipes that call for dutch ovens so I can giggle to myself now that I actually have one.

Savoring… the new Fall-ish weather.  I love it when it is chilly but not bitterly cold and that time is now.  I am dreaming of stews, crusty bread, and knitting.  LOVE the fall.

Knitting… The Heathered Hoodie Vest.  I know I said that before but now I have proof!!  The yarn is so yummy.  I am loving this knit.

Sewing… some quicky projects such as my new reversible sewing machine cover.  I used some Orla Kiely tea towels I found at GW Consignment for $1.99, some fusible fleece, and some leftover ribbon I had from a gift.  Process: I fused fleece to orange side, trimmed everything up, sewed the sides with ribbon in seam, turned inside out, sewed bottoms together.  A few hours later and I had a quick cover for my machine that lives in the cabinet.

(Click for larger view)

I plan on making another fully enclosed cover for my portable machine and serger.

I am also feeling another Weekender Bag.  I have this great upholstery weight fabric from JoAnn’s that is just screaming to be a Weekender.  Better get out my oyster shucking gloves to fend off all the pin pricks.

Dreaming… about work and my co-workers which is a sign that I am really stressed out.  Hope this vacation gets me back into restful sleep.

Planning… some wallpaper DIY projects.  I got some wallpaper samples from Hygge and West.  One will be to decorate the inside of my sewing cabinet.

Here is what it SHOULD look like…kinda.

Also I got this great bird print sample that fits perfectly on a future jewelry box project.

Alright so it is time to get packing I will talk to you all soon!! Have a great weekend

Week in Chic: 10/2

Spontaneously… Traveling to New York!! Yup, booked a ticket to leave next weekend for a 3-4 day jaunt in New York…well New Jersey mainly with a splash of New York.  Having only extended family to visit, that leaves me only one full day of shopping on Monday.  Any suggestions for fabric, knitting, and thrift store shopping for good deals in New York? Please note my newest hobby is being on the hunt for great deals or highly unique items so kona cotton or $25.00 a yard places aren’t really my thing

Shopping…at GW Consignment.  Have you ever been?  It is a great place where buried treasure is just waiting to be found.  Oh yeah, some people know it as Goodwill   My mom turned me on to that renaming when we went GW shopping.  She is not a shopper but she shopped me under the table there…LOL! 3 stores later I was pooped and she slept on the way home LOL!

Obsessing over… CathrineHolm cookware.  Damn that design*sponge and decor8!! I had to have some and so ebay came to my aid with a new CathrineHolm pot and also led me to a yellow Dansk Kobenstyle pot.  Both can be put in the oven which I love.

Collecting… hobbies but specializing in those associated with old ladies…LOL!  I now sew, knit, cook, thrift, and hope to be weaving come the 18th.  If any of you know any OL hobbies I am missing please do tell so I can get started on them

Knitting… The Heather Hoodie Vest from the latest Knitscene in Navy Berrocco Comfort Chunky.  I started this knit because my minisweater sleeves are pissing me off.  I keep getting too many stitches and this is the second time I have knit them.  I had to put it away for later.

Sewing… nothing right now.  I do plan on making Burda 10-2009-135 this weekend though.  This unfortunately was the ONLY pattern I really liked in this issue and I sold off my August and September issue because they had NOTHING I liked.  I am bummed because this time is normally my favorite Burda season.  Hope our style compatibility has not gone sour.

Alright, hope to have some crafting for you soon!

Update: Ooops forgot that I actually DO have crafting to share!! I should post it as soon as me, my camera, and the daylight coincide again.

The Great Move of 2010

It has been five years since I moved into my apartment and in those years it has been good to me.  But if you have spent any time with me over the past few months you would know that I am over it and itching, jonesing, OBSESSING about moving.  I feel like the white walls of my boxy apartment are closing in on me and I need a release.  That release will come, I hope, in February when I move into a 2 bedroom apartment in Long Beach.  Now I have quite a few months until this dream materializes so in the meantime I am playing interior decorator as I gather little tidbits from magazines and scour all the DIY decorating websites.   I figures I would preserve these ideas and inspirations as well as chronicle them for future reference here on this old blog.  Now I will try and credit everything so that you all know where to find things and no one thinks I am taking credit for their great taste.

This was seen in Real Simple Magazine.  I love the colored peg board for my future craft room.  You did know that was the impending future of the second bedroom, didn’t you?

This was an excerpt from a 2008 issue of Martha Stewart magazine.  I like the way the clipboards are both functional as organization and decoration.

I have been lusting after this gorgeous color scheme – green with teal.  This is the Veranda Coverlet in Verde.  The Teal Rug is a kira Rug…way out of my price range though.  I was also wondering about how dark furniture looks with lighter hardwood and I think it looks quite nice here.

I have been thinking about making myself a three way mirror when I move and potentially decorating the backs if they are the cheaper thinner mirrors.  Here are the Stave Mirrors from the latest Ikea Magazine displayed just the way I was thinking.

Other Links

Design Sponge – Everything, Just EVERYTHING about his house is perfect. I am also a little obsessed with the red and turquoise color scheme too.

Design Sponge – Love the rug and the black frame with fabric inside

Design Sponge – Pretty DIY with wallpaper.  This company sells by the yard so I might buy some to spruce up my sewing cabinet

Decor 8 – Just so pretty and clean!

Design Sponge – Love the red and turquoise used.  The aerial view is to die for! and enough room for TWO sofas?!

Threadbangers – This whole DIY series made me happy!!

Craft Gossip – How cool is this?!  Too bad I got rid of all my slides.

Instant Gratification

So after a month of no blogging I am sure you were expecting more than just a five minute instant gratification project blogged from an iPhone. Given I do have other things to show you but for now I am being lazy and subscribing to the “better than nothing” clause. Plus I get to try out iPhone blogging

Fabric is a tea towel from the Danica Studios Aviary collection. Loved the design but was being cheap while visiting SF so I only bought the towel. Now I look longingly online but dread the idea of paying shipping. Good thing I still have the majority of the towel left. Probably enough for a little bag…we’ll see

Week In Chic: 8/7

Appreciating.. all the wonderful compliments you all have given as of late.  Although I have not gotten back to all of you, I do really love your comments.  I have to say that your comments are a large portion of why I do the things I do.  So thank you thank you THANK.YOU!

Beaming… over my absolutely amazing find on my new obsession Craigslist.  I had to drive 1.5 hours each way to get this sewing table but it was worth it.

The Rocketeer has already moved in!!  I do need to have the insert cut to fit the new machine but other than that it its perfect.  It was especiallyworth the drive because the sellers were moving my brother in law got a smashing deal on some golf clubs.  $2,000 worth of almost new golf clubs for $60.00!!! I also got a set of 100% Wool Felt Fat Quarters from Joann’s that use to be $50.00 for $5.97!  Hope this bargain shopping luck holds out!

Sewing… the finishing touches on my version of the Vogue 1086.  I would like to get some patterns traced off this weekend but laziness is already setting in.

Knitting… the fronts on my betty minisweater.  This is actually coming out nicer than I thought.  If this one works out I might actually make another in wool for fall.

Eating… nothing good and that is the problem.  I did get some fruit finally this week so maybe I can get back on track to some healthy eating.

Planning… my budget.  I have been pretty lax as of late with my spending so that needs to be reigned in.   The crafty gadget and fabric buying is a bit out of control, so I am planning to sort out my stash and try to think up a plan so that I keep my eyes in my stash and my cash in my pocket.  We shall see how that goes…

Anyhoo, another week done. See ya soon.

Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 02-2009-112

Pattern: BWOF 02-2009-112

Pattern Description: This shaped jacket with contrasting print is as classy as a fitted jacket and as sporty as a trench coat. The sewing pattern comes in petite/half sizes because this style is particularly suitable for shorter women.

Pattern Sizing: Burda sizes 17-21.  Increased to a 23

Fabric Used: Canary Yellow Stretch Cotton Sateen from Downtown LA

Notions Used: Buttons!

Pattern Alterations: Increased to a 23. Eliminated the buttons and buttonholes for the neck area.  Did not add belt loops.

The Good:

• I really love the color.  I am afraid of it much like I am afraid of white but I love it …LOL   Can’t wait till it cools down some to wear it.

• I had just enough of the main fabric to finish this jacket.  I had to use lining fabric underneath the flaps but it worked out well as it would have been pretty bulky otherwise.
• I like that it came in petite sizing already as that is one less step in my pattern adjustment checkoff list.

• Love all the details!
• My sewing pals helping me discover the paper towel buttonhole technique.

• Leaving out the buttonholes at the top.  This was yet another sewing pals suggestion as I will probably never wear the jacket like that.  However, if for some reason I did want to rock that style the flaps pretty much stay in place when they are tucked in anyway so it was a win all around.

• My buttons were super inexpensive!! Normally for me buttons cost more than the whole damn project…LOL…but for this one I found them at Joann’s and they cost me all of $7.00 for the lot.  Love it!
• Finally posting this jackets after it has been finished for AGES!!! LOL!

The Bad:

• Holy Cow is there a lot of topstitching!  That is what kept me from getting this done quicker.  What made it worse is I am quite OCD about my topstitching so it is slow and tedious and will be ripped if it looks crappy.  Thank goodness for the adjustable blindhem foot.

• Although I made a muslin, I was focused more on the sewing technique and should have looked a bit closer at the overall fit (and this picture! especially since I look hunchbacked, short, and wide.  I am not hunchbacked.  The rest…well…LOL!).    Although I have finally come to terms with some of my major adjustments like petiting patterns, I need to now focus on other details like back width, swayback, etc.  The back has some extra fabric floating around that should have been remedied since there are back seams and I could have petited further.  I also think I need to adjust for the width of my back as the sleeves seem ample length but pull a little when I stick both of my arms out.  Or maybe that is just the way it should be since only zombies walk around with both arms straight out all the time.  mmmm…braaaaiiinnnssss
• I used a knit interfacing due to the stretch in the fabric but should have used more stable woven interfacing as this did not NEED the stretch in the areas that had interfacing.  I just wanted the interfacing to be lightweight and not too stiff.  Must find proper substitute for this in the future.

The Ugly:

• I am really upset at how the front facing and jacket meet in the front.  Per Burda’s instruction I snipped the fabric where requested but it is exactly at the breakline for the facing.  I should have snipped a little inside to give it some stability and maybe even added some interfacing to give it some structure there.  It peeves me to no end as this was one of the last steps before the jacket was complete, but I will get over it…I hope.
• What is with the super tiny pockets?!  I was gonna redraft them but I was afraid they would be too close to the bottom of the jacket and might hang too low.  I often think of just cutting them off and having them be mock pockets and sew them closed.  I do like the flaps so i wouldn’t get rid of those.

Conclusion: Although I have quite a bit in the bad and ugly categories, I really do like this jacket.  Now I just need to get a years supply of Scotch Guard