Saturday, January 9, 2010

I've Been Searchin'

Yesterday, I cut out the McCall jacket.  This particular houndstooth is small-scale, maybe 1/4".  It's one of those fabrics that causes your eyes to cross when you stare at it.  There's no way I could eyeball the stripes to line up pattern pieces.  So, I used some colored transparent tape, and taped a horizontal line.


I marked a horizontal line across the pattern at the underarm so I could line it up with the tape on the fabric.  

I lined the CF and CB with a vertical stripe.  And all was well.  Until today.

This morning, I decided to re-draft the facings.  I fused Pam's Pro-Weft interfacing, which is rapidly becomming my favorite all-around fusible. 

This jacket is so easy that a beginner could sew it.  That is, unless you make it complicated, which I seem to be doing.  I wanted patch pockets on both fronts.  I looked through an old book by Claire Schaefer and found exactly what I was looking for.

The pockets will be piped in red satin, left over from the SantaPurse.  I went to the cabinet where a roll of rat-tail cord is kept.  It's been in that cabinet for years.  But it's not there today.  I pulled everything out, looking through every box.  No cord.   Bah!  While searching, I had my hand on a shelf, and put too much weight on it, when ker-plunk the shelf went down and me with it.  I busted my lip.

I gave up the search and made a sample of the piping without a  filler cord.

While walking the "dreadmill" later, and thinking about that rat-tail, I went to a storage closet where there's a bin or two of sewing projects, and there was the cord.  Yay! 

Me and my disfigured lip will try again tomorrow to start sewing this jacket. 


22 Talk to me:

KID, MD said...

It is so going to be fabulous!! I hope the busted lip is better soon. The things we do for our craft...

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

Oh Gwen, bless your heart! I am sorry you hurt your lip. Hopefully it will heal quickly. The sample you made up is wonderful! The red piping brings things to life. :D

Barb

Lori said...

This is going to be a great jacket. Sorry about your lip, glad you found the cord.

Aminat said...

I like the idea of front patch pocket, the jacket will be so beautifulm by the time you are done, and sorry about your lip.

Michelle said...

Great idea with the tape, that will definitely help in matching. Sorry to hear about your lip, I hope you heal up quickly.

julia said...

You are so smart! I never would have thought of using the tape like that! I love the red piping on the pockets!!! I'm glad you found our cording!!! Ouch!! I hope your lip is ok very soon!!! I've been hunting some yarn that I KNOW I have. I was using it just a couple of weeks before
Christmas. I have several skeins! I can't find it anywhere!!! It will turn up after I quit looking, I hope, anyway.

Jean said...

I hope you heal soon --- you went through a lot for that rat tail, so I'm sure the project will turn out beautifully! Thank you for the information about the fabric/yardage cards in your previous post --- great resource!

Rose said...

I use colored tape for a lot of things, but never thought about using it for matching. What a great idea! I'm sorry to hear about your lip and hope that it is healing now. Your search for the piping sounds like a sitcom that occurs in my sewing room too often. I'll confess -- I had to laugh. The jacket sounds like it is coming along nicely.

Audrey said...

Using tape to mark the straight of grain on that type of fabric is a great idea! I will definitely use it when I cut out a similar fabric I bought this fall. The clerk cutting my yardage commented that the small black and white pattern made her eyes hurt. I love the red piping with the black and white. I hope your lip is getting better.

Linda T said...

Oh man............a busted lip.....at least you find the cord....can't wait to see what I know will be a fabulous jacket!

Linda T said...

Oh no Gwen, what you went through for a pocket! I can't wait to see the finished garment.

Great use of the colored tape. It has a lot of uses besides the use it is sold for. I bought some for some reason and have used it for many things. The most often use is to mark the 5/8ths line on my beginning students sewing machines. And I had a project that required a wider seam width so I used it to mark my machine. It doesn't leave anything behind when removed.

I hope your lip is better soon! Ouch!

Vernon Fashion Studio

Elizabeth said...

The tape for matching plaids is a wonderful idea-I just hope I can remember it the next time I'm matching something. And what a day you had! Maybe now you have earned a week or two of blissful perfection.

Diana said...

What a great look with the piped pockets. So sorry about the lip. I guess we all have things that disappear into the unknown only to show up in a totally unexpected place. Have fun finishing your jacket!

ClaireOKC said...

It's pretty scary what we sewists endure...and the wounds and injuries we endure to persevere through our art....burnt, poked, scraped, nipped fingers and now fat lips!!!!

Cisa said...

Ouch! Heal quickly. I know just how you felt, too. Sometimes the sewing gods are just not with us

Eugenia said...

Sewing can be a dangerous pastime in many ways! I do hope your lip gets better soon. Thanks so much for that great tip for using coloured tape.

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Oh dear, I hope your lip recovers quickly! Houndstooth matching is no fun.

Rhoto said...

Poor Dear!! (Your story WAS funny, though, eh...)
Soft hug,
Rhonda

Lisette M said...

I really like the lines in this jacket, the fabric is perfect for it. I think redrawing the underarm was a great idea.
Sorry to hear about your lip :(

David said...

Ouch...
But that jacket will be sooo worth it! Nice fabrics.

Patricia said...

That tape is a brilliant idea. I hope your lip heals soon.
Love the houndstooth!

Kat said...

I'm moving up your posts. Gosh, this is going to be really sharp!

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