Marcy Jacket Closeted/Fiber Arts/Pattern Prize

I'm so far behind in posting.  My blog is shamefully neglected.  I need a class in time management.

The MarciTilton jacket I've been working on is(was) almost finished.  Problem:  there is a big old diagonal pleat in the back peplum.  It sticks out like a sore thumb on my behind.  So, I took the pleat out, which would be fine, except that I used a stripe fabric, and the peplum is cut rather angular, making the stripes look wonky.  So, I put it in the closet until I feel like trying to work out a solution.  It's just one of those things.  If I were to make the jacket again, I would take the pleat out before cutting the fabric.  And it would not be a stripe.  I still like the basic cut, and sometime I'll probably try it again.  Meanwhile---

At September's Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan, we were honored to have a class by Bernina Fashion Show participant, MichelleMitchell.  She sews art garments, and is an award winner several times.  The class she taught is called "Crinkled and Gathered".  We started with several 1-1/2" strips of fabric, sew together--as if you were strip piecing a quilt.  On that fabric, you free-motion stitch in a zig-zag pattern, going across an area of about 2" at a time, and down the length of the fabric.   That is repeated across the width.  As you sew in that fashion, the fabric starts to bunch up, crinkle and gather.  Here is what the fabric looks like with one layer of thread stitched on top. (The white fabric is "handles" you use to maneuver the fabric from side to side.)

That process is repeated until you have 7-8 layers of thread stitched, starting with the darkest thread and ending with the lightest.  When finished, the fabric is about half the width of the original.  There is only a trace of fabric showing through all that thread.  It feels very much like upholstery fabric when done.  Here is the finished piece.

From it, you can cut details of a garment, like collars, cuffs, pockets, etc.  It was a great class.   Also a big time-suck.  I'm glad I know it though, because it may be exactly what I need sometime.

Designer group's October challenge is to sew something from silk upholstery samples that came from a furniture store.  We could choose 3.  One of the samples I chose is a dark yellow plaid.  It was just large enough to make this Jitney Miser Bag from PeacockPatterns.

In the 1700s England, people carried these belt bags to keep their coins separated.  The bag has an opening down the center,  with rings on either end that slide up and down to open and close the bag.  It is supposed to be worn with a belt to hold it on.  No belt?  Then you attach a carabineer and clip it to a belt loop or waistband.  This is what it looks like from the right side:

And open, from the wrong side, showing the opening to put your valuables.

On the grab table there was this reprint of  "Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery and Lace Work", first published in 1922.  It's amazing seeing what could be done with a treadle machine.  The book is filled with photographs of beautiful lace-work.  I love it, and it is mine.

Lastly, I won this Jalie pattern give-away from LuckySewandSew(Jane).  Drapey front cardis are so on the fashion scene, and I've seen this one made up a few times.  Thank you Jane.  This is in my queue.

I just finished another fiber-art class, and will post about that in a few days.  Right now I am working on a SantaHandbag for myself.  It is made from red satin, which I'm quilting and then cutting the pieces.  It is not too early to sew for the holidays.  Not if you're like me and have a lot of things taking up time.  I know I'm not alone here. Jingle bells and ho, ho, ho!