Emptying the project bag
For past two weeks I’ve been doing a lot of sewing. I got out my grocery bag full of projects and mending and just started plowing through it. My goal for January is to empty the bag entirely. I figure if I get totally caught up, I will feel like I can move forward with new things without guilt. Luckily, I was on vacation week one, so I got a lot accomplished. So far:
- Finished sewing one skirt and altered another;
- Re-made a coat;
- Cut fabric for a hidden-zipper pillow cover;
- Re-pinned two kimono-fabric projects;
- Attempted a pair of gloves (total failure, there);
- Mended three sweaters, a pair of pants and two fabric pins.
Although not everything went swimmingly (typical), I still made a huge amount of progress, and my post today is on two successes. With this stuff completed I’m almost past the basic clothing alterations and mending and can get back into the substantial projects. But first, check out this panorama I got above Berkeley today while hiking today. You can see a bigger version if you click through to Flickr. Sadly, I seem to have developed a massive sore throat out of the experience too.
So here I am wearing my refashioned skirt and coat last Thursday. I remarked that day on Twitter that no one pointed and laughed all day, and nothing fell apart, so I feel like I succeeded.
The skirt I made in its entirety from fabric I love because it’s my first piece of Miriam-made clothing, and I owe much to my grandmother for guiding me through the pattern! I finished the A-line version of this skirt in October 2009 when I went to visit my grandparents. I wore the skirt a few times, but soon acknowledged that I look awful in A-line skirts, plus I lost weight. It needed to be shorter and much narrower. While I altering it I also did a tidier jeans-style finish on all the seams. It now fits great and is really comfortable! I love having a piece of clothing made to my measurements!
The coat is one I bought when I lived in New York. Sorry it’s hard to see – all black! I bought it for the great knitted collar. It’s one of the few wool items I own – the cotton collar means wool doesn’t come in contact with my sensitive skin, and for some reason the boiled wool is less irritating. Plus it has great drape.
Aside from the collar, though, the coat was a big long (mid-calf) cape with sleeves. It had no shape, and because it lacked front closures it was chilly, too. So I added six sturdy 3/4-inch snaps to the front to close it up on an asymmetrical line, took a foot off the length, added two pockets, and made sleeve cuffs. All the sewing but the three-seam hem is made with invisible hand-tacking. Even the pockets are tacked in place to prevent floppiness. Much, much better!
Question for readers who dare to actually leave a comment! I’m considering adding a simple pattern of white embroidery down the front edge and on the sleeve cuffs, just a one-inch-wide flower-and-vine pattern. What do you think? Would it add interest or is the collar/shape enough?
4 Comments
feel free to leave a few words of your own...Anna — Mon Jan 10, 2011 at 5:35 am (link)I know I embroider, but I am never any good at imagining embroidery on clothes. I have a sweater I was going to convert to a cardigan and embroider on the placket, but I’m stymied by what it will look like in the end. Sorry to be so unhelpful.
Melissa — Mon Jan 10, 2011 at 7:03 am (link)You forgot “mended a purse.”
I like the skirt!
Margaret — Tue Jan 11, 2011 at 5:09 am (link)Working down your backlog of mending so you can do today’s work today? That has a familiar ring to it. Excellent work on the skirt. I am not sure about the embroidery on the coat as the lines of the piece itself is pretty strong, and I am afraid the detail would get lost. I like it as is.
kristina b — Tue Jan 11, 2011 at 6:42 pm (link)Hi Mir! Miss you.
I vote as-is too, embroidery and asymmetrical blackness may not go hand in hand.
