All the while I'm working on this project I keep thinking about that joke -- How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. It's the same with shirts, it's all about the practice. It's also all about embracing the details rather than dreading them. I really have to slow down and just take [...]
Blog posts
Back to the blog. Hopping on the linen shirt bandwagon.
Readers, I took an extended break from sewing to work on a backyard fountain. It's been a long drawn out affair. Not only has there been a lot of backbreaking digging and hauling of dirt, but most of my days off in June were rainy. There were times I thought it would never be done, [...]
Happiness is….. The completed safari jacket!
All the loose threads are clipped. All the buttons are sewn on. The sun is shining so it's time to get outside and model the circa 1975 safari jacket. I'm a happy guy in my new safari jacket! Simplicity 6887 with a few modifications here and there. The pattern had a HUGE disco collar that I [...]
Safari — A whole lotta hand sewing!
We've had some pretty miserable weather recently. So it's been a good time to stay in, watch season 2 of Downton Abbey and do a ton of hand sewing. So here's a glimpse of what's going on with the safari jacket. This is a hemming technique from my old pal Edna Bishop. Parts of it [...]
Safari — The odds and ends post
This is sort of a catch-all post. The outside of the coat is essentially finished, as is the lining. Time to put the two halves together. There is hardly any interfacing in this jacket if one follows the directions. Basically there are only 2" wide strips down the center front bands. Not much structure to [...]
Safari — The lining
Simplicity 6887 is for an unlined jacket, but making a lining isn't all that hard and will really improve the wearability of this jacket. I just need to prepare myself mentally for working with polyester acetate, which must have been invented by the devil. I'm using a lightweight lining that's been in my stash for [...]
Safari — The sleeves
I spent the better part of a day working on the sleeves. I knew after making the muslin that they were going to take some effort to do well. My plan has been to add some contrasting fabric to the sleeve vents. I extended the stitching line of the undersleeve vent and pinned a scrap [...]
Safari — Givin’ it hell for a day
I don't know about you, but I really hate being dragged away from my projects. The safari jacket has been dead in the water for over a week now due to some family commitments and work. While I was away I would mentally "work" on it, thinking through the construction of the pockets and vents. [...]
Safari Jacket — the fussy bits
This jacket is all about the little details, so I'm starting by making the epaulettes and all the pockets and their flaps. I enjoy this kind of a challenge but it's very time consuming. I lined the upper flaps and epaulettes with scraps of oxford cloth from my Spring buttondown. Here's a closer shot. It's [...]
The Safari Muslin
Things are moving along on the safari project. I'm happy with my two piece sleeve, so here's where things stand. From the front I'm pleased with the fit across the chest. For once there doesn't appear to be any need for a shoulder adjustment. I did think the fit was too snug at the waist [...]
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