I'm really deviating from the pattern / instructions at this point. My issue is that I'm going to be inserting shoulder pads, and I only know one way to do it! It involves pad stitching the shoulder pad into haircanvas which extends across the upper chest to the armscye. I used this technique on both [...]
Blog posts
The back vent
Three of the four designs in the Japanese coat book have a back vent. This is my third time around the block so I'll share what I've learned. Hopefully, it will make it easier for anyone either sewing along on this pea coat, or working on another coat with a back vent.On your pattern, extend [...]
Finishing up the welt pockets.
As planned, I completed the welt pockets this morning. A couple cups of coffee and I was ready to go. I find it much easier to work on difficult things when I'm fresh. Here is the pocket all basted into place. I find the little extra time this takes is well worth it. With everything [...]
Let’s get this party started!
All the pattern pieces are cut out so I'm ready to start. I like to get the hardest parts out of the way first. For most coats that means the fronts, and that's the case for this pea coat. My plan is to do them over two days. Even though I've walked myself through the [...]
Prepping the fabric…..and a discovery
I like to use the London shrink method for preparing wool fabric. It's simple and much less expensive than taking a length of fabric to the dry cleaners. God knows what they actually do there, if anything, other than waving some steam around. I used this method way back on the toggle coat so there [...]
Completing the welt pocket
Moving right along. Now we're working on the inside of the coat. Take the larger pocket piece and align it with the other piece of pocketing. While doing this, smooth the pocketing and the coat fabric flat. Pin the pocket bags together, but BASTE the the upper pocketing to the coat fabric above the welt [...]
Fire up the blog! The welt pocket mock-up
It's good to be back. My mom is doing much better and I've left her in the care of her cairn terrier, Tessa. I'm back in Maine and back on the pea coat project. My "sew-alonger" in the UK has probably already finished the damn coat! Anyway, today I did a mock-up of the welt [...]
Temporarily on hold
Dear readers, the pea coat project has hit a little bump in the road. My 87 year old Mom has been battling pneumonia for a week now, and I've been driving back and forth from Maine to NH to help her out as much as possible. There really isn't any time for welt pockets right [...]
Pea coat muslin and a question
Just as a refresher, this is the book that I / we're working from. It should be pretty easy to find on either Ebay or Etsy. The photography is really stunning. So even if you never make any of the coats, the book is a pleasure to own. BTW I'm showing it placed on the [...]
The devilish dart!
Warning! This post will be of limited interest to anyone who isn't trying to make this coat. There are 2 darts on the front of this coat. One runs from the armpit to behind the welt pocket. Very straightforward. The other is at the neckline, and has to be the most bizarre construction I've run [...]
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