Catalog Sunday

This Sunday I have more Chicago Mail Order from 1937.

I just love these dresses!

Overalls are finished!

Man, nearly a week with no posts. Sorry about that. I lost a freelance gig then got another one that's been taking up my time, and I'm glad for it. Don't get me wrong, I love the sewing, but rent is awesome.

But I did have some time to do some hand sewing.

I stitched the bib to the pants and presto, instant overalls!

I've put the pictures on NVL.

I also put up more images of my tweed beret and my tailored jacket.

Thanks!

I didn't forget about you all....

Now that my jacket is complete and my brain is not interested in doing any overly complicated projects, the rest of this month I'm going to revisit some things that are near completion that I haven't finished or forgotten.

First off is my overalls.

As you all remember I wanted to try something to make the bib detachable. Well, I failed. It's not going to work. I attempted to sew in two jacket zippers but that was a bust, so I'm just going to attach the bib and just wear them as regular overalls. I'll post the conclusion shortly.

My next back burner project was my skirt of many, many, many, many gores.

I set this one aside because the zipper I put in it didn't have a self locking head and every time I wore it the zipper slid down. It took me a while to get that zipper in, and I'm going to have to rip it out and put in a new one. I'm not looking forward to that at all.

Lastly I'm going to complete my homemade girdle.

Other things just came up so I didn't finish it.

I have all the pieces and I'm ready to do the final parts.

That's my schedule for the next few weeks.

Catalog Sunday

Today's catalog is Chicago Mail Order summer 1937.

Enjoy!

I can make a tailored jacket in a week!

Though I don't recommend it.......to ANYONE!

Don't we look like some steampunk crime fighting syndicate?

The Tweed Pub Crawl was a hit! We all looked rather fetching and got a lot of stares. There were about twelve of us at any one time. It so happened the crawl was the same night of the LA Art Walk, which happens monthly, so we were in a sea of hipsters and getting a lot of looks and smiles and compliments. It was fun.

The crawl got to me early though. I only went to 3 bars, but the crawl ended at 4. I wanted to Ginness it all night, but the first two bars only had it in bottles (A SIN I TELL YOU!) and not on draft. At the third bar, I got a cocktail and there as I was looking to my right. Ginness on draft! *$#%!!!! The cocktail was good (I had a Sazerac).

But back to the jacket.

As I was finishing it yesterday and working on the button holes, I decided to change it up a bit and do worked button holes.

Now, that's just button holes by hand, but I used cotton embroidery thread for decoration. Because the tweed was a bit loose, I machine made the button holes for reinforcement first, then used the colored thread.

Each button hole is different. I wanted to mimic the flecks in the tweed, so I used about 5 strands of thread at one time.

They went fairly fast and now I don't have to worry about the button holes getting raveled or worn as quickly. I did a thread shank for the buttons and all was good in the world.

I'm quite proud of the jacket, and for my first time, despite some minor things I would change (The sleeves are a bit long on purpose, I hate cold wrists), I'm very happy with the fit. It will make a great everyday LA winter jacket. Its warm, small, and close fitted. I know it's nowhere near professional, and a pro would probably laugh at my effort, but I'm very pleased with this process and when I get my brain out of scrambled egg mode, I might make another one way, WAY down the line. :)

The book I used as a guide was quite helpful, but knowing that I like to make sure I do stuff right, I looked in a few of my resources.

My Du Barry sewing book was one, that's where I took the worked button hole idea from. I also looked in my big and VERY useful sewing book. This puppy has a nice section on coat making.

Also...after I finished the coat, I looked to my leftover tweed and thought, "Do I have enough time to whip up a hat? Alright, Ill just sew for three hours, and if it's finished, its finished."

Finished it.

Hat was a HUGE hit. One lady almost ripped it off my head! Just made it from my trusted altered beret pattern. Quick and easy. You have no idea how hard it was NOT to make this thing two-tone! I had to constantly NOT do it! It's a sickness I tell you, a lovely, lovely sickness.

So that's my tailoring adventure. I plan to have more final pictures of the jacket and hat on NVL in a day or so.

I sincerely appreciate everyone on the words of encouragement and such during this crazy never attempt again in a week process.

Do any of you have any questions about my process?

I'll answer them in another post.

Can I make a tailored jacket in a week? Last Day!

Last night before I went to bed I flipped the facing pieces outright.

I pressed open the seams then notched the corner of where the lapel starts.

I slightly folded the seam on the inside of the jacket.

When I got to the lapel, I worked the fold so it was slightly tucked behind the front of the lapel. Then pressed the heck out of it. Then I went to bed.

I had a good sleep, and got up refreshed. It was like it was meant to be. The lining just dropped into the jacket. I hemmed the back of the lining, tacked the sleeves in place and whip stitched everything together. Took an hour.

I cut a way some of the fold on the front of the jacket when I hemmed it.

I didn't want the bulk. I'm sure there was a more artful way to do it, but I just cut away some of the fold and did some stay stitching on it with my machine.

Gave her a final press and took all the pins out.

Now all I have to do is add the button holes!

I even have the perfect buttons, classic and understated.

I'll post the final of the jacket tomorrow!

Can I make a tailored jacket in a week? Day 7

Great tater tots, I'm tired.

I did A LOT today. I added the sleeves.

Pressed the seams.

Tacked the seams down.

Added shoulder pads I made. Added the basting tape to the shoulders and front darts.

Cut out the lining.

Overlocked the lining. Assembled the lining. Pressed the lining. I even added a back part in a nice rough brushed wool.

I like doing that to the linings of things I make. I'm sure it has a name, but I don't know what it's called. I even stitched NVL into it.

Why Not?

Last but not least, I added the facing pieces and top collar to the jacket.

Whew. I still have to work that right side up, but at least its attached. I'll let the lining hang a bit more then Ill go on and start stitching it into the jacket.

The pockets I thought were going to be a piece of cake.

Why do I have to make things so complicated? I wanted some stability on the top of the pocket, so I lined it with grosgrain. I plan to do the same thing to the cuffs of the sleeves and the hem of the jacket.

But right now I'm cold and tired I have cramps and I need a shower. I know, too much information, but hey, you've read this far.

Tomorrow night is the event and if I can get the lining in, it hemmed and pressed and get the 3 button holes done, I'm wearing this puppy.

We will have to see....