Just Buttons...

Well I'm so close, I can taste it.  LOL.  The lining is completely sewn in and all I have to do is sew the buttons on.  But I couldn't wait to show photos, even if the buttons aren't there yet.  Here's a couple of pictures and they are lightened considerably.

Later!

I can see the light

At the end of the tunnel...

After tons of hand stitching, (it's a good thing I like handwork) I'm finally coming to the end of the project.  All of the decorative pick stitching is done.  You can see some of it in the picture.   I now have most of the jacket lining installed, completely by hand.  I just have to attach the sleeve linings and do buttons and this coat will be complete.  Here is a picture of the inside of the jacket.   Again, I've lightened the picture considerably to be able to show the details.  Click on the picture to look closer. 

You'll notice a little red feather stitching on the shoulders and back of the neck.  I used a decorative embroidery stitch to hold the folds of the darts down nicely.  I choose red because I had some red silk leftover from another project and the coat really did need a little pick-me-up color-wise.  LOL. 

When it's completed, I'll get Alan to get a picture of it on me.  I'm hoping to be done this week.

Later!

Vintage Vogue 2884 - Oh So Close

More on the coat!  LOL.  Sometimes sewing happens around here in dribs and drabs; 30 minutes here and there.  Here's a picture of the insides.  Hmmm, I think this is the first time I've really shown the inside of my work to any real degree.  LOL. But I've done so much hand work, I want to show it off a bit.  You'll need to click on the picture to enlarge it to see the pad stitching done on the lapels and under collar.

Now I've got the front facing installed and steam pressed.  I've tacked it down in a few places and have the hem turned up and steamed.  Since there is a lot of acrylic in this wool blend, I can't touch the iron directly to the fabric; I have to use a press cloth to do any pressing or press from the wrong side where it won't show.  I'm also using my clapper to flatten the seams so it doesn't look fluffy.  LOL.  Tomorrow I'll baste the hem and take new pictures.  I'll be starting to put my lining together.  But...I'm going to pick stitch around the whole outside edge of the coat first. 

Toodles!

Vintage Vogue 2884 - Some progress

I spent Thursday and Friday in OKC with Claire Kennedy  working on my vintage coat.  I have the 2 piece front put together, the pocket inserted and instead of top-stitching, I'm doing a pick stitch by hand.  I'm learning so much in this class!  I've learned a better way to clip curves; instead of cutting out notches of fabric, I now cut slits to reduce the amount of fabric in a curve and to get the clipping to lie nice and flat.

I just finished my sleeves and thought I would show them to you.

Believe or not I lightened the crap out of these pictures to get even this much to show up.  LOL.  Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Here's a closeup of the pick stitch detail.

More to come...