And to finish this coat

I’m so sorry this blog is way overdue and so is the coat!

Nashville was great and not at all like I expected. Strange now you get these ideas in your head about a place and you are totally wrong. Would I go back, in a heartbeat.  A mix of friendly people, great food and entertainment all among rolling green hills that felt so much like home.

The class was a mix of interesting people that worked so hard over the 2 days that by the end I felt a little guilty. But at the end of the class they were happy and all told me they would take one of my classes again. I was invited back next year to teach at the conference. It is because of these ladies who asked me what else I taught and did I teach private classes that I have exciting news to share with you at the end of this blog.

So now back to the coat.

The facings are attached and the shoulder pads made. I made raglan sleeve shoulder pads following the technique from my book, Tailored fashion design. They were shaped with my iron before slip stitching into the coat.

Next came the lining. This also was made following the technique from my book of adding ease into the lining and a center back pleat. It was then attached into the coat. I machine stitched the lining to the front facing and sleeve hem but slip stitched the lining around the neck edge.  

 

Because of the pleats in the skirt of this coat the lining had to finish just below the start of the pleat.

 

 

The lining was then loosely attached to the shoulder pad at the shoulder point, the under arm and on the lining hem line at the center back and side seams.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I also used caught stitch down the inside of the front facing from the hem up to the first button to stop the facing from rolling out towards the front of the garment.

  The back of the button holes were then finished and the buttons attached.

 

 

As I had made patch pockets and wanted them to be a little different I added a buckle to the pocket and a tab.

 

All the buttons were sewn on  

The coat has now gone out on a photo shoot so no finished photo but I will cheer as soon as I can.

 

 

Now let me share with you my exciting news. I have put together a list of classes that I am going to be teaching Jan/Feb 2014. This is only the beginning there is a lot more to come.

The Canvas Coat Front

Chicago IL January 18 & 19 2014   9 -4.30pm

Two day tailoring workshop based on my article The canvas coat front in Threads magazine. Learn how to softly build the inner structure of a coat that will hold it's shape for the life of the garment.

Go further than the article learn to construct a piped pocket, pocket flap and bound buttonholes.

 

Making a skirt from your own measurements

Chicago IL January 25 & 26 2014

Beginner to medium sewing skills

2 day workshop   9- 4,30pm

This workshop begins with you taking your measurements, using them to draft a paper skirt pattern. You will then make a toile (muslin) from this pattern and make any fit adjustments for a perfectly fitting straight skirt.

 

The bullet Bra

Chicago IL February 1, 2014

Medium to better sewing skills

1 day workshop 9 – 4.30pm

The bullet or cone bra was a favorite of the pinup girls from the 1940’s -50’s. Madonna wore cone shaped bra cups designed by Jean Paul Gaultier to sing “Express yourself” the opening number on her Blonde Ambition tour in 1990. In this workshop you will learn to draft and construct a bullet bra.

 

Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Chicago IL February 2, 2014

 Half day workshop  1 – 4.30pm

Ribbon can be worked the same as any other thread. You can make French knots, bullion stitch roses and lazy daisy stitches in ribbon rather than embroidery thread. This workshop will introduce you to working with ribbon and some of the basic stitches.