Lady Grey Update

I'm fully aware that I started my Lady Grey coat nearly two months ago...and it isn't finished. As a matter of fact, I don't believe I've touched it in almost a month.

Everything was going fine and I was trucking along for quite some time (largely due to the fact that I decided to forgo some of the more indepth tailoring since I'm not using heavy material), I finished my bound button holes (with Daniel's help), then WHAM! Disaster struck.

I am in love with my button holes (again, thanks to Daniel and his ability to draw straight lines). Since I couldn't find matching silk organza or a suitable substitute, I opted for the simplified bound button hole. I was so very happy with the result,


relieved that I decided to do fabric covered buttons with the lining fabric (super easy with the Dritz kit),


and thrilled with my beautiful top stitching


that it was a very long way to fall when I realized the mistake...


Yes, the button is on the wrong side of the front piece...on both of them. I've poured over the pattern and directions time and time again, but I can't figure out what I read incorrectly. I'm 99% sure it was my mistake since everyone else in the sew along seems to have gotten it correct...but I can't figure out how you would get to the correct placement from the pattern.

I have enough fabric to redo the front pieces, but I have no interest in ripping out allllll those seams (remember, top stitching everywhere) and starting over. So there it sits, half finished, an eye sore, and a huge bummer. I tried to just push through and managed to get most of my lining finished...but it's just such a downer that I've lost interest.





The worst part - I promised my sister I'd finish it before I visit at Thanksgiving so she could admire it and be jealous of what an incredible seamstress I am ;) Total fail?

Catching Up

It's been a while since I last posted as I've been frantically trying to wrap up a handful of projects, and it will probably be another short while until I post again.

I'm fully aware that it is only October 11th, but for those of us giving all handmade gifts, Christmas is right around the corner. I have wisely (ha) decided to undertake 20 projects before Christmas (and some of those before Thanksgiving to save on shipping), and have completed 4 3/4. I also have Halloween costumes to finish...before Halloween...and I have the Lady Grey Sew Along mixed in there as well.

Things are getting done though. I made the slip cover for our guest room (my sewing room/office) sofa bed:



I finished the bibs for the baby gift:






Ann is on her stand and ready for draping projects (that was more Daniel than me, but whatever):



And this is where I am on my Lady Grey coat:


All pieces are cut and serged, folded neatly, and sitting in a stack. My fusible interfacing should be here today (didn't realize I didn't have enough until I went to use it), so I'll probably start assembling tonight.
I made my first attempt at a bound buttonhole last night and while it definitely didn't come out presentable, I know what I did wrong and think my next attempt will go better. Once I'm happy with the outcome, I'll go ahead on the jacket.
I'm also not sold on my button choice. I had no idea what to do, so I just picked up something that would "work" to fill the space. Maybe I should try a fabric covered button to match either the shell or lining? Thoughts? Suggestions?

In my "finished" stack there are also those presents that are finished, but I can't post pictures...I believe in surprise too much to risk having to make something else just because the cat got out of the bag ;)

And We're Off!!

The Lady Grey Sew Along started this week and we're currently at our muslin/fitting stage. Thankful that I could save some money by using some old drapery fabric from Mom's stash, I set out to make my muslin. As I said before, this if the first time I've ever followed this golden rule of sewing, but I'm definitely seeing the benefit already.

I finished mine Friday evening and put the pictures up on our Flickr pool to get feedback as I am 100% new to coats and tailoring. At first look, I was thrilled (remember that the collar and lapel have the seam allowances showing, so they'll be smaller by 5/8" all around). I was also a little thrown by the incredibly uncomfortable sleeves. That is, until I realized that there was a left sleeve and a right sleeve (would have been helpful for them to mention that), and I definitely had them in backwards, which is why they look so crumply.



Then I turned around...



I knew the fit was close, but couldn't quite figure out what was going wrong across the back. So, I waited and checked for feedback every hour or so until I saw the suggestions that the coat was a little long in the waist, which makes perfect sense as I am child-sized :) I brought it up about 1/2" all the way around to test the theory and was delighted with the result. As I had additional suggestions to try some light shoulder pads to help with the extra space across the shoulders but still allow free movement, I tacked in some 1/4" shoulder pads. I also took the time to switch the sleeves and was pleased to find that that was precisely the problem. Once I had those turned up to the planned 3/4 length, they didn't even look so overpowering on my little arms, either.

(Those are excited little fists because all the changes worked, FYI)

I am so glad I decided to do the sew along now that I'm into it, and I definitely think it was a worth-while splurge. The feedback from more experienced sewists has been invaluable (and we all know I would never have done the muslin otherwise), and it's so fun to see what fabrics, etc everyone else is working with! AND, it doesn't hurt that through this I've connected with another little sewist in IL who is also 4'11 :) Maybe I'm not so strange afterall...

Lady Grey Sew Along

I am getting more and more antsy every time I think about starting the sew along, and even have a little countdown going in my head. It's almost here! I'm pretty sure I have everything I'll be needing for the project, with the exception of the button and I might have to buy more interfacing. Want to see my fabric choices?


For my outer I chose a medium brown stretch moleskin (loved the machine wash/machine dry aspect!). I ordered some stretch moleskin in bone to make a cover for our futon and loved the feel of it so much that I decided that's what I wanted to use. From there, I just had to choose the shade.


I really wanted to have a fun lining and had two on Fabric.com that I couldn't choose between. One was just so much fun that I ordered it even though I wasn't convinced it would match the outer, and the other was the pictured navy/floral satin charmeuse. I definitely like both, but this one was a little more tame than I was hoping for; ultimately it was decided that matching was the most important :)

This definitely won't end up a statement coat, but I thought it wise to play it safe on my first try...and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for one just yet anyway.

We start the muslin next week and I'm a little embarrassed to say this will be my first time making one. I always run head first into the project (which is probably why I have some adorable disappointments in my pile), but I am committed to following the rules 100% with this project!

Ready to Buckle Up for My First Sew Along!

This is it! I'm taking the plunge and have "signed-on" for my first Sew Along!

I've been a lurker on Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing for quite some time now, and an avid one at that. As a matter of fact, I take pride in my sneaky, stalkerish, lurking abilities which are not limited to blogs by any means. With one quick post, however, Gertie got the better of me and I caved, leaving an excited, introductory comment on her blog. What was this devious post about? Nothing other than a Sew Along! **gasp** I am so weak.

As a coat lover, I've been itching to make myself some fabulous fall coats (I am not so disillusioned as to believe I could make myself a coat that will keep me toasty warm at -10 degrees F). What could be better than a Sew Along for this fabulous Lady Grey coat by Colette Patterns?? Oh, I know. The sew along PLUS the fact that this gives me an approved excuse to buy more fabric, as the beautiful green/silver plaid and beige/chocolate plaid just aren't right for this. Poor, poor Stephanie - right?

I have the pattern ordered, and it looks like the process will begin mid-September. More to come!!