January 13th update: Progress has been slooooow. As soon as I completed the side seams, I deliberately started dragging my heels. Why, you ask? because the very large side seam pockets destroyed the line of the coat and added about 30 kg to my hips. It took a while to convince myself that remedial action was essential (in this case, NOT a visit to the gym). By now I've ripped out the side pockets and reconstructed the side seams. Much better!
The bound buttonholes are made, but their matching openings on the facing not yet. Neither are the single welt pockets on the coat fronts: last night I had to dye some silk jacquard & organza for new pocket linings and facing buttonhole lips. But once those two things are done, I can sew the shoulder seams, set in sleeves & collars, and sew everything together. The undercollar is nicely padstitched, and the facings, underlining, and lining all integrated into a silk-lined microfleece undercoat. Then, just the sleeve & bottom hemming, and buttons. My progress is incrementally tiny each day. The windchill will be -34C tonight, -36C during the day tomorrow, and actual temps are to drop to -31C by Friday: I want to wear this baby already, and start my California-bound wardrobe.
Original post Jan 1st: Finally. Oh yes. I have 3 - count'em - just three nearly to-be-uninterrupted days left before I return to work. I hope to have my Very Serious Siege of Stalingrad Coat all but done by then. My little family New Year's Eve skate yesterday (brrr!), and the temps hitting -20C overnight, said: it's Time! it's Now Or Never! During the holidays I also did a little psychoanalysis aka self reflection, and realized what was holding me back: construction of the lining is always SO anticlimactic for me (hugely booooring!). I couldn't face that, SO to avoid the anticlimax, I started with the innards of the coat instead. Hooorray!!! Today I cut & sewed the lining, cut out the windblock underlining, got at least partway to having it constructed (might even finish before the night is out), and pre-treated the string which is going to be the lining trim (inside a gold coloured satin ribbon).
Oh yea. Oh yes, yes yes. I'm going to have a new coat before the week's out. A nice, long, all the way down there to the ground, made in Canada for a truly spanking Canadian blizzard, Eskimo-survival coat. Yea. Arctic blast, you say? bring it on, baby!!!! I'm going to face 40 below and enjoy it!!!!!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Progress at last!
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4 comments:
hahah we are sewing twins! I hadn't touched my coat since August but the last 3-4 days I've been ON FIRE (actually, on fire would be preferable right now to the icy cold..) with it and have gotten it right up to the "ready to line" stage today. I've been taking progress shots but have been too busy to post yet!
So other slackers, hear our call and join us!
Hooray, thank you so much for being my sewing buddy, Melissa.
I didn't finish yesterday. I'm at the stage of pinning fronts to back and checking the shoulder fit. The sleeves are also ready to be set in. Today I'm working on the under collar. I decided to try the upper collar out of faux fur. But - I can't decide if I want matching furry cuffs on the sleeves - it feels like a bit too 19th century, actually. Maybe I should make them removable, so once the fur wears out/or I decide they're hideous, I can get rid of them? I have a feeling my progress will be glacial this week, and it'll be at least the weekend before I finish.
Any other stragglers out there?
Yes! Slackers unite! Let's form a Straggler Committee! I'll be....the silent member in the background because I still haven't progressed to the cutting stage. I have to tweak my muslin and then I'll be ready to go. I think this blog will be in the dust by the time I'm finished.
Digs, as a born and bred Minnesotan, I'd vote for definitely doing removable faux fur cuffs. If they get dirty (say, because you scraped the ice off your sandy/dirty car one morning) you can more easily take them off to wash them.
Digs- you are hardly a straggler when you conside rthat this is your third coat!
I would want the cuffs removable. I find they can get in the way, personally.
Best of luck with it. I'm looking forward to the results.
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