I hope everyone is staying cool! Reading various blogs gives me a lot of sympathy for the sufferings of many of you in the extreme heat.
I have been working on finishing a jacket I started last weekend. It's a Style Arc jacket. It's the first upper body garment I've made from their pattern line and I think I may have bought the wrong size, based on the alterations. (I still haven't decided yet.) I was hoping to finish it today, but I spent the entire day working on the elastic casing (it required much tweaking to get it in the right location for my figure) and the hem. Lots of fiddly work.
The torso is completed now and I only need to cut out and sew the sleeves. But then I realized just a few minutes ago that I hadn't cut the hood out either - I wasn't sure at first I wanted a hood. So, given that all I have to do tomorrow is the hood and sleeves, I should have no problem finishing, right? Believe me, this has required a lot of discipline as I have been suffering from sewing ADD and many other projects beckon that are more fun than finishing up a jacket with lots of handwork. But I am determined.
I may not blog it until Monday, though, depending on whether I can get photos taken.
My kids are in Europe, so I really have no excuse. Yeah, poor babies, they started in Lake Como where my grandfather was born, and are now in Paris. They leave in the next few days for London. I received an excited email a few days ago because they met Queen Latifah at the hotel where she (and they) are staying. (Queen Latifah is one of DD1's favorite actresses.) She was very gracious about speaking with them, posing for photos, etc.
Anyway, I am definitely in "bachelorette" mode at the moment. ;)
I don't have too much to report, though I was enabled by one of my blog readers, Andrea, who had just ordered a handmade tailors ham and seam roll from Etsy. I haven't had a seam roll since I lost the one my mother made and used for years (I vaguely recall it falling apart), and my ham is rather dull and boring, so I bought a set also. They arrived in just a couple days and were beautifully wrapped. Here's the picture from her Etsy shop.
They are so cute, and so well made, but they are rather small. Perfect for daintily-sized sewists or folks who sew for kids, but I have never found myself thinking, "gee, I wish my ham were smaller," especially not when pressing my ginormous bust darts. So if you do order from StitchNerd, I would suggest you order her custom ham which comes in a larger size. They are cute and well made. Plus, she threw in a free piece of tailor's chalk. :)
Oh, one little request. If you are in the Bay Area and use Facebook, please look up the "Artistry in Fashion" group on Facebook and "like" it. If they get 100 "likes" by August first, they will do a random drawing for a free entrance. The event is on Sept 24th this year and it's something I look forward to all year!
Thanks for the mention. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always happy to enable. ;)
ReplyDeletePoor exiled babies! Mine is just wrapping up three weeks in Haiti, which I think doesn't quite compare . . .
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful hams, if small. Maybe they'll turnout to be unexpectedly useful for some kinds of seams.
I can't wait to see your Style Arc jacket. I'm very curious about those patterns -- and "Shams meets anything" is well worth viewing!
Shams, thanks for the info on Style Arc -- I had not heard of them! Cool ham and seam roll!
ReplyDeleteShams thanks for your take on the StyleArc jacket. I'm having the exact issue with the Katherine pants - I should have bought the size 14 instead of the 10 and taken them in above the crotchline. Just too many alterations to fit, and I can't believe they are supposed to look like this. And I should know better. I should have told Chloe my thigh circumference when I asked her about a size recommendation, as that's my most out-of-proportion measurement.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, that is an excellent comment. Wherever we are most out of proportion is key. I read on PR someone else found a Style Arc jacket pattern too small for her. It was a different jacket than mine and she had purchased based on her upper bust measurement, I think. She said she should have purchased based on her back measurement. That would have been good for me, I think, except I did have to take in the hips quite a bit. It's the challenge of my figure - I don't blame Style Arc. My bust, waist, and hips are really different sizes and it's a tradeoff.
ReplyDeleteI'm still afraid of buying a Style Arc pattern, in spite of so many good reviews - I do have a very good excuse though, which is simply that I have way too many unsewn patterns as it is! I do look forward to your review & jacket pic...
ReplyDeleteThat ham/roll set is cute. What I really want is a ham stand - I keep thinking I should be able to make one.
I love the ham&roll set. Mine are plain and nearing there usefulness. They have had surgery twice in the last month.
ReplyDeleteI have similar proportions and spend more time tweaking new patterns. I start with a 16 for the top and go down in sizes to a 10 or 12 for the hips. I a just glad I can sew forget trying to buy rtw.
Anyone want rain. I have plenty,its 57 and raining
Thanks Shams, it is beautifully cool here ;). I like your sewing hams. I am still using a tightly rolled towel.
ReplyDeleteHehe, like kbenco above we are not suffering from heatstroke at all, quite the contrary... Roll on summer!
ReplyDeleteThat is a striking ham and roll set, very cute indeed. I don't even have a roll.
I hope you are enjoying your quiet time, and good luck with your jacket. I look forward to seeing it. Your creations never disappoint so I have high expectations ;)
Shams,
ReplyDeleteMy sleeve roll and ham were so old and grimey I was delighted to see your new ones - so I ordered some from that shop. Thanks for enabling. Look forward to seeing your jacket.
Leslie