Wednesday, November 3, 2010

WIP: Lady Grey Tailoring Part I

Tailoring Part I - The Front


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I'm a little behind in the Lady Grey Sew-Along... especially since it's now over. :) Gertie is truly amazing and has done some wonderful posts for this sew-along!! I think for the first couple of weeks of October I just stared at her posts because they were so wonderful (and a little overwhelming). After all this staring and watching her post one tutorial after another, I finally decided to give it a go.

{Warning: this is a long picture filled post!}

Basting the side fronts:
Here's Gertie's first tailoring post. I did things slighty out of order from her posts, too.

Supplies: silk thread, needle, and beeswax

I did practice my basting stitches using unwaxed silk thread, waxed silk thread, and pressed waxed silk thread. The winter white wool is a little too light so, I'm underlining it with a bamboo/rayon muslin. This makes my side front piece three layers; wool, underlining, and hair canvas. I was afraid that the three layers would make it difficult, but it didn't at all.

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The knotted thread is the plain silk thread. I did notice a huge difference between the unwaxed and waxed silk thread. However, I didn't notice a difference between the pressed and unpressed thread. So, I proceed without pressing. If you would to see a tutorial on pressing waxed there, Casey has a wonderful one here.

My progress... only a couple of lines done here...
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Bound Buttonholes

Supplies: silk organza, interfacing
Notes: This was my first time trying this type of buttonhole. I did add interfacing to the "lips" to give it more structure & support. I didn't baste the lips, which made it slightly shift on one of the final ones, but other than that it's not too bad. It looks like they got better with each try.

Test buttonhole: the ugly
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First buttonhole: a little crooked
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Second buttonhole: just right
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Tailoring the Front
Gertie's post I
Gertie's post II

Catchstitching


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More basting and the roll line:
Supplies: linen tape

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Padstitching:
I know it's difficult to see, but here are my padstitches. I had a hard time trying to figure out how to sew perpendicular to the line and still get a diagonal stitch... I guess I couldn't figure it out in my head until actually just did it.

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I didn't pin the lapel down as I rolled and padstitched, which made the hair canvas shift a lot. I'm not sure how this will affect the lapel in the finished product but I don't feel like unpicking and redoing it especially when I have another one to do. :P
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Overall, I'm super excited about all the new techniques I've learned and learning. I've done most of my handstitching on my daily commute to work on the bus and have grown quite fond of handstitching in general. I'm not sure when I'll be done with my coat but up next is the back side seams, pockets, and sleeves.

8 comments:

Karin said...

What a lot of work making a proper coat is! You are doing such a careful job. I gave up on this sew along early on, so I haven't been on the "coat journey." I can't wait to see your finished coat!

Anonymous said...

Angela, it's going to be amazing! Oh, my gosh...pad stitching? Bound buttonholes? You are my hero!

Sheila said...

Your coat is coming along and like the detailed techniques, especially bound buttonholes.

Saint Pudalia said...

Angela, is that you? I just stumbled on your blog, which was linked from someone else's. I said to myself, "That Lady Grey looks a lot like Angela's. A LOT like Angela's!" HA! I love all the stuff you make. I guess I'll bookmark you, now.

-- Kristin from the meetup

Cennetta said...

Wow. You are taking your sewing skills way up there. Great job!

Angela said...

Thanks, ladies! The bound buttonholes weren't as bad as I thought they'd be. :D

@Saint Pudalia - Yes, it's me! :)

Erika said...

I love the white fabric. I wanted to make white too but the wool I could find was almost see through. Yours looks great!

SEWN said...

Wow, you are definitely going to enjoy your coat after all the time and care you're putting into it. Can't wait to see it!