I made some pockets!

If I wasn't crazy for choosing this pattern, making four of these faced, interfaced, shaped and top-stitched pockets pushed me over the edge.   In the best way possible, just my kind of sewing.  I also interfaced my pieces, I'm taking the construction at a snail's pace.  Check out my blog for more details.

Change of Plan- How about a Jacket?

Australians, be warned I'm griping so look away.  Just scroll down to the 1940's jacket.

Remember my charming DuBarry dress?  I found just the right fabric- a pale green silk mini-pique and along with a few other tasty fabrics, sent my order to Fashion Fabrics Club.  Since I live on the far side of the planet with no domestic textile industry, gorgeous fabric is hard to come by.   (I won't wear polyesters, it's suicide in this climate, yet I find so much textured polyester in the fabric stores) When I can find a beautiful fabric, it often carries an outrageous price tag.  I'm talking 10 times what I'd pay for it back home.  I can find good linens and blouse fabrics readily enough, but when a pattern calls for something special, I order out.  

As per the usual, I asked customer service to quote me a price on shipping.  She quoted.  I wrote back.  The holiday intervened.  By then, my silk pique evaporated.  It's gone.  Shipping prices skyrocketed at the turn of the year, I'll have to pay more to ship the remaining rest than the fabric cost to begin with.  I know it's silly to be so upset, but I'm beside myself over the whole debacle. 

I'm shelving DuBarry.  Best to forget the pique first.

Instead, how about my newest project, the Lady Explorer Sun Jacket?   It's a WW2 era jacket with pretty pockets and a peplum, Advance 2960.  I'll make her unlined of a medium weight unbleached hemp-silk crepe back satin.  I'll use the satin to the inside so it slips easily over my clothes.  I have another, simpler sun jacket made from Simplicity 4044 which sees constant wear.  I'm allowing myself to linger over the construction details of this jacket, I even re-drafted the back to include a pleat for movement.

I won't muslin, as I tried on the pattern after alterations and it fit like a dream:

Yaaay!  I'm in the middle of cutting at the moment.  Slowly, slowly. 

You know, I feel better having vented and shared plans for another project.  Thank you for listening.

Me Next! DuBarry In Oz

I'm Steph from 3 Hours Past the Edge of the World.  I recently acquired several new-to-me vintage patterns, among them this DuBarry, circa mid-30's.

I plan to play with the top in a jersey, maybe muslin it properly, and eventually end up with the short-sleeved version in pale green silk pique.

I ordered this with Christmas money from Fashion Fabrics.  I haven't run the pique through my fingers to test for drape or heft; it may prove too sturdy to handle all those pleats.  In that case, I'll find a substitute.

I haven't sewn from a DuBarry, and 1930's sizing puzzles me at the best of times.  Generally, I work from a 32" or 34" bust and alter for a short waist and full bust.  So far my excursions into working with 30's patterns has been all over the map, hence the muslin.

For the first muslin, I'll make the bodice with no alterations for sizing.