The Projects That Make Themselves

I know it’s only a muslin and I know I am using inexpensive fabric from Hobby Lobby, but I am so enjoying making the Chloe Coat. Some projects fight the sewist every step of the way. This one is practically making itself. Perhaps I am enjoying it because it is helping to level up my sewing skills. Whatever the reason, it has been a joyful sew.

Another quilted coat pattern came across my radar screen yesterday:

This is the Retazo Coat from Sew Liberated. I have it on good authority from someone whose expertise I trust that this is a well-drafted pattern. I like the style and I wouldn’t have to lengthen it. I’m not sure there is space for it in the queue, but we’ll see.

The black wool herringbone fabric that is destined for a long coat is at the dry cleaners. I think I will use Simplicity 8742, View A, for that one:

I am not yet sure if I will add a lining or not.

I think I do a reasonably good job of fabrication on my projects—”fabrication” meaning the choice of material. I don’t try to use stiff cottons where a flowey rayon challis would be more appropriate. I can thank many years of knitting design for that skill, which transferred easily from knitting to sewing. If that is a place where you struggle, I highly recommend Sandra Betzina’s book Fabric Savvy. I gave a copy of that book to DD#2 even though she doesn’t sew, because she works in retail clothing at Nordstrom and needs to know the difference between twill and gabardine.

[She also got a promotion this week from Assistant Buyer to Associate Buyer and gets to go on her first big buying trip to NYC after Thanksgiving. 🎉]

My schedule loosens up considerably this week and I am hoping to make headway on the Chloe Coat and a few other projects.

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I have had fun working at the Gift Festival the past two days. Valeri, one of our church members, is in charge of the kitchen. I like her management style—she lets us come in and look at the list of tasks and choose something without micromanaging us.

Today is my serger demo at the quilt store. I spent yesterday afternoon gathering threads and fabric and watching a few Gail Yellen videos to refresh my memory. I could not find my 6mm and 10mm cord for jumbo piping, though, so I’ll have to pop in to Hobby Lobby before class and pick up more.

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DD#1 and DSIL closed on their new house on Thursday. She sent the husband a photo yesterday of all the boxes stacked up after the movers dropped off their load of belongings. She’ll have plenty to keep her busy for a while.