dear craftsy, i love you.

Dear Craftsy,

Thank you for being awesome when I told you that I enrolled in the wrong course. And even though i printed the pattern and watched a couple of episodes, I was being sincere that DAMN I bought the WRONG course for my sewing level and interests.

So thank you, a million times, for letting me into the Sewing Basics course, without paying all over again, while I let that Gertie jacket founder on my floor. The pieces are literally on my floor; there may be mice living in them. That lovely, brown/black multi-flecked wool is in a giant pile of fabric and pattern pieces, abandoned. I blame K-Line ;) ok not really.

So now i can learn about taking care of my machine, and VERY BASIC fitting stuff (which I obviously need like crazy) and not try to tailor a damn jacket right off the bat.

Here's to quitting things that are wrong for you!
luv
bex

ps Gertie, I also love you! And I really love your notes about interfacing and pattern ease to the max. but that jacket is not my jam, at least not now.

gertie anytime: cutting the fabric

i measured myself, and i measured my dummy. i had measured myself wrong, and she was much fatter than i am. In fact, inly her hips were right, which is a shame as I have made virtually nothing for my lower half (in recent history). her waist and hip length were good, but she was eating even more cookies than i do, making her even more rectangular. it also explains why that dress looked fine on her and terrible on me.

once she was a little slimmer, i tried on that damned muslin. Wait- my muslin was actually fine, but i was having fear by proxy with K line and her crazy fitting mania. i just walked away, thinking huh there's no way i can even understand how to fix mine. but you know what? i don't need to fix it! it's fine!

what is going on with this extra inch on the side front?? aah! who cares. 

So - to recap. here is the muslin, pinned at the buttons, on the newly-shaped dummy.

that's a good fit, right, considering all of the thickness that will go under it? i am so copying K-Line's lapel redo.

ok, it COULD be a little smaller in the waist. Gertie's not a very busty lady, so the waist is kind of big in proportion to the bust (for me). But i am not going to deal with that in this jacket! i am just going to make it, while i study science. SCIENCE! what is the relationship between scientists and sewists? i would like someone to tell-a-me.

Unfortunately, in my end-of-an-excellent weekend sleepies, i forgot to compare those new, true measurements to the size i cut of the Starlet pattern. Ack! MINDFULNESS!

maybe tomorrow. :)

I bought this because it was the cutest thing i had ever seen, and i wanted a size guide for Starlet. Economically inefficient YES. Also, it's a size too small cause it looks better shrunken. lets just note that it's just covered with bumblebees, and move on. ADORBS!

Here are 3 of the 97 resources i have used so far:
Measure yo self
Measuring your bust. (rebecca- buy 34C. or maybe try a D! why not.)
Burda body measurement card (this is a physical thing)
Gertie & Craftsy x1000

When i cut the "fashion fabric" (that term kills me, though i understand its value...), I added 2 inches to the sleeve length, and uncurved the bottom of the jacket front a little. you people with your crazy cool design programs and drafting tools? i am not so skilled. i just used scissors and eyeballs, but not too close to each other. when do you learn that stuff, anyway? !! can you come over? I will make the best cookies in the world...
 
ta ta cheries
bex

My First Muslin: Starlet

does it matter that i didn't actually use muslin? god i hope not. wikipedia or wherever said no.

so here we are. i decided i was a size 6, because i usually am.

here are my pieces!

here is my cutting board. did you know cutting requires 1000 tools, including a laptop and a new best sewing friend from canada? yes, it does.

so the thing about muslins is that i'm impatient. i want gratification now!!! but wow. this is great. the guilt and trepidation and terror if feel when i'm sewing a new thing is totally gone. sewing the muslin i was thinking "wow i'm doing this the right way, this is really teaching me something, this jacket is going to be The BEST!!!"

which is such a more pleasurable thought process than "oof this is going to fit like crap and what a waste of money ugh yuck i probably measured myself wrong again."

so, yay.

ok! here's my first princess seam. didn't i do a nice job? i did, i just don't have a ham to press it on. donations?

So. How Cute is This Jacket??

(really cute!) 

Look, the arm moves!    

i didn't do the fancy bias business on the sleeve cap because it's late and my cocktail is kind of strong, so the sleeve is a little wonky, but hot damn i aligned it right and the length is darling. maybe a little TOO darling? i may have to lengthen the sleeves because it's cold here (not really cold, yes really lengthen.) think she'll get mad?

i sewed the back stay on the wrong side. who cares? i learned. 

 

there's a lot of room on the back and sides, but it hangs nicely. I *think* that means it will accommodate the much bulkier fabric, lining, and whatnot that the real deal will have, without pinching. is that right?

and, for the grand finale, HERES THE REAL STUFF

I'm still a little scared to go cutting, but the muslin showed me gertie's got my back, right? 

it's a brownish black wool with hecka color flecks. i'm lining it in lime. the fool at the store tried to sell me a black lining. WHAT?  i'll probably do fabric buttons unless i find something fantastic and limey in the interim. HEARTS. 

ps i took this one when i was reaching for a back view photo. it is obviously my new avatar everywhere. xoxo goodnight!