Sep 30, 2010
Plan C -- new shirt, new accessories + chihuahua video!
OK, so I thought long and hard about your comments yesterday.
Though I hate to admit it, I did start to see that the Western shirt -- while lovely and painstakingly stitched on a 1920 Singer treadle -- is not ideally suited to the rest of the outfit. It is not crisp-looking. The pants pop; the shirt is dull-toned.
Sep 29, 2010
Making a Muslin. And Plan B.
Readers, I fear I am trying your patience. We've been talking about cranberry corduroy for, what, a week now? Why does it feel like a month? I long to move on to new colors and new fabrics, don't you? But such are my present wardrobe exigencies that I simply must deal with the corduroy at hand.
Labels:
mens suit,
works in progress
Sep 28, 2010
The Mens Suit Jacket (and five days to go...)
Friends, it's cut. Not the lining, not the interfacing, just the cranberry corduroy. (Yes, that is a Laugh-In wastepaper basket.)
Will I regret not making a muslin? I suppose in a way, this is the muslin.
Labels:
mens suit,
works in progress
Sep 27, 2010
Peter's self-drafted corduroy pants: The Dramatic Conclusion
It took most of the day, but I got the pants finished. Not hemmed yet, but otherwise completed. (I'll throw them in the wash later and let them shrink up a bit before I hem them.)
Overall, I'm satisfied and I learned a lot.
Labels:
completed projects,
mens pants,
mens suit
Sep 26, 2010
Cranberry Cords: SUNDAY UPDATE!
Good morning, sticker-outers, blender-inners, and assorted unlabelables, and sorry about those sweat stains; it was hot here yesterday.
I am close, so close to having these pants completed.
Labels:
mens pants,
mens suit,
works in progress
Sep 25, 2010
Are you a "Sticker-outer" or a "Blender-inner"?
Friends, I can't talk about corduroy pants today, I need a break. Rest assured everything's progressing fine.
But my cranberry confection has got me thinking...
There are two kinds of people: those that dress to stick out and those that dress to blend in.
Labels:
clothing and culture,
dime store psychology,
video
Sep 24, 2010
Sep 23, 2010
Sep 22, 2010
Men's Pleated Pants: YOU spoke, I listened!
As if yesterday's topic of the imminent dreaded event you-know-where weren't emotional enough, the question of whether or not to wear a pair of gray pleated suit slacks led many to the brink of apoplexy.
Labels:
mens fashion,
mens pants,
my life
Sep 21, 2010
What should I wear to my 30th HS reunion?
As we say in sunny Salamanca, Estoy en crisis. What do I wear to my 30th high school reunion the evening of October 2nd, one week from Saturday?
Labels:
mens fashion,
my life
Sep 20, 2010
Sep 19, 2010
Sep 18, 2010
Why I Bother Sewing With a Treadle
Good morning, Mamie Van Doren fans and others!
Yesterday an anonymous commenter asked a very good question, one that many of you may have but feel embarrassed to ask. To paraphrase...
Why bother with a treadle at all? What's the fascination?
Labels:
sewing machines,
Singer 66,
Singer treadle
Sep 17, 2010
Peter treadles a Western shirt
Friends, I have a soft spot for Western shirts. I don't know why. It's not like I look so great in them and it's a slippery slope from chic urban cowboy to looking like you should be singing "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" around a Montana campfire.
Labels:
mens patterns,
mens shirt,
Singer 66,
Singer treadle,
works in progress
Sep 16, 2010
Sep 15, 2010
Is Your Hair Too Long?
Friends, I know I'm not going to show up on anyone's best tressed lists anymore. Those days are long gone and I'm OK with it. Hey, I'm over 40!
Labels:
beauty,
clothing and culture
Sep 14, 2010
Men's Fall Fashion 2010 or "Life in the Bubble"
What do you want to be when you grow up? A pilot? A soldier? A mountaineer? Honestly.
I was leafing through the New York Times Men's Fashion supplement yesterday -- conveniently timed to coincide with Fashion Week here in NYC. I was underwhelmed.
Labels:
clothing and culture,
mens fashion
Sep 13, 2010
Cathy models the Burda tunic dress!
Readers, it's done.
What fun Cathy and I had yesterday during our Burda tunic dress photo shoot! As I mentioned yesterday, you'll see a brand new Cathy in this slideshow: youthful, carefree, today.
Labels:
Cathy,
completed projects,
modeling
Sep 12, 2010
Already Gorgeous! Cathy's Outfit: 9/12/10
Liberty print dress: self-made, Burda #102
Raincoat: Max Mara (c/o Salvation Army)
Shoes: "On Your Feet"
Earrings: Trifari
Labels:
Cathy,
completed projects
Sep 11, 2010
How to 1) mesmerize your dogs and 2) make button loops!
First the dogs. Reader Debbie Cook sent these lovely drumsticks to me in the mail, but they seemed a little small and tough so I gave them to the dogs. They love 'em!
Labels:
button loops,
dogs,
works in progress
Sep 10, 2010
The Comeback: Peter's return to sewing
I'm back and bigger than ever. And I have a treadle.
You don't have to remind me that I haven't sewn in more than three weeks. In my defense, I had a full week's vacation without access to a sewing machine, plus I bought the aforementioned treadle as well as a vintage iron. That's almost sewing, right?
Labels:
video,
works in progress
Sep 9, 2010
Competitive Sewing - Your Thoughts Please!
Wise readers, what's your take on competitive sewing?
Do you engage in it yourself and/or watch it on TV? Do you think it's fun?
Labels:
sewing and culture
Sep 8, 2010
Dinner with Selfish or "I Had the Thai of My Life"
First of all, my friends, a heartfelt thank you for responding to yesterday's poll. I'm not very good at reading percentiles but I have sent the results out for interpretation and I can't wait to see what they mean.
Now, the news!
Yesterday I met her. Yes, her -- in the flesh.
Labels:
my life
Sep 7, 2010
First-ever MPB Readers POLL!
Is it just me, or does the Tuesday after Labor Day (for us Americans at least) feel like a new beginning?
I suppose it comes from my school years, when the second week in September meant a new classroom, a new three-ring binder, and a new box of Crayola crayons (the 64-pack with the sharpener in the back). But enough about high school...
Labels:
my life
Sep 6, 2010
Irons and Doilies and Bernstein, Oh, My!
One of the biggest unexpected benefits of teaching myself to sew has been learning how to iron. Before June, 2009, I didn't even own an iron!
Sep 5, 2010
Sep 4, 2010
The Cathy Outtakes: never-before-seen photos you won't believe!
Even the most glamorous celebrity can get caught in an unflattering moment. And really, doesn't that only make us love them more?
Sep 3, 2010
Cosmetics for Men: Yea or Nay?
Women, do you ever catch your husband digging through your makeup bag to borrow your concealer? How about your eye shadow and mascara? Pay attention!
Labels:
beauty,
clothing and culture,
mens fashion,
YEA or NAY?
Sep 2, 2010
MPB SHOCKER: the nude treadle centerfold + POLL!
Friends, it's been all about the treadle so far this week. My technique is improving and I love learning to sew on it.
I want to make another treadle video and perhaps in the near future I will. But today I thought I'd go for something a little different.
So in the glorious American tradition of shameless self-exploitation I bring you...
Labels:
sewing machines,
Singer 66,
Singer treadle
Sep 1, 2010
Peter Speaks! The Singer 66 Treadle VIDEO!
Guys, my Singer treadle is up and working and it's lovely. I found a leather treadle belt at a sewing machine supply place near me and I was able to fit it on the machine without too many problems. Definitely not something you want to have to do by yourself unless you have four arms, but not too difficult.
Labels:
Peter on video,
sewing machines,
Singer 66,
Singer treadle,
video
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