Dec 31, 2013
PETER SINGS -- New Year's Wishes from MPB!
Friends, I've decided to skip the usual end-of-year reviews and leave you instead with a simple holiday song, sung in a simple holiday house coat.
Labels:
Peter on video
Dec 30, 2013
She Hated It.
I wish I had good news to share about my mother's reaction to the psychedelic robe I made her this weekend.
Labels:
completed projects,
mothers
Dec 29, 2013
Dec 28, 2013
A (Psychedelic) Robe for Mom
A few weeks ago my mother came over for lunch and said she needed a bathrobe, so we looked online and ordered one from Macy's (their Charter Club label). Yesterday she told me it had arrived and was dreadful, so I told her to bring it down with her the next time she came over, and I'd return it for her.
Labels:
mothers,
works in progress
Dec 27, 2013
Dec 23, 2013
Tweed Coat Selfies + New Hat!
Readers, is it still called a selfie if you balance your camera on a flat surface and switch it to auto mode, or do you have to be holding it in your hand and standing in front of a bathroom mirror?
Labels:
completed projects,
Hats,
mens peacoat
Dec 21, 2013
Goldilocks and the Three Linings
Friends, you may recall that a few days before Coatmas, I was in the process of putting the finishing touches on my donegal tweed peacoat.
Labels:
completed projects,
mens peacoat
Dec 19, 2013
My Tweed Coat Revealed -- MERRY COATMAS!
Readers, it's hard to believe, but Coatmas is finally here!
You can see my completed tweed peacoat over at the Mood Sewing Network today! (And I do hope you're not offended by some obvious urban lumberjack styling.)
Dec 17, 2013
The Urban Lumberjack Look -- YEA or NAY?
Friends, I know that for many of you -- particularly you Pacific Northwesterners -- the urban lumberjack look isn't really a look at all; it's just the normal way men dress.
Labels:
mens fashion,
YEA or NAY?
Dec 16, 2013
Dec 14, 2013
Five Days to Coatmas!
Readers, you know I'm not big on the holidays, but this coming Thursday, December 19, I will be celebrating Coatmas. And I do hope you'll join me.
Labels:
flea market,
Hats,
mens peacoat,
my life
Dec 13, 2013
Dec 12, 2013
One Victory, One Defeat
Good news and not-so-good news today, friends. Naturally, this is all in reference to my tweed peacoat -- the only thing on my mind these days.
Labels:
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Dec 11, 2013
Dec 9, 2013
Peacoat Progress -- a lot of pad stitching (and a little fusing too)
Today I worked primarily on the undercollar and undercollar stand (two separate pieces) of my peacoat.
Labels:
interfacing,
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Dec 8, 2013
A Swingin' Sewing Machine for a Groovy Guy
Friends, you are to be forgiven for thinking that this portable, circa-1969 sewing machine looks an awful lot like an Elna Lotus -- on acid.
Labels:
sewing machines,
video
Dec 6, 2013
Dec 4, 2013
Dip-Dye Fashion -- YEA or NAY?
Readers, I'm open-minded. I like all kinds of looks and, even if I wouldn't wear them, enjoy all sorts of contemporary trends.
Labels:
YEA or NAY?
Dec 3, 2013
Things I Don't Get, Vol 12 -- The $2,025 Vintage Sundress Pattern
Yes, you read that correctly: two thousand and twenty-five dollars. For a sundress pattern on eBay. Yesterday.
And that doesn't even include shipping!
Labels:
patterns,
YEA or NAY?
Dec 2, 2013
Dec 1, 2013
Gifts For Cathy + "Who Wears It Best?"
Friends, I don't formally celebrate any of those gift-giving holidays this time of year, but there's something about the season that makes one want to buy stuff. Am I right?
Labels:
flea market,
my life
Nov 29, 2013
Nov 27, 2013
Are Home Sewers Unusually Cheap?
Friends, a few weeks ago I found myself engaged in conversation with a prominent professional member of the sewing community.
Labels:
sewing and culture
Nov 26, 2013
The Completed Pea Coat!
Readers, my pea coat is finished and you can see me modeling it RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE over at the Mood Sewing Network.
Just click here.
Nov 24, 2013
Coat-ally Devoted to You!
Readers, I CANNOT believe how long it takes to make a pea coat. If I ever tell you I'm making another one of these, sit me down and talk some sense into me.
Labels:
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Nov 21, 2013
My Interview with Sarai Mitnick of Colette Patterns!
Readers, last week's post about Colette's pattern branding got me wondering more about what it's like to be an independent pattern maker.
Labels:
patterns
Nov 20, 2013
Nov 19, 2013
Pea Coat Progress + New Patterns!
Readers, be honest: do you think this McCall's pattern I just purchased, which dates from approximately 1957, is too Sixteen Going on Seventeen for my cousin Cathy?
Labels:
mens peacoat,
patterns,
works in progress
Nov 18, 2013
A Slight Change of Plan
Let's get back to the pea coat project.
As you'll recall, I'm making my coat from the Japanese men's coat pattern book up top.
Labels:
fabric,
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Nov 16, 2013
Japanese TV wants to interview ME?
ZOMG, readers -- you won't believe how I spent yesterday!
About a month ago I'd received an email from a producer at Japan's Nippon TV network, saying they were interested in doing a short (2 1/2 minute) segment about vintage sewing machines. They'd discovered my blog and were wondering if they could do an interview.
Labels:
my life,
sewing machines
Nov 14, 2013
Nov 13, 2013
Nov 12, 2013
What Cathy won + my pea coat fabric choices!
You may have heard that Cathy won Friday night's Little Black Dress contest at the Pattern Review anniversary party, held at Elliot Berman Textiles. With a little help from you-know-who.
Labels:
my life,
project planning
Nov 11, 2013
The 1990's Balloon-Pant Jumpsuit -- YEA or NAY?
Readers, what do you call it when something you consider utterly unremarkable suddenly becomes the new nostalgia?
Labels:
90's glamour,
YEA or NAY?
Nov 9, 2013
Cathy's Photo Shoot from the Pattern Review Anniversary Party!
What a lovely night Cathy had at the Pattern Review Anniversary Party held at Elliott Berman Textiles yesterday!
Labels:
40s glamour,
Cathy,
completed projects,
modeling
Nov 8, 2013
Nov 7, 2013
Miles to Sew Before I Sleep
We're getting down to the wire, people!
There is still a great deal to do before this LBD is done, and I have less than twenty-four hours to do it. I need to insert a lapped side zipper. I need to attach the sleeves. I need to stitch down the neck facings and cuff facings. I need to hem a very wide skirt. And then there's Cathy's hair!
Labels:
40s glamour,
works in progress
Nov 6, 2013
Little? (No); Black? (Sort of); Dress? (Definitely!)
I know I sound like an old fart, but sometimes I look at photographs of today's celebrities and I think, Who are these people?
Labels:
50s glamour,
works in progress
Nov 4, 2013
We Interrupt This Blanket Coat or "LBD By Friday?"
Friends, are you planning to attend the Pattern Review 12th Anniversary "Little Black Dress" party at Elliott Berman this coming Friday? (You can read more about it and/or RSVP here.)
Labels:
my life,
project planning
Nov 3, 2013
Color Blocking on the Brain
I can't get this vintage blanket coat/jacket project off my mind, readers, so permit me to brainstorm a bit.
Labels:
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Nov 2, 2013
Nov 1, 2013
Oct 31, 2013
Muslining the Japanese Jacket, Today's Trash Find, and Laura Mae!
Let's start with today's trash find.
I know, I know, I'm supposed to be ditching. But all ditch and no dumpster makes MPB a dull blog. Look what I found on my afternoon dog walk!
Labels:
mens peacoat,
works in progress
Oct 30, 2013
A Reader Asks: "Could My Sewing Idea Work?"
Friends, I received a very interesting email from MPB reader Chris today, and I thought I might run it by you (with Chris's permission of course) and find out what you think.
Labels:
sewing and culture
Oct 29, 2013
Taking the Japanese Pattern Challenge, More Ditching + My New Boots!
Let's start with the boots, shall we?
As an American, I am very vulnerable to the phrase "40% off." And the word "Nordstroms." Add "Free Shipping" and I am helpless.
Labels:
Daily Ditch (The),
project planning,
Shoes
Oct 24, 2013
"Patternmaking For Menswear" by Gareth Kershaw -- My Dream Book!
Readers, after publishing the sumptuous, "Draping: The Complete Course" by Karolyn Kiisel last month, what could Laurence King Publishing possibly do for an encore?
Labels:
books,
mens fashion
Oct 23, 2013
Mustard lovers REJOICE: My new fall togs are LIVE!
Friends, to be honest, I've always preferred ketchup to mustard. But not anymore!
My latest outfit -- mustard pants, black and white gingham shirt, and gray sweater vest -- is live today at Mood, in all its glory. See it by simply clicking here.
Labels:
completed projects,
Mood Sewing Network
Oct 22, 2013
Oct 21, 2013
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