May 30, 2014

How to Choose a Sewing Machine, PART 1



Friends, after buying a car, is there any purchase more fraught than that of a sewing machine?

May 27, 2014

MPB -- the VLOG!



I'm finally ready for my close-up, readers!

May 26, 2014

What Turns a Man On....To Sewing?



Friends, in your opinion, what turns a man on to sewing?

May 25, 2014

The Daily Ditch Returns!



I can't explain it but for some reason I am very magnetic to stuff.

May 24, 2014

Flea Market Finds + New Fabric, New Friends, New Pattern!



Do you use a chalk wheel, readers?  I never have but I've always been curious about them.  I found this red one at the flea market today in a pile of old sewing notions and now it's mine.  I'm very excited to try it.

May 23, 2014

NAME THAT PATTERN - Spring 2014 Edition!



Friends throughout the world, it's time once again to play the sewing blogosphere's favorite pattern-naming game, NAME THAT PATTERN!

May 21, 2014

Peter Models the Shawl-Collar Cardigan!



Exciting news, friends -- You will not have to wait another moment to see me model my just-completed cotton cardigan!

May 20, 2014

A Trip to Jonathan Embroidery



What's a men's cardigan sweater without buttons?

May 19, 2014

Working on My Shawl-Collared Cardigan -- McCalls 5267



A few updates, readers:

With my mother's robe out of the way, my menswear sewing class completed, and the double-breasted toile de jouy blazer put aside, it's time for me to return my attention to my shawl-collared cardigan.

May 18, 2014

May 17, 2014

May 16, 2014

Men's Jumpsuits -- YEA or NAY?



There are some looks that only work when you're cute, work on cars for a living, or both.

May 14, 2014

Menswear Sewing Class: The Dramatic Conclusion



Friends, I am well aware that after my spring break last month, I stopped providing weekly updates of my menswear sewing class at FIT.

May 13, 2014

What is a Fashion Designer and Do You Consider Yourself One?



If you sew -- and I'm assuming you do -- you've probably experienced the following:

You're out in public wearing something you made and somebody asks you where you got it.  You explain that you made it.  This person immediately asks "Are you a fashion (or clothing) designer?"

May 12, 2014

Which Fabric Should I Use For My Double-Breasted Suit?



It's official: vintage pattern Butterick 5384, with a few minor alterations (mainly length; I shortened it an inch), fits nicely.  The double-breasted suit project is a "go."

May 11, 2014

What I Sewed, What I Bought, What I Wore



You'd have to be living under a rock not to know that this month is Me-Made-May.

May 10, 2014

PETER PRAYS! "Please make my double-breasted suit muslin WEARABLE!"



Friends, a quick update: I have set aside my shawl-collared knit cardigan project and plunged head-first into my double-breasted suit jacket project.

May 8, 2014

May 7, 2014

Thinking Cotton Cardigans + Pocket-palooza!



McCalls 5267 (above) which dates from 1976 and isn't hard to find online, looks like a fun, relatively quick project -- perhaps my next one.

May 6, 2014

Are You a Pucci Person?



I am not a Pucci person, readers.

Like Peter Max or Lily Pulitzer, Florentine designer Emilio Pucci was endlessly knocked-off in the 60's and 70's.  My hunch is that most people my age have seen too many cheap imitations over the decades to appreciate the originals.

May 5, 2014

Double-Breasted Suits -- YEA or NAY?



Friends, what do you think of double-breasted suits?   

May 4, 2014

May 2, 2014

Peter's Edwardian Underwear + New Pattern!



I won this authentic "Edwardian" -- could also be 1920's -- union suit on eBay, new old stock (i.e, unworn).

May 1, 2014

Paisley Shirt: Cuffs and Collar



These were my beautiful-but-upside-down paisley cuffs from yesterday.