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Sep 23, 2014

Peter Models the Completed Mountain Parka!



Friends, today is the first day of fall (Happy fall!) and my parka is finished.

You can see me model it here.

I think it's a pretty good facsimile of the classic 60/40 mountain parka, though I can't vouch for the fabric being a 60/40 (cotton/nylon) blend like the original.

I added the final finishing touches -- six gripper snaps -- yesterday afternoon.



I'm so glad I ordered two packages of these, because neither package had six complete sets like they claim.  (Both had only five of the button tops along with varying numbers of the other pieces -- as many as eight).  How difficult is it to count to six?







Anyway, all six snaps went in perfectly.  It took time to measure and mark carefully on both sides and to cut the tiny hole in the fabric, but once I did, hammering them in was very straightforward.

Once again I was able to avail myself of my trusty mallet, purchased more than twenty years ago at the flea market when I was playing "Rancid Harry," the village leper and handyman, at the New York Renaissance Festival.  All I have left from that experience are my memories -- and my mallet.



This morning was very fall-like (cool, mid 50's), so it was actually great to be wearing a parka during our photo shoot.

Did you know this classic mountain parka -- designed in 1968 -- has a cult following in Japan?  (You can read more about the original design here.)

Anyway, it's great to be finished with this challenging project.  Onwards and upwards, I always say.

Have a great day, everybody!

31 comments:

  1. You clearly put a lot of work into it and it shows: your Parka looks amazing. Great choice of styling with the Gingham shirt and the mustard trousers.

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  2. This came out AMAZING Peter! Great work!

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  3. Can we call you Peter Parka now? :-)

    Wonderful workmanship. Well done!

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  4. Wow, great job, your parka turned out perfectly!

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  5. The parka is GREAT! I so enjoy your blog and sewing adventures. You inspire me to sew every day. Thanks!

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  6. Great Parka!
    Please be very careful of that mallet which I think is actually a lump hammer. The 'mushrooming' on the faces make it a little bit dangerous. Impact is likely to send a chunk of that chewed up iron flying off into someone's soft fleshy parts or eyeball. Do you know anyone with a grind stone who can 'sharpen' it for you? I know my Dad would do it but he is in the North West of England about 3000 miles from you.
    Hugs
    G

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  7. Really nice job, Peter. The style is so right for you--cool and casual--and the color is very flattering.

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  8. Very impressive. And I love it with the yellow pants.

    Your skill-building these past for 4 years has been astonishing - and a joy to watch. Well done, Peter.

    Spud.

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  9. Peter, your parka is gorgeous!

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  10. Looks great with the mustard jeans!

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  11. Love your parka - looks so good!

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  12. Absolutely amazing! Be very proud!

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  13. You Parka is done beautifully! You have given me the incentive to give V8842 a try for hubby and son Christmas presents.

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  14. The original Parka design goes way back to early 1900's, and usually down filled for expedition and work in very cold/arctic climates. That back above waist pocket would have been filled with extra down, to protect the kidneys.

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  15. Go back even futher in history to tribal designs, the Inuit back pocket was only found on womens parkas and it was for carrying an infant!

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  16. Happy parka wearing! Its wonderful and I love how you paired it with the yellow pants : )

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  17. Great work again, Peter! Love the look and the modelling you do to show off that beautiful parka.

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  18. I'm completely blown away by this parka. The complexity is mind boggling. Have you been sewing day and night? It seems like only yesterday you were picking out material. It's simply gorgeous. Wear in good health!

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  19. It's wonderful! When are you making me one? Haha! ;) But really, I might steal it if I see you wearing it.

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  20. Lovely work Peter! If this is what you do when your sewing mojo isn't all it could be (as you claimed a few posts ago) I can't wait to see what you come up with when the mojo is back full strength!

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  21. Your mojo was right.

    If you decide to teach a parka class, sign me up.

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  22. Great work Peter!

    It looks professional, and store bought. Perfect

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  23. Looks marvelous. Top stitching is the best. Just love it.

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  24. Wow! You sewed that up pretty quick. Good thing your mojo was talking. It looks great.

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  25. Lovely work. Snaps that don't come out/apart are a tough find; can you, will you mention if they come undone? Always looking for good notion reviews.

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  26. Expertly done as always, and very "Haute Normcore" which is de riguer now. The tailoring is very French...French Canadian, that is.

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  27. Love love your parka! What a beautiful job you did!

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  28. The color is great on you! And, it's perfectly constructed!! Great great work.

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