My Final Sewing Projects of 2017

Can 2017 be ending already?

Christina's Completed Wedding Dress

Christina's wedding was yesterday and, readers, it was lovely.

Finishing the Corset, Testing the Shrug

Progress!

Back to Work on Wedding Dress #2

With Val's wedding dress finished (I'll be posting some formal photographs shortly), it's time to return to Christina's dress; her wedding takes place at the end of October.

Val's Completed Wedding Dress

Friends, if you've been following along this summer (actually we started last May), you know I'd been commissioned to make two wedding dresses for this fall.

Some Like It Haute

Friends, I'm thrilled to be taking a class this semester at FIT called "Haute Couture Sewing Techniques."

New Shirt, New Class, and Another Vintage Sewing Machine

Readers, I recently completed this summer shirt, made with floral shirting from Mood Fabrics.

Two New Sewing Machines!

Readers, great news: yesterday at the Chelsea Flea Market, I acquired not one, but two new sewing machines.

A New Shirt for Michael

Friends, for me shirtmaking never gets old -- I love it!

Bridal Update + August Shirtmaking

Friends, with all the MPB Day excitement, you may have forgotten about my wedding gown projects.

MPB Day 2017 -- It Just Gets Awesomer!

Friends, it's hard to believe that yesterday was the seventh annual MPB Day -- we all just get younger and younger!

Countdown to MPB Day!

Friends, is it possible that MPB Day 2017, scheduled for this coming Saturday, August 12th, is tomorrow?!

Sewing Again with Kenneth D. King!

Readers, once again I have had the great privilege of participating in a New York City Sit-and-Sew hosted by couturier and master sewing instructor Kenneth D. King!

Sewing with Linen and Liberty of London

Long-time readers of this blog will know that I'm a big fan of combining contrasting fabrics in my shirt projects, especially coordinating prints (or stripes with prints).

Grow Your Instagram: MY TOP TEN TIPS!

Readers, I am guessing that most of you are familiar with Instagram.

Wedding Gown Update, New Sewing Book, and MORE!

Lots to tell, friends!

NAME THAT PATTERN - Happy Birthday, Pierre Cardin Edition!

Readers, did you know that Pierre Cardin was born on this day, July 7, a mere 95 years ago?

Peter's Patriotic Pants!

Readers, it's been a while since I've sewn something totally frivolous and fun.

Two Wedding Gowns!

Readers, fasten your seat belts: I've undertaken two wedding gown projects and I hope you'll come along for the hopefully not-too-bumpy ride!

$75 for a Tank Top? Transparency Pricing -- YEA or NAY?

Readers, if you're like me, you're very aware that the cost of ready-to-wear clothes isn't always reflective of the quality.

Fabric Shopping with a Decisive Aussie!

Friends, as much as I like to fabric shop alone, I always have more fun shopping with others, even when I don't purchase anything.

Self-Drafted Floral Linen Pants!

So last week I sewed up a pair of pants using the pants pattern I drafted for myself in my menswear patternmaking class at FIT, which ended last month.

I learned a lot!

Something Old That's Something New: Simplicity 4971!

Simplicity 4971, which dates back to the very early 1960's, is one of those vintage men's patterns that proliferate on sites like Etsy and eBay and looks pretty unremarkable.

Draping a Knit Dress with a Twist

For my final project in Draping IV at FIT, due this coming Saturday, I have to design both a dress and a jacket.

Self-drafted Pants for My FIT Menswear Patternmaking Class

Not much of a sketch, I know, and it's on the back of an envelope (above), but this is the design I came up with as one of my final projects for the menswear patternmaking class I've been taking at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).  It's due next week.

Listen to My Podcast Interview!

Friends, I'm thrilled to share with you a podcast interview that Sandi Hazlewood, who runs the excellent Crafty Planner blog, recently did with me.

Among other things you'll learn how I taught myself to sew, the origin of MPB Day, and when I was born -- not 1984 as is commonly believed.

You can tune into it here.  And do check out Sandi's other podcasts here.

Enjoy and have a great day, everybody!

MPB DAY 2017 -- SAVE THE DATE!

Readers, it's really happening and it's gonna be yuge!

Draping and Patternmaking Class Updates

I think you know that this semester I've been taking two classes at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT):  Draping IV (I skipped III but will probably take it the next time it's offered) and menswear patternmaking.

Brick-and-Mortar Shopping -- YEA or NAY?

Readers, when's the last time you shopped in a department store?

Lappin or Lanvin? Modeling the Embroidered Cotton Voile Shirt!

Readers, I've just completed my embroidered cotton voile shirt, which I made from an early Sixties Butterick pattern.

Check out the entire photo shoot here!

"Here, Kitty, Kitty" -- Peter's One-Year Anniversary Janome REVIEW!

Friends, I've been eagerly anticipating writing this review -- and could have written it much earlier -- but I wanted to wait a full year.

Simply the Vest

Readers, there is a certain kind of man who looks really good in a vest.

My Self-Draped Knit Dress: a Work in Progress

A day of draping and non-stop sewing -- my favorite kind of day!

Learning How to Drape in Knit

In my Saturday morning draping class (Draping IV), we're currently working in knit and I'm finding it very challenging.

My Jockey Journey or "The Crapification of Men's Undershirts"

Readers, today I need to get something off my chest and I don't mean my undershirt.

My Self-Drafted Men's Shirt + Kenzo Klunker?

Here's the shirt I designed last week for my menswear patternmaking class at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

GLAMOUR ALERT -- Lenore Models My Yellow Crepe Ensemble!

Readers, a special treat!

My beautiful friend Lenore (who, among her many talents, is a handbag designer), has modeled my wool crepe ensemble, my final project for a draping class I took at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) last fall.

You can view the results on the Mood Sewing Network here.  

NAME THAT PATTERN -- Comeback Edition!

Readers, it was time.

The sewing blogosphere hasn't been the same since I retired NAME THAT PATTERN, the Internet's favorite sewing pattern game.  So I'm delighted to report that we're back, and with straighter teeth, fuller lips, and a noticeably firmer jawline,

FULL FRONTAL: Peter Models the Camo Shirt Jacket!

Readers, as promised, the BIG REVEAL.

Check out my new camo jacket over at the Mood Sewing Network here!

More Camo Capers!

Remember this jacket I made last August?

1920's Butterick Men's Shirt Pattern - The Muslin

Yesterday I realized that I'd traced the wrong size for the Japanese shirt pattern I'd intended to make:  I'd traced a Medium but I actually needed a Large.

New Sewing Project, New Pattern, New Sewing Machine!

Well, more like a new-to-me sewing machine.

SNOW LEOPARD! -- Michael Models the Animal Print Shirt

Let it never be said that Michael isn't an intrepid model!

New Shirt Project, a Claire McCardell Pattern, and MORE!

First things first, readers.

First Fabric Haul of 2017

Readers, it's been a while since I've shared a fabric shopping haul with you.

Hear my recorded interview!

Hey, friends!

You can hear a recording of the interview I did yesterday with Dawn and Alethia on That Sewing Blab by just clicking HERE for Crowdcast and HERE for YouTube.

Whatever Happened to the Bed Jacket?

Friends, when is the last time you saw someone wear a bed jacket who wasn't starring in a 1940's film noir?

TUNE IN TUESDAY @ 7:30 pm EST for my LIVE interview!

UPDATE: Hear the recorded interview HERE!

BIG REVEAL: The Completed African Wax Print Pants!

Readers, the pants are finished!

You can get a (much) better look at them here.  (And what luck to find a mustard-colored dumpster to coordinate with them -- what are the odds?)

Another African Print Project

Readers, what would you make out of six yards of this African wax print?