Jan 31, 2014

Peter Models the Issey Miyake Leopard Print Coat!



Friends, the day has finally arrived -- the big reveal of my Issey Miyake leopard print overcoat (Vogue 2038)!

Jan 30, 2014

Buy an industrial sewing machine? Are you NUTS?



I started my Menswear Sewing class homework today.

I spent about an hour and a half over at FIT practicing on a Juki industrial.   This is what a typical classroom looks like.  Nice and bright.

Jan 28, 2014

Getting started on the Butterick 9690 muslin



Since my class doesn't start till 6:30 pm tonight, I decided to start work on my cocktail dress muslin.

Jan 27, 2014

Back to School Tomorrow!



I can't believe it.  Barring an act of Zeus, in less than 24 hours I'll be back in school!

Jan 26, 2014

What to Sew Next?



At the flea market this morning, a suitcase full of vintage sewing stuff.

Jan 24, 2014

Leopard Coat Update or "Meet Me in Miyake"



With all the celebrating this week, you might think I've neglected my Miyake coat project, Vogue 2038.  Well I haven't.

Jan 21, 2014

Mystery of Vogue 4742 REVEALED, or "Do the Bustle!"



Good news, readers!  Despite today's blizzard, my vintage 40's Vogue evening gown pattern arrived in the mail.  It's S-4742, and I believe it dates back to 1946.

Jan 20, 2014

More Japanese Patterns: Shimazaki Ryuichiro's "Book of Men's Shirts"!



Having had success with Shimazaki Ryuichiro's men's coat pattern book, I figured I'd give his shirt book a try.  I know only one person who's sewn something from it -- Claudine, who made a very lovely sheer seersucker camp-style shirt last year.

Jan 19, 2014

And the winner is...Miyake!



A decision had to be made and I made it: my first big project of 2014 will be this coat, Vogue 2038, designed by Issey Miyake.

Jan 18, 2014

Flea Market Finds of the Week, or "Why I Will Never Be High Fashion"



I hate to open with an image that evokes the 1947 Black Dahlia murder case, but can you believe this dress form (one of a pair) I saw in the trash two weeks ago is still out on the street?  (I passed it on my way to the flea market this morning.)

Jan 16, 2014

Cultivating a High Fashion Look When You're Not Tall, Thin, Young (or Rich)



Friends, I've been thinking about the Audrey Hepburn post of the other day and trying to identify exactly what it was that set her apart from the rest of us -- in particular, what gave her the high fashion look she was famous for.

Jan 14, 2014

Peter in Mustard and Audrey in Rome



Damn those paparazzi, always on my tail!

Hey, do you remember these mustard jeans I made last October?

Jan 13, 2014

The Mystery of Vogue 4742



Readers, I have an unfortunate habit.  When I'm not deeply immersed in a sewing project, my attention wanders to sites like eBay.

Jan 12, 2014

Things I Don't Get, Vol. 13 -- The Mod-Sixties Pantdress



Readers, WHAT were they thinking?  (Emilio Pucci in particular)

Jan 10, 2014

Updates, Updates, Updates...



Do you remember these leopard pants I made two years ago?

Would you believe I never wore them out of the house? 

Jan 8, 2014

ULTIMATE Upcycle -- Leather Sofa into Leather Newsboy Cap!



Believe it or not, friends, I used to own the same identical sofa pictured above, picked up at a thrift store nearly 15 years ago for a song.

Jan 6, 2014

DAY 2: Newsboy Cap TRUE CONFESSIONS!



This was a very productive day, newsboy cap-wise, readers.

Jan 5, 2014

The Newsboy Cap Project -- Getting Started



Shall we start the new year by making newsboy caps?

Jan 4, 2014

First Fabric-from-the-Trash Haul of 2014!



Friends, I don't mean to play the victim, but why does this always happen to me?

Jan 3, 2014

FIRSTS for 2014 -- Book, Pattern, HAT!



I know we're only three days into the new year, but let the clutter begin!

Jan 2, 2014

Professional Sewing Classes -- YEA or NAY?



Readers, what downside could there possibly be to taking a professional sewing class?