Jul 4, 2014

July 4th Jumpsuit Miracle: a TRUE STORY!



Readers, you're not going to believe what happened to me today.

Let me set the stage:  I'm coming home from running -- normally I swim on Fridays but the pool was closed on account of the July 4th holiday, so I decided to go running instead; in fact, since the weather was relatively cool, I did an extra-long run, and when I was coming east on 24th Street toward home, I saw, in a large pile of refuse outside a gallery building, what looked like -- honestly, I'm surprised I looked twice because it really was a yucky-looking pile -- a men's jumpsuit.  On closer inspection, I realized it was a flight suit.  So I grabbed it.

Ta da!



Now on closer examination, this garment could use some TLC, not to mention a good laundering.  It's actually too large for me, but it does have all sorts of neat details I might consider adding to my own jumpsuit.  It's covered with velcro and metal-zippered pockets and quite a bit of oil paint -- people pay mega-bucks for that oil-paint-splotch thing.

 

















The long center front zipper looks like a replacement.







I can't tell if this is a bullet or a lipstick holder.  Anybody know?



The backside seam is completely ripped, which is an easy repair.  I guess somebody really needed to go -- or something.



Seriously, though, isn't this a cool find and spookily synchronistic?   Either the universe is telling me I need to make that jumpsuit or else it's time to join the Air Force. 

In today's sewing news, my jacket is coming along rather slowly.  My navy cotton herringbone shows every little mark when I press it, even on a not-particularly-hot setting and using an organza press cloth.  It's frustrating.

I used my chalk wheel on one side, and you can actually see a mark on the other (pic below) -- that's not the chalk, that's the indentation from the pressure.  I think this is a dark cotton poplin sort of thing thing.  I've experienced it with denim too, but denim is more forgiving.



Naturally things like pocket seam allowances must be pressed minimally and carefully.

I've thought about using the vintage polka dot poly fabric I picked up at the flea market for the half lining.  It doesn't take a crease very well though, so maybe not.  I have bemberg in my stash which would be a less colorful but maybe a better choice.  I did line a pocket with the polka dots though.  When you iron it it smells like moth balls.



I've decided to keep the green striped piping -- I added a whole lot more today.



And that's it.

Happy Fourth to those of you who celebrate it!

(Anybody wearing a flight suit for the occasion?)

19 comments:

  1. It's most definitely a sign! The jumpsuit is calling your name. ("Peter, make me. Make me cool as only you can!")

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  2. Crazy, cool find! I definitely think the sewing gods are speaking to you--now just what they are saying......I have no clue.

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  3. Wow, look at all that detail work! I can't believe someone threw this out. What a great find - America is smiling on you today. :)

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  4. Lots of nice details on the flight suit. It's hard for me to see the size and location in the photo, but I believe that's a pen pocket.

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  5. You really do live a charmed life, Peter! Military garb does have interesting details, I'm sure you will make a detailed study of the jumpsuit. I hope it's hanging outside, by the way.

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  6. Sounds like a Festivus in July miracle!!!

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  7. I think the universe is saying: "Wanna jumpsuit? Here, have this one and move on."

    Only two more sleeps until VLOG Sunday! Yay!

    Spud.

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  8. Nice find. Depending on the location of that pocket, it is generally a pen pocket. Some pilots carry very short pens on their sleeves. Some places on a uniform can be used to carry medical supplies too.

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    1. I thought it might be a maintenace jumpsuit instead of an actual flightsuit, which often have compression panels built in.

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  9. ...or maybe you do!

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  10. Cool flight suit -- stylish because of its practical details. I would rather wear something like this than the Hermes shown a couple of days ago. The pen/lipstick pockets would be perfect for a seam ripper and the color combination and stars are beautifully done. I wonder who designed it.

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  11. What a cool find! What you don't say is whether you're going to tailor it for your own wearing, or use it as a template...?

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  12. My mechanic bf tells me that the pocket is for sockets or small tools

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  13. What an excellent find! Not sure about modern flight suits but I can tell you that my husband's army uniform has pockets like that which are for pens - they're actually on the sleeves of his ACU tops. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this isn't a flight suit but rather a mechanic's coverall, and that if it IS military it's not US, because those stars look silk-screened on the patches and US uniforms have them embroidered onto the patches.

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    1. Hmm. To my eyes the stars look woven into the patch, not embroidered or silk-screened.

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  14. Peter, with all the things that have been happening with the jumpsuit...I think you HAVE to make it!

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  15. What a great find! Are you gonna wash, repair and wear it? Be sure to post us a photo!

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  16. Since I am a dyed-in-the-wool Star Trek fan, my favorite jumpsuit is the one worn by Scott Bakula et. al. on "Enterprise.". To get you started, patterns are available online through Roddenberry.com if you are not up for drafting your own pattern.

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  17. Okay. Now I KNOW you make this stuff up! ;)

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