Dec 30, 2014
Favorite Projects from 2014
Last January seems like eons ago somehow, though it's been the same twelve-month period as every other year.
Labels:
completed projects,
mens fashion
Dec 24, 2014
NAME THAT PATTERN -- YULETIDE EDITION!
Dear friends, it's Christmas Eve and what better time to play a special Yuletide edition of the sewing blogosphere's favorite pattern-naming game, MPB's exclusive NAME THAT PATTERN!
Labels:
Name That Pattern
Dec 20, 2014
The (Slightly) Shortened Shacket + New Fabric, New Patterns
Sometimes you need the distance of a few days to realize that a completed garment could benefit from a tweak.
Labels:
completed projects,
project planning
Dec 16, 2014
Dec 12, 2014
My Next Project: a Shacket!
When I recently saw a photo of this snazzy wool "Patrol shirt jacket" on the Cadet website, I immediately thought, I can whip up one of those -- and for a whole lot less than $228! (fabric and notions only, not labor; sewing is my joy, not my job).
Labels:
mens shirt,
works in progress
Dec 9, 2014
70's Bedsheet Score + Keeping Up With Technology
I knew when I started reading complaints about my choice of boring muslin fabrics in my last post's comments, I had to do something and fast.
Labels:
my life
Dec 3, 2014
Nov 29, 2014
Nov 28, 2014
This and Hat
To those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, a belated Happy Thanksgiving to you. To the rest, happy Friday!
Nov 26, 2014
Back It Goes + Coat Muslin Progress
The vast majority of you who commented yesterday will be happy to know that the light blue L.L. Bean turtleneck I modeled yesterday is headed back to Maine, free of charge (to me).
Labels:
my life,
shopping,
works in progress
Nov 25, 2014
Nov 24, 2014
On With the Sew
Readers, thank you so much for your many words of support regarding my mother's injury.
She asked me to send along her thanks as well. My mom's doing somewhat better: eating (not enough but some), pushing through her exercises with her physical therapists, and even -- this is a big one -- accepting phone calls and visits from a few friends. I see her most days and I'm actually enjoying the trips, believe it or not. Being able to bicycle to the hospital (well, near it) helps too.
Labels:
books,
fabric,
my life,
project planning
Nov 21, 2014
Nov 19, 2014
Nov 17, 2014
NAME THAT PATTERN -- GLUTEN-FREE EDITION!
Friends, I am delighted to announce the latest version of MPB's exclusive pattern-naming game: NAME THAT PATTERN, 100% Gluten-Free. Now you can indulge in the revelry without worry of tummy upset. Bean-based, it's more digestible and more nutritious too!
Labels:
Name That Pattern
Nov 16, 2014
Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color UPDATE
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had purchased a used copy of the Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color.
Labels:
books
Nov 14, 2014
Nov 13, 2014
Treadling a Shirt VIDEO + Live From the Coffee Bar!
Readers, tragedy struck yesterday: an explosion in the West Village knocked out RCN Cable service to the entire West Side of Manhattan. I have been without Internet for nearly 36 hours. I feel, frankly, a little desperate and Michael is worse. I'm writing this from a local coffee bar, so please excuse all food stains.
Labels:
mens shirt,
Singer treadle,
works in progress
Nov 11, 2014
Nov 10, 2014
Re-visiting (and Improving) an Old Project
Do you ever re-work old projects? I do occasionally: I'll change a shirt collar or narrow a pants leg, things like that.
Labels:
mens jacket
Nov 8, 2014
PARTY PICS: Pattern Review's 13th Bday!
I wasn't feeling my best yesterday, but I managed to stencil on my party smile and hightail it to the Pattern Review event at Elliot Berman Textiles last night. (You may recognize the woman in teal on my right as Kyle from Vacuuming the Lawn.)
Labels:
my life
Nov 7, 2014
Nov 6, 2014
Nov 5, 2014
A Panel Print Shirt by Friday, Nov. 7th?
Friends, do you remember this panel print fabric I purchased last summer at Elliot Berman Textiles? (I was with Laura Mae, who was emptying out the store so I had to buy something.)
Labels:
mens shirt,
project planning
Nov 3, 2014
Color Combining with Confidence -- Your Favorite Resources!
Readers, if there's one area where I would like to improve in my sewing, it's actually one that has nothing to do with sewing itself, but rather with color.
Labels:
beauty,
project planning
Nov 2, 2014
Oct 31, 2014
Oct 30, 2014
Oct 29, 2014
Oct 28, 2014
"We interrupt this Python" or Sidetracked by Organic Cotton Flannel
You know that old chestnut about women being afraid of snakes? Well, I can't vouch for its accuracy or lack thereof, but I can say that, much to my surprise, every woman who has caught sight of my python jacket-in-progress has totally oohed and aahed over it -- my octogenarian mother included.
Labels:
fabric,
works in progress
Oct 24, 2014
The Vinyl Frontier
I admit it: sometimes the blog title comes first and then I write the post to match it. I think you'll agree, "The Vinyl Frontier" beats first runner-up, "The Vinyl Solution."
Labels:
mens jacket,
works in progress
Oct 22, 2014
Digging Out the Faux Python
When I first started sewing five years ago, I used to shop at two bargain-basement fabric stores on 35th St. One is gone for good and the other seems to have changed hands: I haven't been by in a long time.
Labels:
mens jacket,
works in progress
Oct 21, 2014
Reversible Garments -- YEA or NAY?
Friends, what are your thoughts about reversible garments? Do you own any? Have you ever made any -- and if so, was it worth the trouble?
Labels:
YEA or NAY?
Oct 18, 2014
Oct 15, 2014
Oct 14, 2014
Oct 10, 2014
Oct 9, 2014
In Search Of....High Quality Rib Knit Waistbanding
Above is a photo of an Italian Valstarino men's jacket (manufactured by the Milanese company Valstar).
Labels:
project planning
Oct 6, 2014
Peter Models the Op-Art Anorak!
Readers, it's here, ahead of schedule and ready for its close-up! (That's Versace up top, btw, not me.)
To see me model my newly completed black and white op-art anorak, just click here.
Labels:
completed projects,
mens jacket,
modeling,
Mood Sewing Network
Oct 4, 2014
Oct 2, 2014
Sep 30, 2014
Two sewing machines gone, two more heading out.
This morning as I sipped my coffee and glanced at the sewing table in the corner of my kitchen, I had an epiphany:
Labels:
decluttering,
fabric,
project planning
Sep 28, 2014
Sep 25, 2014
Sep 24, 2014
Post-Parka Depression + So You Want To Sew a Men's Parka...
OK, so actually, I'm not experiencing post-parka depression but the title sounded intriguing.
If truth be told, however, I have been in a mild funk for more than a month now, and the parka project helped lift me out of it. The challenge now is to stay out of it. Sewing helps.
Labels:
mens parka,
mens patterns
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.
Labels:
completed projects,
mens parka,
modeling,
Mood Sewing Network
Sep 20, 2014
Parka Post #3 - Hoods, Cuffs + Baby's First Grommet
Friends, at last I can see the light at the end of the tunnel vis-a-vis this parka project. If I had my snaps in hand, I could probably finish tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for them to arrive in the mail, so Monday at the earliest.
Labels:
mens parka,
works in progress
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