Bodice Darts, Facings, and Back Stays, Oh My!

Friends, I'm almost done with my silk dress bodice; I've hardly left the house all day.

Silk Charmeuse Dress Progress

From out of the chaos emerges a skirt!

Bernina Update + Prepping My Silk

Exhale, readers, I have good news: the Bernina works great.

Did I mention that I had to purchase the power cord separately?  That's why I couldn't test it yesterday; I only received the cord today.  I was nervous when I plugged it in and turned it on.  Given the rotten packing job the seller had done. I didn't know what to expect.  But it seems mechanically superb.

Stitching Silk Swatches + Arrival of the Bernina

So I've been experimenting with silk samples.

I happen to have another large piece of slinky charmeuse in my stash, along with all the swatches I picked up yesterday morning.  I've tried various kinds of thread, stitch lengths and tension settings.  I've experimented cutting charmeuse sandwiched between tissue paper with silk pins in the seam allowances (which works well) to discourage shifting.

Fabric Love at First Sight + Sewing with Silk

Readers, I'm stoked.

I went fabric shopping this morning for Cathy's 1940's dress with the gathered bodice and skirt front, Simplicity 4856.  I needed something with a beautiful drape and some weight to it.  At first I looked solely at solids.  I saw some gorgeous silk failles and satins, but nothing really wowed me.

A New Sewing Machine!

It's big.  It's metal.  It sews!

A New Dress for Cathy!

Readers, I've changed my mind again.

I am not ready to jump immediately into the cotton-mohair suit jacket that goes with the pants I just made.  I'm tired and I want to have some fun.  Tailoring is rewarding, but fun it ain't.

Check out my finished suit pants!

So how DID I ultimately hem those gray pants?

Lose sleep no longer!

Why I Bought a Bernina

Friends, there is a fine line between decisive and impulsive.

Men's pants length: how short is too short?

The inevitable hem length post, readers!

Just as with contemporary women's fashion, it seems like when it comes to once well-established rules like men's pants length, tradition has been cast aside in favor of...just about anything. 

Belt Loops and (Professionally Made) Buttonholes

Here's a sneak peek at the pants; they're nearly finished.  I worked out the fit issues and now just have to hem them.

Yesterday I made belt loops.

Pants-free Sunday + "Whatever Happened to....?"

I'm sorry, readers, but I just can't bring myself to blog about my gray pants again today.  It's pants-free Sunday.  Hope that's OK!

Instead, I thought I might update you on some other topics, both new and old.  In no particular order...

Suit Pants Progress + Seen Today at the Met Opera!

Readers, Michael had an opera matinee today and during intermission, sent me some iPhone shots of a man's pants he wanted me to see.  Different, no?

Getting Started on the Gray Suit + Thoughts about Thread

Enough shopping, readers, let's get back to sewing!

Today I got started on my gray cotton-mohair suit; I'm making the pants first.

The Three Stages of Thrift Store Addiction or "How I made $100 in fifteen minutes"

Readers, I have just learned that cinema songbird of yore Deanna Durbin has died at the ripe old age of 91.