Vest Progress

Pattern: Simplicity 2556, view A (pictured on envelope)

Fabrics: Amicale (fashion fabric) from Gorgeous Fabrics (1 yd), Leather (collar and yoke) from Fabrics and Notions co-op (7.3 sq. ft. lamb skin), Ambiance lining (1 yd).

Notions: 2 yds of faux leather trim with eyelets, and 1 button. *The pattern called for interfacing for the front pieces, but I didn't want to mess with bubbles on my gorgeous black wool, so I hand-basted a matching piece of light, black, cotton muslin. In the picture below, you can see the texture of the amicale. That light blob on my leather only shows in pics, it's not there in real life?! Last night, I finished cutting the last of the fabric, as I cut into the leather and watched the Yankees win the World Series. Tonight, I marked the placement lines for the trim, attached the "interfacing" to the fronts, and pinned as many pieces together as possible. Here you can see how the leather collar will look with the front pieces... (ooh, I'm so excited!)

I am pleasantly surprised how much I don't mind hand-stitching since my class in NYC. All it took was 1 couture Chanel jacket to solve that problem, sheesh! I marked the placement lines on the wrong side with chalk, but didn't want to risk a "marking malfunction" on the right side, so I basted the placement lines for the trim. It was fast and now I know the trim will be in the exact right spot! Here are the back pieces laid out together...A long time ago, Sommerset gave me wonderful advice and recommended pinning as many pieces as possible, then sewing a bunch and moving forward. It is a HUGE time saver, and it's also something I can do in front of the TV, or when I can't get to my machine (a.k.a. "motherhood"). Tonight it's "Project Runway" keeping me upstairs!

I think this will go together quickly, so my plan is to have it done by the end of the weekend! I'm a little nervous about sewing real leather, I've been wanting to work with this leather for months, and I finally have the perfect use, so keep your fingers crossed for me...

I'm already looking ahead to the next project, which will probably be a wool jacket. Like I said, this is the season for wool!!! When I was in NYC, I took along the August Burda for fabric shopping, with this jacket in mind (119). I looked for a light blue wool (like the magazine), but instead found this beautiful blue/grey (and lining to match) at Paron's. It's doesn't photograph nearly as well as it appears in person, it is really, really gorgeous!

My only fear is that it will be too warm to wear as a dress jacket, but if that's the case... awww, geez, too bad! Another coat, what a bummer!!! Also, PR is having the One Fabric: Wool contest this month, and this would make for a good entry. I also picked up the snap closures in NYC, so I'm all set for my next project! Hope you are all finding success and enjoyment in your sewing rooms...