Thursday, March 22, 2012

McCalls 5525 in purple


I have been in much the same boat as Judith workwise. The new curriculum has been kicking my butt and combined with the death of my beloved father-in-law, I haven't really felt like blogging and I certainly haven't been sewing as much.

This is what I have been working on for the past month. McCalls 5525, which has rave reviews on PR. When I saw Erica's blue version, I was in love with the pattern and went and actually bought a pattern from the store.



Anyway, the purple sateen was my test version of the pattern. Since this took many hours to complete and I have an extensive sewing to-do list, I don't think I am going to get another one made this year (as great as the pattern is). I think I ended up making view C – the short version with the shoulder flap, epaulets and back flaps. I corrected the back flap (drafted unevenly as pointed out by Erica) but missed in the reviews that I scanned that the pockets are tiny. Good thing it only gets fresh around here rather than freezing. I don't need pockets for keeping my hand warm.


I probably could have bagged the lining, but I decided to hand sew the lining in just for kicks. I used black rayon seam binding to hide the raw seam where the lining, hem and facing meet. There were only a few minor things that I changed. I decided to sew the buttons on the shoulders before sewing in the shoulder pads since I thought it would be much easier. My little tab did not get a keyhole button since my machine would not jump the jump at the collar seam so I needed to sew the buttonhole from the other way. At least there is a buttonhole there - I thought it would look a little funny without one. I used iron on interfacing rather than sew in. I used my Singer press without the steam for an easy result.

11 comments:

  1. Condolences on the loss of your father-in-law.
    I love your trenchcoat - I've got that pattern but the sew-in-interfacing put me off so I haven't made it yet. The colour and sheen of the sateen looks gorgeous!

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  2. I dread the new curriculum for the same reasons. Love the jacket though!

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    1. Yes, I was just getting used to our last one (which would be different from yours I suppose).

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  3. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law, and on top of the teaching load your weeks must have been full. This new curriculum certainly is an eye-opener.
    Your jacket is super - love the colour and great fit!!! And you have it finished in time for our winter months ahead. Just brilliant for a test pattern...

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    1. I only work three days, but I am finding OneSchool so slow and annoying that it adds to my workload, and yours too I am sure. I don't sew in the evening anyway, too tired.

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  4. I am sorry for your loss.
    Your new jacket looks awesome, what a gorgeous colour. Where did you buy the fabric? You are so organized to be sewing for cooler weather.

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    1. Fabric is from Spotlight. And I am not really that organised - I want to enter something in the local show. This was going to be my tester and they I was going to do it in another fabric but I am thinking of just entering this one in. The show is not until May but I have other stuff I want to make for it as well so getting in early.

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  5. Gorgeous Marie, just gorgeous and the colour is divine!! It's fantastic.

    I'm so sorry your darling Father in law passed away, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

    And I hear you on the new curriculum and I'm only a mama

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous Marie!! Love the colour and it looks just perfect.

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  7. Hey great jacket. Love the colour too. Looks like a really easy style that will get heaps of wear.

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  8. This is a great looking coat. The details are very nice, and I like the color.

    I'm sorry about your loss. I hope you're able to take plenty of time to get back to "normal".

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Thanks - I love receiving comments.