On the Home Stretch

Jacket is almost done. Yay! I've called it "green", but honestly--it's chartreuse. Neon chartreuse. Maybe psychedelic even! Glow in the dark!

The jacket needs one button. Because of the shape of the midriff, I know I'm going to run into trouble making a buttonhole. The fabric ravels when you look at it, so if I had to pick out the butttonhole, it's goodbye jacket. To avoid a situation, I'm going to put a snap on the facing where the waistline button belongs. I'll sew a button on top. Faux buttonhole closing. I don't have an appropriate size snap, so I'll pick some up on Monday when I'm near a fabric store.

Someone asked how I topstitched the "cross". I used a presser foot that is equal width on each side of the needle, because I use each side of the foot for a guide. With a disappearing marker, I made an "x" on the seamline, where I wanted the topstitching to cross. Using the edge of the pressure foot as the guide, I started topstitching, using 2 strands of thread. When I got to the "x"--I stitched diagonally on the line, making the same number of stitches on either side of the seam. Then, continued sewing, using the opposite side of the presser foot as a guide. Here's photo of the foot, crossing the "x".




The jacket collar/lapel area needs gentle pressing/steaming to give it soft shaping--a slight roll. To achieve that--I folded a linen towel several times, and put the towel under the collar/lapel and steam/pressed. That provides a nice cushion for the area, and the iron won't press it sharp and flat. Here's a picture:



All I have left to do is remove some basting stitches, and sew on a snap and a button.



I made a covered button, knowing that's the only way I'll match this fabric. While I was doing that, it occurred to me to make a "beaded button" as a piece of jewelry. In a previous post, I showed some of my beaded buttons--here. To make the base, cut the fabric circle the size needed for a covered button. Cut a piece of polyester fleece the size of the finished button, and lay it on top of the fabric. That will make a covered button with padding.

The padding is needed for the beadwork. Without it, the fibers of the fabric would separate, or tear. I have seed beads the same color as the fabric, which I'm going to team with silver bugle beads and a crystal for the center. Fun stuff!


Meanwhile, I traced a jeans pattern, and will start on the muslin tomorrow. These jeans will be "grandma" type jeans--relaxed fit, thank you! I wore "tight fittin' jeans" when I was a young woman. Now, I'm in the comfort-zone type pants. That is, even if I can get a decent fit. We'll see.


Have a great weekend, sewing and otherwise.