Q&A, New Books and Progress

Taking a break from  sewing and watching Hungry Girl on her new TV show on the cooking channel.  She's doing lowfat/low calorie pizzas.  Maybe I'll make one for dinner. 

Karin asked if I used a special foot or a double need for my top-stitching.  I do a line of top-stitching using an edge-stitch foot, as close to the edge as possible.   for the second row, I switch to a 1/4" foot and use that as a guide. 

AnneLO asks if the wool crepe shrunk when I steamed it.  Oh, yeh--6" on 4 yards of fabric.  I used a clam press (steam press) with a damp press cloth and steamed the heck out of it.

I have a couple of new books.  Well, new to me, not new on the market.  "Jackets for Real People by Palmer/Pletsch is a book my daughter bought me for Christmas.  I have several other Palmer/Pletsch books, and really like them.  I'm reading this one, cover to cover. 

When I signed on for the "12 Jackets a Year" sew-along at Stitchers Guild, there was a discussion about Nancy Erickson's "Jackets, Soft Tailoring for Modern Sewing book".  FashionSewing is her website.  There is a master jacket pattern, skirt, coat, knit jacket, pants pattern.  Those become TNTs from which other designs are created.  Her theory is to get a well fitting TNT and use whatever design details you want to them.  This is what Shirley Adams tried to do with her "Alternatives" patterns, but I don't think they ever really took off.  Those who use TNTs know what a time-saver they are.  Here's the book, the master jacket pattern, and one pattern containing alternative details to go with the master pattern:

I love the book.  Another than I'm going to read completely through.  She has a lot of ideas for transforming a basic jacket pattern into multiple looks.  Nancy Erickson also sells a newsletter, bi-monthly, I believe. 

My Winter Sunshine jacket is well under way.  It is ready for sleeves.

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I found perfect buttons.   There are only 6, and I want 8.  This jacket is double-breasted.  So, hopefully I will find this button at another Jos.  I was surprised to find anything that matched this fabric because it isn't a color that's mainstream.

Tomorrow, sleeves.  Maybe.