Tailoring: The Professional Way

It's snowing!!! 

Yep, I love the snow, but I feel a little haunted today. Twenty-five years ago, on Halloween, we had a terrible, snowy night. When it snows this early in the season, the snow is wet and sticky, so on airplanes, it immediately turns to ice. Ice can bring an airplane down in a heartbeat. A passenger plane was flying from Indianapolis to Chicago when it encountered severe icing conditions and crashed in Rensselaer, IN, killing all 68 of those on board. I think about that crash every year on Halloween. 

Well, that story really beings the day on a somber note! 

Actually, I have something wonderful to share with you, but I have to apologize as it's an out of print book, Tailoring Suits: The Professional Way. I am helping a friend of mine tailor a jacket. She is so very excited. I am as well. The jacket is lovely and she is doing a great job. She came last week for a progress check, and instruction on where to go next. When she began to pull her things out of her bag, she said, " I have a gift for you," and handed me the book you see below.

The book was written in the early 1950s by a master tailor. Master tailors are becoming few and far between these days. As I thumbed through the book, I was amazed by the detail. I have other books on tailoring, but none are like this book.

The book begins with explaining what good tailoring really is. 

The book walks the reader through the entire process of creating a well tailored garment, beginning with pattern drafting, to the fitting and finishing of both men's and women's suits.

This is an old book, so no flashy color photos like we see in more modern books.

Every detail of the tailoring process is covered.

The chapter on pants has me mesmerized!

I also love the chapter on making a well tailored skirt.

If you would like to take a peek, I did a short video review of the book.



As I said, the book is sadly out of print. I found THESE buying options on Amazon. They are all quite expensive. And, I found THESE options at Abe's Books. These too are quite expensive. But, you may know of other online book sellers who just might have a reasonably priced copy. If you think you would enjoy tailoring, this is a fabulous book. I feel so very fortunate to have received it as a gift!

Happy Sewing!

Rhonda

A New Year of Learning and Improving!

Creativity is good for the soul :) 
And, it has been a very creative week for me! I began a pottery class on Thursday night. I felt like I was 5 years old again, playing with clay, feeling the squishy mud in my hands. This is my first experience with doing pottery, so it's a brand new world for me. I told the teacher that I just want to learn the basics, and then we'll see where it goes.

I spent the day yesterday, and will again today, taking a class on doing a fabulous travel bag. While I could have done it on my own, I so love being in a class where I get told what to do, and all I have to do is do what I'm told ;) I can't wait to share my bag with you! It has been a lot of work as it involves a huge amount of quilting. I say quilting, it's really just sewing straight lines, but it's still a lot of work. 

While quickly putting something together that you can throw on is lots of fun, and I think, good for the soul, it's also good to slow down, and use more refined skills. I signed up for the Susan Khalje Sewing Club on Facebook. Initially, I was curious, and then, I was quite pleased to see how Susan has formatted the group. The first project was the couture skirt.

The pattern is a basic pencil skirt, but it offers 3 options for the waistband. This is a fabulous option because...we aren't all created the same :) There's a traditional waistband, a contoured waistband, and finally, no waistband.

In the Facebook group, Susan has posted step by step videos on how to create a true couture skirt. Once you begin your project, you are then invited to share your fitting issues. Susan will comment on the fit, and what she feels you need to do to obtain a perfect fit. I have been very impressed with the before and after photos of those who have completed their skirts. Just amazing!  

The second pattern is this beautiful Boatneck Top. I prefer to call it a ballerina top, as that is what I think of when I see this neckline. It is such a lovely neckline for women.

Take note of how the pattern was developed. There are 2 darts radiating from the side seam, and a dart at the top of the sleeve. The sleeve options are many. You may choose the little cap sleeve, or the various lengths of a straight sleeve, short, 3/4, or long. You may also cut the sleeve on the bias. 

I am so very excited about getting started on both projects!!! And you'll be able to share in my progress :) So stay tuned :)

If you think you might be interested in the Susan Khalje Sewing Club, there are a few options. If you think you would just like a taste, there is a 3 month membership. For those who think they might want to jump in a little deeper, there is a 6 month membership. And finally, a year long membership for full immersion. You can find all of the options HERE.

Here's a little video from Susan, explaining what the sewing club is all about.

A friend of mine was recently out skiing, fell and broke his arm in 2 places requiring surgery. Another friend commented that when he was younger, he would set goals for each year, hoping to get a little better with each passing season. He said that all he hopes for now is to stay out of the clinic :/

I think that many of us have had sewing related accidents. I have sewn through a finger more times than I would like. But one thing about sewing, most likely, our accidents will not land us in the clinic!!! And as long as we see, we can improve. Here's to a fabulous year of learning and improving :)
 Rhonda