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Happy to share my observations. I get lots of opportunities to spot abnormalities, as I make mistakes all the time.ðĪĢ
You mentioned you are using the Purple Box Bundle; it would be great to see what you've done and hear about any discoveries you made along the way. I'm still practicing hand stitches. ðĪŠ I agree with you about the hands on practice. It's funny, I can watch a video several times but every time I try to do it myself, there's always some little something that throws me off. It's one thing to see it, it's another thing to feel it. One problem for me is arthritis. Hand sewing is going to be a challenge, but I'll get it done.
As I mentioned in my boat seat arm sewing, I had a hell of a time sewing a long, flat piece of fabric around the edge of an oval. I still think there should be a way to stretch the outer edge of the smaller seam allowance to match the longer one, but I haven't figured that one out yet. I tried it with an iron and ended up over-stretching it ð
Anyway...looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Kathy Wood
Feb 02, 2024
Replying to
Awww, you're too kind.
I'll try to build up the courage to share my bespoke jacket pictures in the future. I figured I was sooo far behind everyone else, I wouldn't even get on this forum until I kinda caught up so as not to be discouraged.
The Purple Traditional Box is fantastic! I've done the chasing for two or three items before or just settling for whatever is available. That's tiresome. With the purple box there's no guess work. I know what I need is there (actually more than I need. lol) and the quality is excellent. Having the right materials have added to the joy of the project. No frustrations! The bundle helped me to move along smoothly.
I would love another box for a second try. Especially since I've kinda caught up with the rest of you. Rather than just waiting each week for the next lesson I'd like to get another jacket going while my mistakes are fresh in my head. Maybe I'd do better the second time. I'll have to message Reza about that.
Thanks for your communication.
Have a great day.
Kathy W
Bill Davis
Feb 02, 2024
Replying to
Don't worry about building up your courage Kathy, you only need that in the face of adversity, this school seems more focused on sharing skills, exploring new ideas, and learning from each other's mistakes. I'm not a tailor, I just like learning new things, found this school, and got hooked. ð
As far as feeling like you're behind...don't! ðð I haven't even started. ððĪĢ I've been working on boat seat covers for my father's pontoon boat. I have started practicing stitches just not anything interesting enough to share.
To your point about going back and making a second jacket and applying all your lessons learned, that sounds like a great idea. I did a lot f boat seat covers out of muslin before ordering yards of more expensive fabric. As I learned from my mistakes, I took pictures, so I wouldn't forget. Come to think of it, it's just as easy to make a video with your phone. You could use that and make "video notes," and when you start your second jacket, sort the videos by date, and at least you'll have a backup of information you happen to forget.
Just an ideal
Bill Davis
Feb 02, 2024
Hi Kathy,
Good job. I haven't done these yet, but it looks like your skills are coming right along. I am wondering about the paper sleeves. Numbers 1 and 2 seem right, but 3 and 4 seem odd at the shoulder. It might just be the angle they are laying on the table. The sleeve holes at the shoulder don't look like they came out round or oval. If the pattern cutting was difficult or you ran into a problem, I'd love to hear about it. Personally, I learn a lot more when I make mistakes; I don't like it, but the end result is always a better product and a better understanding as to how I got there.
The arm hole fullness exercise looks like it came out really well. Now...is that the fabric you're making your jacket out of? ð Pretty fancy! Actually, I noticed you opted not to use a perfect circle. In Reza's lesson, to the semitry of a circle seemed to help him distribute fabric a section at a time, which makes sense, but if it's not a semetrical shape, like yours, I'd imagine it is more difficult to judge how much fabric should be eased over a particular section. I'd also imagine it made it difficult to keep from creating puckers at the seam that would lend themselves to flattening out with an iron.
Thanks for sharing.ð
Kathy Wood
Feb 02, 2024
Replying to
Mr Bill,
Thank you so much for your kind attention to my work. I appreciate your eye for detail.
I used scrap fabric for this exercise. My bespoke jacket fabric is provided from the Purple Box bundle.
I also used Lesson 32's PDF circle templates.
Basically, I think the hands-on practice is probably more valuable than the actual outcome. I enjoyed seeing and feeling how the process developed. Reza is right; it's an exercise you don't want to skip over. When you get there you'll enjoy it!
This was my first time gathering without first basting a draw string. Wouldn't a string to pull be easier and more accurate, I thought? What I surprise I got as I followed Reza's direction! I may have created a master ruin with the cloth but more importantly I gained a new master concept for my skills.
I welcome future feedback as I continue this course. I'm honored to be noticed.
I can't wait to see your progress!
Happy to share my observations. I get lots of opportunities to spot abnormalities, as I make mistakes all the time.ðĪĢ
You mentioned you are using the Purple Box Bundle; it would be great to see what you've done and hear about any discoveries you made along the way. I'm still practicing hand stitches. ðĪŠ I agree with you about the hands on practice. It's funny, I can watch a video several times but every time I try to do it myself, there's always some little something that throws me off. It's one thing to see it, it's another thing to feel it. One problem for me is arthritis. Hand sewing is going to be a challenge, but I'll get it done.
As I mentioned in my boat seat arm sewing, I had a hell of a time sewing a long, flat piece of fabric around the edge of an oval. I still think there should be a way to stretch the outer edge of the smaller seam allowance to match the longer one, but I haven't figured that one out yet. I tried it with an iron and ended up over-stretching it ð
Anyway...looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Hi Kathy,
Good job. I haven't done these yet, but it looks like your skills are coming right along. I am wondering about the paper sleeves. Numbers 1 and 2 seem right, but 3 and 4 seem odd at the shoulder. It might just be the angle they are laying on the table. The sleeve holes at the shoulder don't look like they came out round or oval. If the pattern cutting was difficult or you ran into a problem, I'd love to hear about it. Personally, I learn a lot more when I make mistakes; I don't like it, but the end result is always a better product and a better understanding as to how I got there.
The arm hole fullness exercise looks like it came out really well. Now...is that the fabric you're making your jacket out of? ð Pretty fancy! Actually, I noticed you opted not to use a perfect circle. In Reza's lesson, to the semitry of a circle seemed to help him distribute fabric a section at a time, which makes sense, but if it's not a semetrical shape, like yours, I'd imagine it is more difficult to judge how much fabric should be eased over a particular section. I'd also imagine it made it difficult to keep from creating puckers at the seam that would lend themselves to flattening out with an iron.
Thanks for sharing.ð