Cape Coat Progess

The cape coat is making progress. It really is! I mean I haven't actually cut into the cloth, or even the interlining. In fact, I don't even have a complete pattern yet--but almost!

The fabric and buttons are all collected.  The velveteen is from Fabric Mart, but I dragged myself up to Joann's (which I really don't like) for the lining, and crazily enough found some great buttons for it, so I am thrilled.

 I am afraid the buttons are leaning towards steampunk which I really don't want, but the cape part is modest enough so hopefully it won't go too much in that direction.


I started with Burda 12/2012 #104, the long wool coat. It has the princess seams I want and a skirt attached to the bodice which I cut down for a shorter jacket. I drafted a shoulder cape for it and am working on a collar pattern piece.

Also it has pockets!


The muslin is a real mess right now, but it is doing it's job. By that, I mean it fits me the way I want it to and I was able to work out the cape bit and the collar bit on it.

The shoulder cape pattern

There are a few things about Burda patterns. One is that the coats I've made from them have two-piece sleeves which I love. I like the fit better and it gives a tailored garment a more classic look.

The other is; extracting the pattern! They come three ways; you can buy a paper pattern at a fabric store with seam allowances and everything, you can buy the magazine and trace a pattern from the tangled mess of the pattern page, or you can download a pattern from the website and fritter away your youth taping pages.


The one I am working with is downloaded and taped (and taped and taped). The trick is to first make certain you are printing only the pages you need. They sometimes have pattern pieces from other styles than the one you are making.

The other trick is to find the pages with, say, the sleeve piece and tape that together, then tape the pages with the bodice, and so on. Don't tape 40 pages together then start cutting out the pieces from there. That's just crazy-making.

That's all for now, dear friends. But before I go, here is a gratuitous cat butt picture.

Bats the cat.

A little past the Beginning

This spring and summer has seen some cool changes for me. I went back to school with a serious intent twenty-some-odd years after receiving my BA. It is a Continuing Ed course at my local university and should end with me receiving certification to Teach English as a Foreign Language. ESL as it is commonly known. It's incredibly interesting and exciting. I have it in my head that we will live in Paris or Sicily and I will be just like Romy Schneider in "What's New Pussy Cat?" teaching English in Paris and being all stylish!

Michael Interrupts Class
What's New Pussycat — MOVIECLIPS.com

Well, not JUST like that. Her methods are a bit outdated and, unlike the clothes, they will hopefully not make a comeback.

Less earth shattering, but still interesting is a little book I read back in March or April or sometime called "Lessons from Madame Chic" by Jennifer Scott. I checked it out of my local library and I still owe a few bucks in overdue fines on it. (Honestly, my overdue fines keep that place afloat.) That book inspired me to spend a ton of money on some nice makeup, purge my closet of cami's and t-shirts with little tiny holes in them, and to stand up straight. So I think it was worth the read.

And of course, there have been some health changes around here. And by around here, I mean in my own body. I don't push this stuff on my sweetie pie, the Oaf. But I began to explore an anti-inflammatory diet--juicing, smoothie-ing, and bringing in a LOT more salads and veggies into my every day diet. It seems to be working. A lot of my aches and pains have diminished to almost nothing--not least a certain creaky knee. I mean, the knee is still there thankfully, but it seems to have a better attitude about stairs and long walks than before.

If you find that idea interesting, a couple of good books are Eat to Live and Crazy Sexy Kitchen.

Well, Friends, that's all for now. I wanted to touch on clothing and wardrobe, but in light of teaching and diet it seems so, well, shallow somehow. Next time.