Christmas gifts, and other stories

I have been sewing, but not much to show for it.

(And I wrote this days ago, so will post it now, while working on the other projects dogging me - not just my Lekala blazer, but the Burda dress for Australia daughter needs a lot of fitting changes!)

IN the meantime, Merry Christmas. Maybe I will update before the New Year, but if not, Happy New Year!

My Lekala blazer patter continues to befuddle me. Help me decipher this, for example:

 . Make and stitch plaits on 2 cm off top edge on lower parts of back part and of front part. Press depths to center of details. Sew and press apart side edges of lower parts. Overstitch details of lining the same way. Fold main detail with lining and overstitch buttonstands edges and lower edge. Slash seam allowances on rounded parts, turn onto right side, press. Stitch lower part of jacket to main detail (seam allowances of buttonstands outgo on 1 cm).

I have figured out that plaits = pleats; details = piece; overstitch = understitch (I think); buttonstands = lapel (or lapel facing.)

But the lapel facing does not get attached until the next step.

Do I sew the lining and peplum as one piece? Possibly the lining will get folded over and handstitched to hide those raw edges. But what about the 'buttonstand'?

I HAVE sewn the peplum and peplum lining together. and have it ready to understitch. 

I suppose I shoud cut out the lapel facing and collar pieces and play around with this... (Update - have started this)

Merino wool mock turtle neck (Jalie 2805)

 

I finally ordered some Merino Wool from Nature's Fabrics (I won a gift card in the January contest). It is gorgeous. 

I made up Jalie 2805 to have another warm base layer. And base layer it will have to be. I should have made the larger size, but was careless, or hurried, so it is a bit snug to wear without something overtip of it. 

The colour is a bit orangey, but I like it!

 

 

Gift sewing

Current priority is to sew up gifts for Christmas.

I have made three pillow-cases. One for visiting Australia daughter using remnants from my Matchy Matchy PJs (March); one is for the son-out-law with part of the Ghana travel stash, and one is for the resident entomologist with the same fabric. I like that fabric, but realized that it will not become a garment (well, possibly a pair of PJ shorts, but I have enough!). I could have made placemats, but pillow cases it became!

I have also made the resident entomologist a new collecting bag. Copying the current 40 year old model! I used a discarded raincoat (no longer rain proof), and lined with mesh from a discarded wet-bag. (The canvas part of that bag had rotted.) The weight of the collecting bag with these two layers seems perfect!

 

from the side

inside view

I made a tailor's ham as a gift as well. Readers might recognize the fabric from my Shanorak!

I am also crochet-edging a bunch of facecloths as gifts. I have such a face-cloth that is probably 40 years old - my own grandmother had made it, and I always liked it. It has become ratty, full of holes, but inspired me to make some for my nieces and daughters, i memory of my Grandmother, who died too young. 

crochet edging, tailor's ham