Lacy Scarf - No Knitting

 I actually do know how to knit, but I was intrigued with this process.  I have many skeins of ribbon, eyelash, and other sparkly yarns that belonged to my sister.  I get tired of some of the standard scarves made up in these materials, so I decided to try something different - a process I've seen written up in a few magazines.  

  

I cut one yard of a tacky water soluble stabilizer (I used Aqua Magic Plus).  I cut many, many strands of yarn in 44 inch lengths and laid them on the stabilizer with 6 inches hanging over the stabilizer on each end for fringe.  You can use your imagination here and put them down in any order.  When you're satisfied with your arrangement, place another water soluble stabilizer on top (this one does not need to be tacky).

I then did free motion stitching throughout the entire scarf, making sure that I was close enough so it held together, but not so close that it was rigid.  I then soaked the scarf in cold water to get out the stabilizer and voila!

Easy, pretty, lacy, different!
 

SLAN

Jacket Finished - Jury Still Out

 The strange fabric jacket is finished.  There's lots I like about it.  The fabric was both very stretchy and the shiny dots were a little like plastic.  I really was afraid to press this much.  I did press my seams open, but with a press cloth and the tip of the iron.  The little dots also interfered with getting a really good seam, especially at the shoulder, since they were 'crunchier' than the body of the fabric and tended to stand out.  And, I didn't want to melt them with too much pressing.  The fabric was also a bit heavy which helps the drape.

 

The jacket and lining are constructed, sans sleeves.  The lining and jacket sleeves are then joined at the cuff, the seamline at the top of the lining sleeve is turned in and basted, the fabric sleeve is attached to the jacket, and the lining sleeve is then pulled over and slipstitched.

It's a very easy jacket and has potential for other options, such as making it as a vest, shortening the panels in the front, etc.  All in all, I like the pattern.  The pattern in this fabric?  I'll definitely wear it.  My son, who is a die hard vintage Brooks Brothers adherent, would say 'shiny' which would be his way of saying, if you can't say something nice......

SLAN

Muslin for V8756 - Why We Make Muslins!

Even though this pattern (see previous post) doesn't button and appears loose-fitting, I decided to do a muslin and I'm glad that I did.  The back has four darts, adding a lot of shape.  Two of them are in the shoulder area and two start mid-way down the back and go right to the waist.  I found when I made up my muslin that the back really wasn't flattering at all.  Where the hemline hit, it forced the jacket to buckle a bit, and the back just seemed to be a bit snug.  Keeping in mind that the purpose of darts is not just to take in fullness, but also to add fullness to other areas, and that patterns are guides rather than bibles, I decided to reshape the dart.  As you can see in the photo, I took out the original (marked with blue dots) and put in a new one that started slightly above the old dart, extended about 6 inches, coming in only about 1/4 inch at its center.  This kept the cinched look, but added flare at the bottom, which I sorely needed.

Here you can see the new dart transferred onto my pattern.  I simply marked the top of dart, bottom, middle and then measured out from the middle of the dart 1/4 inch on each side.  I then connected the markings with a French Curve Ruler.







Full photo (aren't washed out muslins so very flatterning???) here.  The back looks like it could use a tad more work, though I don't want it too streamlined since it is a jacket.

 

 
Also picked up the lining for the jacket.  The pattern itself is easy, so hopefully this will work up quickly and I can show photos in a more flattering color.

  
SLAN