Work continues to be very busy, and while I wouldn’t describe my resulting life as boring, I probably shouldn’t go into the gory details of corporate intrigue and tech industry project management. (Someday I’ll write a book on it, but that day is not today.) However, I have managed to weave about 3 yards of the second batch of cashmere fabric, and am setting in sleeves on the first muslin. I have also paged through several books on tailoring. This has convinced me that, familiar as I am with the ways of tutus and bridal wear, I have absolutely no clue about tailoring. I don’t know what interfacings are required, or how to construct the interior of a jacket. I’m not satisfied with the abbreviated instructions that came with the pattern; I want to do it the way a professional seamstress would do a couture jacket, and will settle for nothing less.
There are, of course, several ways to go about correcting this, and I may try all of them. The first and easiest is to find yourself a teacher. So I’m investigating some options for private lessons. Since I’m pretty well acquainted with a sewing machine, I don’t think a great deal of handholding is required – mostly I need someone to explain to me what interfacing to use, where to put it, and how to construct the jacket. I don’t expect getting that explanation will be too expensive, and it’s a lot faster than struggling through it and doing guesswork on my own.
Still no word back about the duplex we wanted to rent, so we’ll be doing some more apartment-hunting this weekend.
Good idea to hunt for a teacher!! The people in New England who I know who’d be great teachers would be people teaching sewing-related programs at local weavers guilds. Or, a quilting shop near us has sewing classes with very good instructors (not just quilting classes).
Hope you find what you’re looking for!! Your jacket is going to be amazing!!
Sue
Sometimes community colleges have courses on tailoring, but that might be a longer haul than you want. Still might be a good source for a teacher. Tailoring is different from regular sewing. I briefly made my living sewing. The local fabric shop, who knew my work, recommended me to clients. So, if there are any local “good” fabric stores in your area, that may be another place to check. It’s going to be wonderful!
Hi I just happened upon your blog!
What to do is go to a second hand store and purchase a jacket similiar to yours. Then open those seams up and see what it is made of, and how it is made. Pay close attention to where they snip the seams some at the waist & underarm ( for free movement). Most jackets using a combo of iron on and sewn in interfacing. Remember too if you are doing buttons, get a yard of muslin so you can fold that over ( to 4 layers) and practice away. Hope this helps, and email me if you have a question. Blessings Diana
There’s a series of detailed tutorials about making lined jackets here; I haven’t read these particular posts in depth, but the parent site/blog has generally been very intelligent and informative.
Tien,
A guild mate directed me to your blog this week. (That would be Nora!)
I have taken classes with Daryl Lancaster, and they are terrific. On her blog post today, she mentions this summer she is teaching for a week at Seivers (in WI) and folks can bring a project of their own for 5 days and get one-on-one assistance.
I don’t know if you can wait that long to finish your coat. It looks like it is going to be fantastic, so we all understand your wanting to acquire the best possible skills to finish it.
Might we get to see it on a runway in New Mexico in 2010? I hope so!
Sally
P.S. And I am super-jealous you are so close to Britex! I am sure their staff could recommend some amazing sewing professionals from their customer base.