Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


April 26, 2009

Eye spy ... a work in progress



I am playing along with Cindy's Eye Spy meme each Sunday. This week Michelle, author of the gorgeous blog Hugo & Elsa, nominated the theme of spying a work in progress.

My work in progress is just to hand as I write.

Its a semi-fitted ladies' jacket made from Kwik Sew 3531 (view A) and using a lovely misty grey-blue wool suiting. It was a surprise birthday present for my mum this weekend and needs just a few little finishing touches.

I'd never sewn a jacket before, so this pattern was a relatively gentle introduction. Its an unlined jacket with a simple collar, two darts (bust and arm) and nifty button hole openings placed in the collar seam. The hardest part was probably the setting in of the sleeves ... not the least being because I wasn't paying enough attention ... and sewed the first sleeve in backwards!

The instructions were very clear and the construction relatively straightforward - its a pattern that I would recommend. My only real departure from the instructions (apart from the sleeve incident!) was to bind - rather than over-edge - the facing and some of the seams. I also hand stitched the button holes rather than top stitching them with the machine (for a bit of practice).

So now, I have just a few little bits and pieces to do. I might take in the darts a little, but after that its just a case of fastening down the facing, adding a pretty button and then hemming the garment. Its a bit of surprise that extensive alterations aren't needed, given that I didn't have any proper measurements for my mum. Everything was deduced by furtive phone calls to my dad, who was instructed to take measurements from things in the wardrobe!

Thank you to Cindy for hosting Eye Spy and to Michelle for the fun theme. To see some more W.I.P.s, head over here.

9 comments:

  1. "furtive phone calls to my dad, who was instructed to take measurements from things in the wardrobe!
    " lol that is great that he did that :)

    From what the picture shows, the jacket looks really nice. very simple but pretty colour to it

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  2. Impressive! Your mum is going to absolutely love that jacket. It looks so warm and snuggly...perfect for a day like today

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  3. your mum is really going to love it

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  4. Nice work, It is not a true sewing project UNLES you sew something in the wrong way - haven't you read the rule book

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  5. Looking good - geez you are a star on that sewing machine!

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  6. It looks fantastic. You are such a clever sewing machine.

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  7. such a lovely looking jacket - I love the collar. Your mum is sure to feel very elegant and warm wearing this! awesome work.

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  8. What a great first jacket! I am really keen to make my little girl a coat. Trying to figure out what fabric to use.

    PS I always make one major mistake per item of sewing. It used to drive me crazy, but now I have a little chuckle at myself, and often shake my head in disbelief. I used to think I was smarter before I started sewing.

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