I participated in Friday Night With Friends this week, and decided to get a start on my vest.
I’d been having second thoughts about my fabric choices for this. All three fabrics here are very lightweight synthetics with a lot of drape. But look at that photograph of the jacket in taffeta. The suggested fabrics also include jacquard, broadcloth, linen, and tweed. All fabrics with some body. And the pattern is meant to be oversized–I sized down to an L and the finished hip measurement is still 13″ larger than my hips. The vest is designed to stand out from the body, and I was afraid that my drapey fabrics would just make it look like a tent.
So I went to the stash again and came up with some gorgeous corduroy. This is for the right front:
And this is for the left front:
So I cut the vest out on Friday and sewed a bit on Saturday, and this is what I have so far:
Hmmmm . . . don’t know how I feel about it yet. Especially the puffy collar. But, at the same time, I feel like everything about this project is new and a bit risky, and I’m just going to go with it for a while. It’s a style I’ve never worn, with various features that are new to me, and I’m just going to wait to form an opinion until I see all the elements together. These fabrics were just sitting around in a box, and at least now there’s a chance they’ll become something very cool.
I used to have a supervisor at a former job who was a terrible control freak about certain things, especially food. You remember the sandwich-ordering scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” right? Like that. Then one day it occurred to me that controlling everything like that–wanting it the way you want it, as Sally put it–means you are never pleasantly surprised. Like I frequently am by things like this and this. So I am prepared to be pleasantly surprised by how this vest turns out. 🙂
This project has reminded me of how much I DESPISE gathering, however. Gathered and tiered skirts were a thing when I was a teenager and I spent so many miserable hours wrangling long strips of cotton, and YUCK. Was glad to get that over with.
Another change of plans that happened this weekend was this:
My honey came home from a bike ride Saturday afternoon and asked if I would make him another fleece cycling jersey, but this time with a full zip and thicker, warmer fleece. And off we went to Joann’s to use our coupons and get supplies.
And yes, I did try to talk him into the tie dye fleece, or the fleece with the dogs on it, or the fleece with the huge black and yellow houndstooth, but we came home with the black.
Sigh.
So my plan right now is to finish the vest; I’m adding a lining, but that doesn’t really take any more time than facings. Then I want to cut out the cycling jersey and my red jacket.
It’s going to be a very fuzzy week here. 🙂
STH
Stephanie said:
LOVE your vest so far. Really. And your thoughts about being surprised really resonate. But PS Too bad about the dogs fleece!!
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STH said:
Oh, I know–that fleece was so great! Red and black with paw prints and “DOG” all over it! Seriously, how can you turn that down? The good news, though, is that he wants the full zip and I would have had to match those big prints, which I am lousy at and do NOT enjoy. So there’s that.
And I’m very happy to hear you like the vest. It’s frequently hard for me to tell the difference between “this really doesn’t work” and “this is unusual” because I was raised to never color outside the lines, if you get what I mean. I look forward to hearing your opinion on the finished version, as you have excellent taste.
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Stephanie said:
Aww that’s kind. I really think it’s a beauty! Can’t wait to see the final version. At least there are some consolations with the fleece. 😉
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Maria said:
Your vest is looking great
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STH said:
Thank you! You know, I finished it and I’m still not too sure about it . . . .
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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Thimberlina said:
I’m loving the coat, and I looks like you made a wise move changing to the cord. I can’t wait to see if finished, and tho you’re not struck on it yet I really like the collar. 😀
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STH said:
Thank you! It may just take some getting used to . . . I keep feeling it requires a taller person, so maybe I should wear some heels with it. 🙂
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Marc-André said:
Awww
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STH said:
I KNOW, aren’t they sweet together? Shelby just loves her big brother and he’s happy to get cuddles from pretty much anybody, so it works. 😉
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Marc-André said:
Haha 🙂
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Val said:
Your vest is looking great. That patterned fabric looks stunning. I hope you end up loving it. I love your cats.
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STH said:
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! I think I’m going to come to love the vest; if nothing else, the fabric in it is just so soft and lovely. How can you resist that? 😉
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