...and awaaay we go! The men's flannel shirt project

And we're off.

Yesterday I got started on my plaid flannel shirt.  I did a lot of online research to see what people were doing with plaid flannel these days -- not a whole lot.  The options are pretty straightforward: yokes/no yokes, pocket flaps/no pocket flaps, bias-cut button placket and cuffs/straight-cut button placket....  and so on.

I toyed with the idea of using princess seams (or Viennese seams or whatever they're called for men) in front and I have a men's shirt pattern just like that -- but it was just too much.  It might work if I were using a contrasting solid flannel.

I cut everything out and I'm ready to start stitching.  I think I'm going to make this one on my Pfaff 30.



Here's how I lined up the plaid for the two fronts (which are two different pattern pieces on this vintage shirt pattern, Butterick 4712).



The facing edges are selvage, but now I'm thinking of using black cotton sateen for the facings as a contrast -- it will look cool where it will be visible (and the inside collar band in the same black cotton).



To avoid screw-ups I carefully labeled my sleeves in chalk on the wrong side.   The fabric is the same on both sides, which can cause confusion, especially when I'm making sleeve plackets.



I tried a method I read about on Sherry's fine blog, pattern - scissors - cloth, which is called blockfusing.  You interface a big block of fabric and then cut out things like cuffs and collar bands from the interfaced fabric, rather than cutting and fusing each piece separately (as I've always done).  This way you know everything will match up perfectly and you won't have to worry about fabric shifting or anything as you fuse.  It worked, though with my little iron it's a drag to fuse a big block.   Clever, Sherry!



So that's the shirt so far.  Snaps or buttons, what do you think?

Friends, look what I found at the flea market yesterday:



Did you know this book existed?  I didn't.  It's lovely and pocket-sized (for a big pocket) and much more fun to read than the blog.  Looking at images on the Internet will never be the same as seeing them in print, I don't think.   I love this book.  I don't read men's fashion magazines so it's great for inspiration.





Readers, we're out of time.  I hope you're getting off to a good start this new year but if you're not, don't forget you can wipe the slate clean at any time and start again -- I do.  Don't let the whole New Year thing rule your world.

That said, what's your first project of 2011?  Any plaid-matching out there? 

Happy Monday, everybody!

Where do we go from here?

Friends, there's always that first week of a new year when I'm thinking, OK -- What do I want to get done in YEAR X.  Then the urge to plan wears off and it's back to day-to-day blog writing, dog walking, and intermittent vacuuming.

I'm not much of a planner. The way I look at it, you never know what life may throw your way so it's always wiser to stay nimble and go with the flow.  Wasn't it Robert Burns who said, "The best laid schemes of mice and men / Go oft awry."?  Or was that George Burns?

I didn't start 2009 with any intention to learn how to sew, nor 2010 with any plan to blog.  So what would be the point of saying, In 2011 I'm going to ________?

You're probably thinking, well, everybody has a plan of some sort and Peter is just not revealing his to us.  But I swear, I don't.  Actually, if you have plan -- for yourself or for me -- maybe you can share it with us here.

It's inevitable, since we do divide up time and live according to regular cycles, that we're going to reflect a bit this time of year and think about what's next.

I know there are a few things I would like not to do in 2011.  Maybe expressing them publicly will steel my resolve.  Or not.  Anyway, for what it's worth....

1.  No new sewing machines.   Or old sewing machines.  I was very good with the sewing machines last year.   Besides a serger, which I did need and use constantly, I purchased only four sewing machines (my Singer 15-91, 15-90, and 66 treadle, and my Pfaff 30) in 2010.  I received a fifth as a gift and found the sixth in the street.  But I sold eight (including the last two).  So I'm definitely moving in the right direction.



2.  No more luggage.  Somehow I have ended up with three (still) smelly pieces of American Tourister luggage and two Samsonite vanity cases and I'm not even particularly vain.  I got carried away, which is what somebody should do with these.





3.  No more piles.  I am pretty good about cleaning up after each project -- I have to be since I sew in the living room -- but things still tend to accumulate in corners.  I just put away a stack of self-drafted patterns I'd created in (eek) May, and only because we discarded the table it had been sitting on.  Maybe furniture disposal is the secret.

I also really need to edit Cathy's shoe and hat collection.  Half the shoes don't fit and she rarely wears a pair more than once anyway.  Once those shoots are over, she's back to her Dr. Scholl's exercise sandals.





Readers, have I forgotten anything? 

There are still a bunch of things I want to sell on Craigslist -- dishes, phones, a bike, a lamp -- but these can also go to a thrift store in the worst case.  Michael hates that bike, which I haven't ridden in four years.



Sometimes the Craigslist thing can be more trouble than it's worth, though, and you really just want the stuff out.

What do you do with an old coin collection?  I haven't collected coins since the Seventies but I don't know how to get rid of countless rolls of uncirculated pennies, proof sets, et al. that are sitting in a big plastic Rubbermaid box at the bottom of my closet.  (I hope that's not an invitation to burglary -- they're not particularly valuable -- though that might solve the problem.)

Meanwhile I am still toying with shirt ideas.  I was originally going to make a Western style shirt with my plaid flannel but am now leaning toward something more traditional, or maybe a princess seam version, we'll see.  Plaid is already busy enough without all those bias yokes and button plackets.



I made this the October before last and it gives me a headache.

Resolute readers, in closing, do you have goals for the new year?  Anything you're determined to accomplish come hell or high water?  How about an I will not --list?  What are you determined not to do in 2011?

Tell us all and perhaps we can not do it together.

Jump in!

EXCLUSIVE: Kanye West - All Of The Lights (Behind The Scenes)

"Hollywood.tv caught some exclusive footage from on the set of Kanye's highly anticipated music video for his single off MBDTF, "All Of The Lights" which was in production just last night in Los Angeles. The video will feature all artists originally on the track & is being directed by Hype Williams."

NEW MUSIC by Chris Brown

Here is 2 club smashers from your boy Chris Breezy

Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – Look At Me Now

Download Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?cc073do8w2n1kpk

Chris Brown – Where Do We Go From Here (Feat. Pitbull) (Prod. by Jim Jonsin)

Download Below

http://hulkshare.com/97l2ydw9j7u7

New Years Eve Performances

New Years Eve Performances

Here is a small collection of new years eve performances that i happened to come across via www.worldstarhiphop.com. Enjoy :)

Lil Wayne Ft. Birdman - Fire Flame



Lil Wayne Ft. Cory Gunz - 6 Foot 7 Foot




Nicki Minaj - Did It On Em & Moment To Life



Nicki Minaj - Save Me




Willow Smith Whip My Hair

2 0 1 1

1.1.11

Wishing you all a wonderful and prosperous new year.

Peter speaks! The Pfaff 30 VIDEO

Happy New Year, friends!

I'd like to spend the first day of 2011 sharing my new vintage Pfaff 30 with you.  On this short video you'll hear the Pfaff -- and me -- in action, and see how she stitches.

I love this powerful German beauty and can't wait to sew my next project on her.  I have more detailed photos of the machine here.

Enjoy!




Any questions?  Just let me know.

Have a great day, everybody!