grandmistress flash

the look on my face has everything to do with the sleeves on this jacket.  those white liiiiiiiiiiiiinesssss runnin through mah miiiii iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiind!!!!!

you will excuse me please, i've been battling strep throat since wednesday of last week and my brain is a bit sunny side up at the moment.  i'm forcing myself to chill this president's day, perfect time to park my ass (pictured above) in front of the computer and share this month's MSN project.  

so!  i found this HOLYCOWFASCINATINGGLORIOUSTAKEMEHOMERIGHTNOW wool on mood fabric’s magical upper floor, immediately hugged it to my chest and guarded it with my life.   one other (very fashionable) lady snagged some as well, and like 80 people wanted to swatch it, WHICH MADE ME WANT TO SOB.  i went directly home with my treasure and spent the afternoon on the floor with it, laying it out every which way to come up with a placement for this burdastyle maxi coat pattern.  

never been so happy to be on the floor.

MY JACKET, SHE IS WATCHING YOU!  WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE!

EVEN THE SLEEVES HAVE A SIDE EYE ON YOUR MANEUVERS!!!

you’ll notice i didn’t go maxi, or even collared, with the jacket.   had enough to do the job, but i was just so happy with the print placement at that point, i thought more material would take away from the effect.  sometimes more is just more.

can’t believe I just said that.

the pattern called for darts at the shoulder, but i opted for tucks instead, as the wool is pretty thick. doesn’t fray too much though, so i finally tried a technique i’ve been wanting to wrangle, the blanket stitch.  i could stand to get better at it, but it’s fun!  i’d even call it therapeutic!  especially when done on a saturday morning, with spiked coffee and jazz, when the bulk of the weekend is rolled out before you like a glorious bolt of unfurled fabric....

as hugh grant circa notting hill would say, whoopsie daisies,  sorry about that major wrinkly in the lining, but i wanted to show you a bit of guts.  the jacket is fully lined in this metallic mystery blend, courtesy of my stash via hancock's.  it's folded under at all edges, and hand stitched down.  speaking of sleeves, my ricky was all HEY GIRL YOU WANNA TOPSTITCH SOME SET IN SLEEVES?  

I'M YOUR MAN.

yes, virginia, there is also a dress– you've spied her 'round these parts before, a princess seamed sheath from one of my favorite blue envelopes, simplicity 2337.  i went with a TNT for this medium-weight, safety cone orange wool (which has a slightly scratchy hand on the face, but is totes comfortable against the skin).  and this is a solid my closet desperately need--i've worn her to two auditions already. let's just say i stand out.  hoping that's a good thing.  between pounding the pavement, pattern placement, and project sewn, i needed a quickie!  

speaking of which, THANK YOU for you for all the love on my pink powderpuff alien overlord dress (aptly named by miss cashmerette)!  i live to stitch another day in project sewn!!  i'll be back tomorrow with challenge the third, and hopefully back to 100% stomping power.  does like half the country have strep throat?

this wooly ensemble was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.