Thank goodness I finally got a little time today to sew! I got ONE sleeve done - at this rate, I'll be finished by Christmas! I didn't exactly follow the order in BWOF because .. well, because I'm just like that! Anyway, this is what I did.
After sewing the two sleeve pieces together, I laid out the lower sleeve. I decided to press in the pleats BEFORE hemming it since I had marked my pleats with snips. 
Then, after folding, pressing, and basting the top of the pleats, I sewed seam binding to the hem edge. I'm not sure whether they were saying to use a 1-1/2" hem on the sleeves as well as the peplum but I only used 5/8". I also know that the seam binding will give a flatter hem than turning it under, and this fabric is a little thick for the pleats even just from folding up the hem. Before I pressed up the hem, I basted 5/8" from the raw edge of the fabric so that I could turn it under at the exact right length. Then I hemmed it by hand and repressed the pleats. 
Next, I pinned the lower sleeve to the upper sleeve, and I realized that I did not make the lower sleeve larger when I widened the upper sleeve! SO... I had to unbaste some of those pleats and reposition and press them to make the lower sleeve fit! I basted this piece to the sleeve with a 1/2" seam allowance, checked it, got rid of a pucker, and the sewed the seam 5/8" from the edge. I pressed this seam and then pressed it UP toward the upper sleeve.
Setting in the sleeve wasn't too difficult, except that the notch for the back sleeve didn't match up with the seam. Everything else did though, so I went ahead and basted it in, tried it on, and then stitched it. I trimmed the sa close to the first row of stitching so as not to have to do a lot of clipping.The sleeve fits and I think it looks good. I need to go out and buy some shoulder pads now. Maybe I'll finish the other sleeve this weekend.
My vacation is over and I didn't really get anything done that I thought I wanted to do. My 85 year old father is really having a difficult time right now, so I've spent most of my time helping him. He is the sweetest man on earth and everybody loves him.
It's so hard to see your parents getting old.
Friday, October 19, 2007
BWOF 10-07-121 Sleeves
Posted by Nancy Winningham at 3:20 PM
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6 comments:
Only half completed your jacket looks great. Now I want to make it too! And it's great to be able to spend time with and help your father. The sewing will always wait for you!
I agree with Sigrid...the jacket is looking great. And enjoy your time with your father...he won't always be here but your sewing will..and finally what fabric are you using for the jacket?
I am really liking this fabric. It is an embroidered suedecloth that I got from JoAnn's. This morning when I went in to get some shoulder pads I noticed that they have some of the same fabric in a beautiful olive green. (and, it will be on sale starting tomorrow for 50% off!) I love that it is machine washable and it is very easy to work with.
It absolutely rots seeing our folks get older- for lots of reasons. Hang in there. *hugs*
Can't wait to see the jacket finished Nancy, I LOVE that pattern! And very sweet pic of your dad, I haven't seen him in awhile and he looks like he's lost weight. Reminds me of my Mom...
I love your jacket so far. I have been eyeing this one since I got my WOF, too. Great idea about the belt buckle too. I always look at Thrifts for belts but rarely find any that I like. When I make this jacket though I will keep that in mind.
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