Tailoring, day 5

Hours 27-34

 Wow, how the hours are flying by!! It's kinda scary, because I don't actually know what is ahead of me. I have no idea if I'm 'on time' or 'running late' for my deadlines.

Today, as predicted, I sewed the cuffs. Two layers of canvas were zig zagged together 'in the round' (making them curve by having an inside and an outside piece). They were then straight stitched to a piece of organza also 'in the round', with the organza being the outer-most piece. The organza had 2cm seam allowances around it, but the canvas were both cut back to no seam allowance. The outer layer of the cuff was then tacked in place, having already marked through the placement lines for the trim. Then, the lining was machine sewn on to the outer fabric, catching the organza in there too, along the top-most edge. the side seams were then closed, making it officially cylindrical. With a lot of pressing care taken, the lining was then inside (where it should be), and hand sewn closed through the hem-edge of the cuff. My trims came next - replicating the designs on the jacket. It took me from 8am to 230pm to finish the cuffs!!

The next thing to do was to start work on my shoulder seams and armholes. The outer layer of shoulder seams were sewn, easing the back in to the front (as it should be done). I then caught my canvas on to the front, and in my shoulder seam allowance. Finally for the day, I chain stitched just outside my stitch line of my armhole, keeping most of my fabric flat, but easing in slightly through the front-armpit, in the same location that the canvas was shrunk in to place right back in the beginning. This took 2.5 hours, and I've only chain-stitched one armhole!! And that was the end of my work day! Cuffs and one armhole... Tailoring sure is a long process.

I'm quite exhausted, and I know that my blogs are getting shorter and less detailed. But I think it is good to keep writing, even just small details like tonight, rather than let it lapse in memory and time.