Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Ponte, silk and other musing


Yes, once again its been a long time between drinks.  Just over a week ago my beloved 90 year father passed away after a long illness.  Spending as much time with him up in Queensland trumped sewing and blogging.  I was greatful for this time and miss his crazy humour so much already. So enough of me and onto sewing.  I've completed two items and have another on the way.

The first is my self-drafted striped preppy jacket. The fabric is a very good quality ponte from Tessuti.  I've also used their buttons and fabulous wool bindng.  Call me crazy but I handstitched the binding for a flawless finish.   It's not a perfect garment, but I can't tell you how much I enjoy wearing it.  I'll use this pattern again.  Next time, I'll add a little more fullness across the bustline and use interfacing to fill in the gap under the shoulder pads that are showing us as wrinkles in the photograph.

I wish I could say I loved my second completed garment given the effort that went into creating it.  Cut from a "silk" (burn test screams polyester) sari that I bought online from India for $10, Rebecca Taylor's Vogue 1367 (OOP) looks like pjyamas.  It does look better tucked into a skirt.

 Finally I wanted to introduce you my two favourite Brisbane fabric stores - Irma J Smith House of Fashion and Gardams.  I bought this gorgeous Italian silk in memory of my father, who loved frangipanis and was always urging me to wear a "nice frock" - as opposed to mini skirts and jeans when I was a teen.  So Dad, a nice frock it will be! 

I didn't actually buy this fabulous linen from Dorothy Gardam, and have been obsessing about it ever since.  I did buy a nice piece of printed cotton and bright pink cotton.  underlining to set it off. Gardams have moved to Adelaide Street opposite the Town Hall.  Irma J is in the Strand Arcade.  It was run by two amazingly talented and glamourous sisters.  Sadly, one of the two also passed away last week.  Hopefully their exquisite (but expensive) store will continue for many years to come.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Gail,

    I love that preppy jacket...it suits you perfectly! I look forward to seeing your "nice frock"! I was in Brisbane briefly last week and saw a sign on the old Gardams store that they had moved, but I didn't get to the new store. The fabric in your bottom photo looks very similar to a linen I bought about 3 months ago...I think I got mine from The Fabric Store. I was thinking to make a casual jacket with a draped collar, a bit like this one
    http://www.sewdaily.com/sewing-patterns-and-projects/for-women/draped-collar-linen-jacket

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  2. I am so sorry to hear about your father, but I'm happy that you were able to spend so much time with him. I LOVE that striped jacket!!!

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  3. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. It's lovely though that you got to spend time with him.
    I love the striped ponte jacket. One I love black and white and the proportion of the stripe is perfect for the jacket. Bold, but not too bold. Wool binding? Wow I don't think I've ever seen that here.

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  4. My condolences. Losing a parent is so, so difficult.
    Love that jacket! Looking forward to seeing the floral dress!

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  5. I am so sorry about your father but happy to hear you spent so much time with him. Your jacket is beautiful and I love the stripes. The top is pretty, too. Those type of tops work for me under a cardigan.

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  6. Gail, I'm so sorry to hear about your father - reaching 90 is an amazing achievement and it's nice you got to spend time with him recently.

    I'm going to have to check out Gardams next time I'm in Brisbane - I've been to Brisbane several times a year for the last 15 years and yet have never been into that shop!

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  7. My deepest condolences for the lose of your dear dad. I hope the many memories you have sustain you.

    Your jacket is really wonderful. I envy you being able to draft it and make it fit so well. That's a skill I hope to achieve some day. And I won't call you crazy for hand stitching the binding, it's those little details that make a garment and also make the making of it so enjoyable and memorable!

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  8. So sorry to hear of your loss. Losing a parent is hard, whatever age they are. Love your jacket.

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  9. So sorry to hear about the loss of your father, it's good that you were able to spend time with him and have many memories to treasure.
    I love your jacket, I've been meaning to make a ponte blazer for ages, when I do get around to it I think stripes and binding will be the way to go (though I really doubt I will have the patience to hand stitch mine!).

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  10. I am sorry you recently lost your Dad Gail, but how nice that you were able to spend some quality time with him at the end. I love the stripey jacket too, and with the slight alterations it will become a TNT pattern I am sure. Well done for self drafting a jacket - not easy to get such a good look.

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  11. My condolences on your recent loss. My own father passed several weeks ago. Your Ponte jacket looks great. It inspires me to sew one of my own. I have a favorite RTW one and I wear it often.

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  12. I'm s sorry about your father passing away, Gail. He will be remembered as the great Man he was.
    Your jacket is fabulous, right up my alley. It must be very comfortable too and you you'll get plenty of wear out of it. Jackets are such rewarding projects.
    Hugs from Portugal

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  13. I'm s sorry about your father passing away, Gail. He will be remembered as the great Man he was.
    Your jacket is fabulous, right up my alley. It must be very comfortable too and you you'll get plenty of wear out of it. Jackets are such rewarding projects.
    Hugs from Portugal

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  14. Oh no, I'm so sorry for your loss Gail! Your dad sounds terrific - there's nothing like a great sense of humour! I will look forward to seeing your frangipani dress in his memory...

    Your jacket looks great - well done for self drafting the pattern, and I'm sure the fabric quality and finish make it a stunner up close as well as in photos.

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