Flat Fell Seams and Plackets, Oh My!

Work is progressing on the Simplicity 1328.  With generous help from David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking-Developing Skills for Fine Sewing, I've been able to sew the plackets in place and I believe they look good.

(I'm in the process of sewing on the cuff now.)  They're straight and raw edges are all enclosed. So far so good. 

Next up were the seams.  The Shirtmaking book recommends using a flat fell foot for best results.  My machine didn't come with one, so off to Amazon.com I trotted til I finally found a foot that would fit my machine:

Now what to do with it. It came with no directions.  I found this great tutorial on You Tube:

 

Now  I'm doing flat fell seams also! 

 

 

It's hard to see them on this gray fabric and black thread but you get the idea.   The thickness of the  flannel made it difficult.  Had it been a regular shirting cotton it would have been much easier I think.  But I practiced for a long time on scraps of the fabric before I launched into the real stuff. I'm learning so much with this project!  Hope you're having fun with your sewing too.  Happy stitching.

Shopping At Joann's

Joann's is having the Labor Day sale this weekend and have lots of sales going on.  Chiefly, for me at least, patterns.  Butterick and McCall's are $1.99 and Vogue are $4.99.  There are lots and lots of patterns I want, but I decided to limit myself to what I will realistically sew up in the near future.  Only two came home with me, McCall's 7196, I love the pleats on view D. and McCall's 7254, loving the jacket and the vest. 

Of course fabric is also on sale so a little came home with me as well.

The happy dots is a peachskin that I was thinking would be pretty for the McCall's 7196.  The ivory is another peachskin and the lace to match are for a project I want to do next, McCall's 7095. 

Right now I'm deep into Simplicity 1328:

 

 

 

I'm making view A, the shirt jacket for my husband.  This is my first foray into men's clothing, so I'm a little intimidated.  I'm using a medium-weight brushed flannel so regular markings would not show up.  It was the first time I've used thread tracing to mark a pattern.  It was very time consuming but has been worth it.  Who know where all those pockets would have ended up without it?  Now I'm working in the plackets, another new skill set. We'll see how that goes.  I fear a seam ripper is in my future with this one.  I just want it all to be so right and there are so many new skills involved in this project.   Do you challenge yourself with your projects?  I know this is how we grow as sewists and my reference books are getting quite the workout.  More updates later and don't forget to catch that sale if you haven't already.  Happy stitching.