You remember it:
It's a Johnny Was LA cotton coat with some cool embroidery but not much else going for it. It's a little scratchy--I'll bet I've checked the content tag half a dozen times thinking, "This HAS to have wool in it." But no: 100% cotton. When I posted it and said I was going to add to it, someone posted and said that they didn't think I'd be happy with my style of stitching on this coat. I had to laugh: the style of stitching I do most often--the walking stitch with the knots on the outside--is fairly recent for me. From the time I started stitching on my clothes back in 1973, the most common stitch was the split stitch, which is, when you think of it, The Perfect Anal-Retentive Stitch. I have a love/hate relationship with it--it's tedious, it's plain.
But, done patiently, it can give you a really professional-looking line of color anywhere you want it. It locks, so it stays forever, almost--I've got a pair of overalls with this stitch that I've had for over 30 years and that have been laundered over and over (not lately, but for years--I wore them a LOT), and the stitching has lasted longer than the fabric in many places. So of course I had to prove, if only to myself, that I could apply stitching to this coat that blended in perfectly with the style. I may bead the flowers--they cry out for beading--but I'm going to wear it some first and see if I like it enough to do that. All I know so far? It's not very warm. I wore it over to show Trish and Tiffany yesterday and nearly froze (it didn't get above freezing here. Brrrrrr).
Here's what it looks like now:
I needed to adjust it better before the shot above--it's not really crooked like that up at the top.
For now, it's finished. I've moved on to the yoolie that was formerly an ankle-length Land's End black knit dress. I wore it at the quilt show in Houston and realized it was way, way too boring, so I came home and started working on it--but then it got put on hold while I did the coat.
have unconsciously adopted the same position?
I love when people do that
and don't even know it.)
I'm wearing it here with a purple yoolie over it--so it's that black thing underneath. I love it because the long pieces on the sides slap against my boots when I walk, plus it's very soft and stretchy, meaning it's really comfortable. The drawback is exactly what anyone with animals would guess: it's a magnet for cat fur. Sigh. I told The EGE last night we've got to remember to get more lint roller re-fills. I don't feel prepared unless I have at least one spare on hand. Usually two. The extra-large ones.
Anyway, it doesn't look much like it did--now it just needs a ton of stitching, so that's what I'm working on now.
More soon~~XO
Posts
11 comments:
Very nice. Not boring anymore. Are you finished? Or still tweaking it? My god, I love the shoes your mannequin is wearing. I had some just like them when I was five. I've probably said that before. Hey, I need to tell you that I like the new font and background color on your blog. MUCH easier on the eyes. XO
Thanks, Patti. Actually, those shoes are heels--I had some just like them when I was in high school and so, of course, had to have these Borns. But I didn't wear them that much, so they're perfect for Alex.
Rice, I take my hat off to you. The split stitch looks absolutely wonderful and very professional. I'm very impressed with the way it does look well with the original embroidery.
I didn't think that you were going to use this sort of embroidery stitch , but the more casual style that you have been using on the yoolies.
Can't wait to see this coat with with beading.
Thanks, Suella--it's good for me to do something different every now and then, lest I get stuck and make a rut!
That coat is amazing, what a difference your stitches have made. Hope to see a pic of you wearing it at some post :-)
The coat was nice to begin with and the stitching takes it to a higher level.
I don't know that it really looks like YOU tho. So why don't you sell it to me? I'll pay you ...um.. a dollar and a quarter.
JUST KIDDING! ! !
You can stop snorting now :-)
Darla
Ho, ho. Darla made me laugh out loud. XO
Hi Rice!
I've never left a comment on your blog before, but I'll sometimes wander here because I really love your personality an your style. I wish I had the confidence to dress funky like you do... I try... increasingly more so lately... mostly mixing one artsy piece with an otherwise neutral outfit. :) Works for my shy self.
Anyhoo, I was reading about the cat hair/lint roller issue and wanted to write because I have a white cat named LuLu -- who fur-bombs me constantly (I don't really mind though, she's so sweet) ;). I've discovered a cat brush called the "furminator"... have you seen this thing in action? They have youtube videos... it's crazy! Well, it's a bit pricey, but I found mine at the pet store when they had a sale and maybe you can find it online. Anyway, I happened upon it because LuLu doesn't like a brush (she is a shelter kitty and has trust issues) but for whatever reason she didn't mind a comb. So, after trying tons of brushes, I bought this thing (thinking it's comb-like) and was amazed at how much fur comes off my cat! LOL! No, I'm not a spokes-spammer-person. I still get LuLu hair all over my black clothes, but it's a lot less than before. Just thought I'd write about it in case you'd never heard of it. :)
The embroidery/stitching looks really lovely! I need to shop at my local thrift stores more than I already do... you always seem to find awesome stuff!
PS: You always seem to cheer me up. :) Maybe it's the orange hair... ;) ...or maybe it's your smile. xo
Thanks for that--I have heard of the Furminator. We got some kind of stripped brush, and it took a ton of fur out. Moe loved it--and then I noticed that I'd used it so much he was BALD in a couple places. Yikes! So I have to be careful and not get too carried away with the grooming. Clarice hates everything--combs, brushes. She likes to be combed 1)in the bathtub (not water, just the empty tub) 2)with a wet comb (I guess because it cuts out the static electricity) and 3) for about 10 seconds. (I actually heaved a sigh here.)
I really like the look of a short yoolie layered over a longer one.
And seriously, when have you ever dressed boringly? :=D
Do you have some videos on how to do the stitches on the gray coat?
What type and size of thread? size of needle? best place to buy?
I want to do this to one of my jackets. Can you direct me to a good site or YT video?
Thank you,
Post a Comment