Here is one of the completed sleeves for the jacket. I've again used a plain backing fabric. The darker plain areas of the sleeve are made from one leg of a pair of jeans. The seminole band varies with each jacket I make. I don't think I've repeated the same pattern any more than once or twice. This is a new-to-me seminole design.
Once I make sure that the 'legs' are big enough to cover the area I need, then I decide how wide the seminole band needs to be. It varies according to the width of pant legs I am able to find. I construct the band and pin it into place on my plain backing. Then the leg pieces are attached on either side and the final step is to topstitch for a little extra pizzaz. The next step now is to make sure the sleeves and two front pieces are exactly the same in size because I use the constructed jacket pieces as a pattern to cut the flannel lining pieces to size. After that comes the stitching together of both the outside shell and the inner lining. Then it will be time for a try-on to decide the completed sleeve length.
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In further news, 'the book' is finally off to the printers (ie. #2 son and his GF). I'm feeling rather lost because I've had so many months of my main focus being that book and suddenly it's done and all I have to do is wait for the finished product. Feels odd! Of course I could be really ambitious (and dedicated) and start on the second book, but I think I'm going to take the summer off.
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I've been meaning to tell you that my friend Arlee has a new project that sounds VERY exciting. She has started a new blog to talk about her process, which can be found
here. Arlee can be counted on to come up with very original projects and this one will be no different. She is taking her art to the streets! Please go and read all about it on her new blog.
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Another blog I enjoy reading is Shawkl, and she has recently won first prize for her crazy quilted purse in the Crazy Quilters International yahoo group. Please go
here to see her winning entry and prepare to be blown away!