This is a picture of the Collar - she has you cut 4: 2 for the Upper Collar and 2 for the Under Collar. For the Under Collar - I suggest pleating out the tucks - thereby making the collar smaller for the UNDER collar - leaving the Upper Collar as is and making the tucks in the Upper Collar only - and before joining the Upper and Under Collars at the outermost edges...
from Londa's design room

Front of collar as it releases - in shoulder area. The pattern never says how far to stitch down the tucks - I finally decided from shoulder area to shoulder area in the collar. ..... :)
from Londa's design room

Hinse Shawl Collar Jacket - from Londa

Shawl Collar Jacket of orange Minkee
from Londa's design room

Hinse Shawl Collar Jacket - back of collar

Showing the back of the collar - at center back - Loes Hinse Shawl Collar Jacket
from Londa's design room

Loes Hinse Shawl Collar Jacket Report

Well..... this is a learning curve. I spent the better part of yesterday and today stitching - though I almost have 4 garments completed - in orange Minkee for my www.londas-illiniwear.com site. Good thing Orange is the 'in' color this spring - or at least one of the favorites... I've taken 5 pictures to share - so bare with me as I figure this out...posting pictures with Hello and Picasa - the FREE progams that you can get with the Blog Account.

I can't seem to figure out how to put pictures right into this post - so I'll write and refer to the other posts with pictures (til my Dear Son can help me!). Don't fret - I'll post how to do it as soon as I learn!

Full jacket - you can see I used the 'Dimpled" for the collar portion - the solid for the other. BEWARE: don't press on the dimpled - or you will loose the dimple of the dimple. Right now, I have a piece in the washer and dryer to see if that makes the dimple return.... just checked: NO, the dimples do NOT Return once pressed - and I didn't press hard either! :( FYI - I have an entire jacket of the dimpled that will now have to be entirely 'un-dimpled' with pressing - I'll 'Google" for that problem before I do it though!

I used a cotton for the Under Collar and INTERFACED it with a fusible - light weight. This would have NEVER worked if I'd used Minkee for the under collar as well as the upper collar! The directions in the pattern are very, very confusing and incomplete in my estimation. I'm writing my Londa's 2 Cents in my head as I go here - I also have put the pattern on sale at my site - Gee, I wonder why??? Just not worth $16 in my book...
For anyone who takes advantage of this sale and gets the pattern before I write my Londa's 2 Cents, I'll be sure to send it to you electronically as soon as it is done. With my daughter ready to give birth any minute, I'm not promising anything with dates right now! :)

That said, I do think it is a somewhat neat concept to have the tucks transfer into a more shaped area at the lower front. The jacket I made was the shorter version. The longer version totally turned me off for some reason - You MUST interface the Collar though - and, counter to what I usually recommend, I think you should interface the UNDER Collar - after you remake the pattern for the undercollar as shown in the picture of the pattern piece. I think just folding out the tucks and mushing the pattern to make a new pattern - smaller, obviously, will work just fine. Then, you leave the Upper collar as it is given, and do the tucking in the Upper Collar only.

That is a GORGEOUS Arora Borealis rhinestone button and Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn couched that
'liven' up the jacket.

I do think it needs some shoulder pads - as Loes calls for. I need to add those for real yet. I almost always stick them in on my dressform when I photo my garments.

I did cut a large - but the largest size on the arms - cause I KNOW from experience that her arms run very, very small.

What Londa's up to...

This is my sewing day - and tomorrow I will play with the Picasa picture manager and Hello accounts that I downloaded to use in posting as part of the Blog.
I promise to take pictures of what I do today.... I cut out most of the day yesterday that was available outside of filling website orders. Have lots of Minkee in orange to stitch up for my www.londas-illiniwear.com

Have you all noticed all the orange in the stores? What a hard color to wear though! Not an issue in this town - home of the Fighting Illini Basketball team - undefeated until Sunday!

I've signed up my husbands' email on this account so that way I can see actually what happens as I - and you - post.

The other thing I've done over the past 2 days is really re-work all the information that was hiding on my site.
If you click on Gallery - you will see now 9 boxes of information - with links to click on. There are my hints and tips, patterns for garments I've 'knocked off', pattern & fabric 'marriage proposals' I call them, and much more.
Go take a p eek.
I'd welcome your comments and suggestions.

My goal is to make both my site and this Blog as worthy as possible of your visits.

The most fun I've been having is with couching yarns onto clothing - what fun! My kitties think so too, though!

Promise - pictures tomorrow!

I also wear this back weight thing to keep my shoulders back when I sew, and am at the computer. I'll try to have hubby take a pic of me with it on so you can all see. I don't want to get any more hump forward-shouldered than I've already become!

Sunny and getting warmer here in central Illinois. I LOVE the spring!

Still waiting on that grandson's arrival! All in the Good Lord's perfect timing - I keep telling DD and myself!

Sewing hugs to all -
Londa

Joan's Stuff

I just started easing back into sewing after having a total knee replacement 6 weeks ago (on my sewing/driving leg)
I am sewing a muslin of Loes Hinse's European Pant. Will let you know how the fitting goes.
I really need some loose summer weight casual pants and I thought I would give this pattern a try, since it has been in my pattern stash for awhile. I have made several of her patterns and have found them to be very quick to sew.....just what I desire for right now.
Joan from San Jose

I''m on Board!

Hi Everybody,
Whew! we are really entering into cyberspace big time, aren't we? This is my first experience with blogging. I have resisted so far just because it would just add more time away from all the other fun things that I like to do.
I have been out of the 'chatting loop' for a few weeks, recovering from Total Knee Replacement. I am seeing the surgeon today for my 6 week check. I am hoping I can be released to drive and sew, two most important activities in my life. The total recovery will continue for sometime(physical therapy sessions and exercise program at home.......borrrrrrring!
I am really wanting to get into spring sewing......here in the Bay Area of California spring is here for sure, in fact the daffodils and hyacinths have already blooomed and gone and tulips have passed their peak also.
I hope all of you have some interesting projects to share, I enjoy hearing about/seeing photos of them.
Tomorrow I will be attending my ASG Neighborhood Group monthly meeting, that I lead. I have missed being with them, though a few have dropped by in recent weeks, to show me their projects or latest pattern and fabric purchases. Sewers/sewists are a great bunch of people.

Happy sewing to all,
Joan

Londa's Blog Beginning

What a weird word ... "Blog". Anyway - another invention of this modern computer age I guess.

Since Blogs are FREE, and this seems to have more capability, I am changing the current format of Londa's Chat to this Blog Format.

Sew.... Londa's Chat is now known as: Londa's Creative Sewing Chatter.

Right up front, I do hope that Members of this Chat (beginning with those of Londa's Chat) will comment and post and share in a likewise manner.
This is NOT a politically correct chatter, nor is it advertising-free. I will be sharing not only what I am sewing, and creating, but also items of interest regarding my websites:

http://www.londas-sewing.com wonderful fabrics, patterns and notions for creative sewing
http://www.alondaoriginal.com unqiue art wear featuring Orange & Blue sports colors
and more to come...

I am also proud to be a Christian, and those principles and inspiration guide my life, and will share boldly regarding my Christian faith. It is my prayer that even if you are not a Christian, that you will open your heart and soul and 'take in' and ponder what I offer. If you would like to speak to me personally about the Christian faith, I welcome your inquiries. At almost 53, I KNOW I could not have the peace that I experience in my turbulent life without Christ as my Saviour.

Sewing is the 'talent' God has gifted to me. I use this skill to help people look their very best, and to discover the creativity that God has given (though perhaps somewhat hidden) to them.

3-3-13
I'm sewing like crazy these days for Fine Arts Festivals coming up in April ..... SINCE my very first grandchild is due any day (though officially March 13, 2005).
When I'm sewing - I 'should' myself that I need to be on the computer............and
When I'm on the computer - I 'should' myself that I need to be sewing.
Slip housework and cooking (very, very differently as a result of hubby's heart attack last New Years' Eve) in there occassionally - and trying to keep peace and mischief between my 3 feline friends, and my days are over far to quickly.
Eeeeeeks, I think I'm getting that dreaded 'Carpal Tunnel' pain in my right thumb base. I ordered one of those HandEze gloves to wear - it should come today. Praying that helps....
Anyone have experience with that?

Oh - and I listen to Christian Radio while I work. MUCH more uplifting than blow-by-blow news or the other garbage on TV!

3-4-05
I see many of my Londa's Chat members are accepting the invitation to join in on my blog - feel free to post. As I figure out more about all of this - I'll 'clue' you in.
The way I see it - this can be a wonderful vehicle for us all to share like a bunch of sewing crazy gals - and fast become best friends!

3-5-05
No Baby yet - we keep hoping for this weekend.
I'm going on record as not knowing for sure if when a Post is Posted, if it goes out to all members as an individual email, or if it is just posted to the Blog (which I want).
My thought is that once or twice a week, I'll email all members a summary of what the chatter topics are - then you can all go to the Blog to check it out if you so desire. My thinking is that this will keep your email boxes cleaner - and be a better use of your time.
I've emailed the Blog Experts about this and am still awaiting an answer - so if any of you who are on board already, might take the time to email me back if, indeed, this post shows up as a separate complete email in your box, I'd sure appreciate it. I think it may have to do something with the 'settings' I've selected.
Anyway - will much appreciate your help!
Londa

Here's to 'blogging'!!!!!!!!!
Londa