Face it. Sewing makes you awesome. And I looooooooove being awesome. How awesome am I? Am I (left) Michael Kors awesome? (center) Tahari awesome? (right) Via Spiga awesome?
No? Am I perhaps alice + olivia awesome? Karen Millen, L.A.M.B, Jones New York, Dolce & Gabbana, or Lanvin awesome (awesomeness pictured clockwise from left)?
Unlikely. But I am completely and totally 100% Selfish Awesome, thanks to my old friend McCall 5525 (awesomeness pictured front, center and in your face)!
I finally got around to completely gutting my previous attempt at this jacket, and bringing it back to its pre-sewn state (note: ripping out miles of triple straight stitch topstitching is tedious). I interfaced every single piece with heavy, sew-in woven interfacing, and that finally gave me the body I wanted in this gorgeous, slightly sueded leopard fabric that I picked up last year in Montreal from Sam Textiles. And of course with that fabric, combined with my trusty McCall 5525 that has now yielded three favorite coats, my just-finished leopard version, the Key Lime Trench, and the Guggenheim Coat, I am feeling Selfish Awesome.
Here’s the obligatory photo pr0n, taken by Dan using his fancy schmancy new Nikon D7000 and budding artist’s eye:
What are you looking at?
It’s like I can’t stop checking myself out. Ooh, what’s that on the inside?
Hey, it’s turquoise jacquard lining! Awesome! I picked the lining up on a recent trip to London to visit Martine. She’s like my snarkwife. And she’s never asked me to sew anything for her in 15 years of snark marriage, and she went fabric shopping with me for a whole day even though she doesn’t sew. She is also awesome.
Unfortunately I don’t remember the name of the store- AAA Fabrics? A-Plus Fabrics? It’s the big place on Goldhawk Road right near the tube stop. It is also awesome. I was going to go with green lining at first, and I was all like, “Turquoise or green? Green, obviously.” And Martine was all like, “Duuuuh, turquoise.” And then I was like, “Well, duuuh. Obviously.” And that’s how that decision came about.
Here’s the macro shot with all of the redone topstitching:
As usual, I took everything in at all the seams to make for a slimmer fit. I’m also considering adding the button bands on the sleeves but with buckles, but I have yet to find the right buckles so that’s a project for the future. And that’s about it.
How about you? Are you sewing yourself some awesome today? How awesome are you? Are you Selfish Awesome?
169 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 10, 2011 at 9:45 am
Miriana
I’m sure I speak for a number of people, but not only is the jacket awesome, it’s pretty damn awesome to have you back!
August 11, 2011 at 2:11 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks, Miriana, you are pretty damn awesome yourself, and, may I say, impressively speedy with commenting! That is awesome!
August 10, 2011 at 9:45 am
Rosesred
Wohoooo! The selfish seamstress returns with a vengeance (please let there be vengeance!). That coat is really, really divalicious, and now I know with absolute clarity that my vinyl python fabric will become a 5525. I need the world to know about my awesomeness as well, just as clearly as this coat proclaims yours.
August 11, 2011 at 2:12 am
selfishseamstress
Ohhh python jacket, soooo jealous of the forthcoming awesomeness… good luck with 5525- it’s a winner, and so are you :D
August 10, 2011 at 9:46 am
Michael
You’re back!! Woohoo.
Loving the coat. Fierce!
August 11, 2011 at 2:13 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks, Michael! You are also fierce. Fiercely awesome.
August 10, 2011 at 9:49 am
Claire (aka Seemane)
a) Yes you are awesome.
b) Yes the jacket is awesome.
c) What is not awesome is WTF biatch – where have you been!!????! WE MISSED YOUR SELFISHNESS SOMETHING ROTTEN – welcome back to the land of the living :) :) :)
August 11, 2011 at 2:14 am
selfishseamstress
I know, right?? So not awesome. But you know what is? You, Claire (Seemane). You are Awesome (aka Awesome)!
August 10, 2011 at 9:52 am
karen
WOW I AM SO GLAD YOU”RE BACK!!! You ARE AweSome!
August 11, 2011 at 2:15 am
selfishseamstress
And I’m so glad you’re here! You’re AweSome too!!
August 15, 2011 at 2:30 pm
karen
xoxoxo
August 10, 2011 at 9:52 am
karen
oh and i forgot to mention your coat is better than all those others
August 10, 2011 at 9:55 am
Toby Wollin
Awesomeness cubed! How can you beat it?! I’ve been slipping into slovenly sewing volunteerism (“Oh, let ME fix that for you…”) and your post is just the ticket to send me back to what I need to do, which is to make myself a real (aka, actually waterproof, not just ‘water resistant that does not last’) raincoat. There! spine is installed again.
August 11, 2011 at 2:17 am
selfishseamstress
Dear Toby’s Friends:
Toby is no longer going to do your menial sewing labor. Fix it yourself or PAY someone who wants to do it. She is too awesome and too busy sewing her own awesomeness to be bothered with mending your crap. That is all.
-The Selfish Seamstress
August 10, 2011 at 9:58 am
sewkate
I am selfish because all I care about is, “yay! I get to read Selfish Seamstress!”
August 11, 2011 at 2:19 am
selfishseamstress
And I’m selfish because I love getting comments that stroke my ego! Especially when they come from the awesome sewkate!
August 10, 2011 at 9:58 am
ChristineB
Welcome back!! That coat is all kinds of awesome.
August 11, 2011 at 2:19 am
selfishseamstress
And you, ChristineB, are all kinds of awesome. ALL kinds!
August 10, 2011 at 10:01 am
Samina
Everything that Claire said above. Plus, I was thisclose to dropping you off my Google Reader blogroll for inactivity & here you are. You knew my intent & you panicked, didn’t ya? Glad to know I can still bring Awesomeness to heel.
August 11, 2011 at 2:20 am
selfishseamstress
It’s like we’re toying with each other’s emotions… awesomely! Hiya, Samina!
August 10, 2011 at 10:02 am
Sally
SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!! You are indeed extremely awesome.
The coat is looking truly awesome, as awesome if not MORE awesome than your designer examples :-)
August 11, 2011 at 2:21 am
selfishseamstress
Sally, you are indeed extremely and truly awesome yourself! Good to see you!
August 10, 2011 at 10:06 am
Erica B
Well damn! That’s how you make a comeback! LOL! That coat is amazing!
August 11, 2011 at 2:22 am
selfishseamstress
OMG I saw your spread in VPM and it made me start researching sergers so I could be more like you. TOO gorgeous.
August 10, 2011 at 10:07 am
Shelley P.
OMG, YOU’RE BACK! It’s the pinacle of selfishness to leave us hanging for so long – nicely played! : ) Seriously, though – thrilled to have your snark back, and glad you’re well!
August 11, 2011 at 2:23 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks, Shelley P.! I love being the pinnacle of stuff! Great to see you, and did I tell you you’re awesome yet?
August 10, 2011 at 10:07 am
lladybird
lol i just realized i commented on the wrong post. whoops! i guess i got too excited about leopard print jackets!
anyway, that is a fine coat. a damn fine coat. i love the turquoise lining. my jacket-in-progress also has turquoise lining, are we communicating telepathically or something?
August 11, 2011 at 2:25 am
selfishseamstress
No worries, you know why? Because I’ll take two comments from you over one any day :) And I’m excited to hear from a fellow turquoise lining fan. We probably are communicating telepathically. In fact, let’s do it again right now. Go!
August 10, 2011 at 10:08 am
Melanie @ M&M
I am SO EXCITED that you are back! The jacket is great. I have missed you so much it is ridiculous! Don’t ever leave us again. LOL!
August 11, 2011 at 2:29 am
selfishseamstress
I’m so excited too- so excited that you’re so awesome, Melanie @ M&M!
August 10, 2011 at 10:13 am
Elizabeth
SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad you’re back. And your coat looks pretty selfishly awesome!
August 11, 2011 at 2:34 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks, Elizabeth! And speaking of selfishly awesome, I am totally copying your awesome Simplicity 2311 coat!
August 10, 2011 at 10:13 am
Corvus
That coat does, indeed, confirm your total awesomeness. Bravo!
August 11, 2011 at 2:35 am
selfishseamstress
Thank you, Corvus! And may I say you are looking particularly awesome today?
August 10, 2011 at 10:16 am
claudiaharper
Welcome back!!
August 11, 2011 at 2:36 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks, claudiaharper, and thank you especially for the most awesome haiku :)
August 10, 2011 at 10:17 am
Rose in SV
You have returned with a roar! ((or Is that a leopard’s purr?). I love the coat–it’s great to have a TNT pattern–the lining is awesome. Black buckles on the sleeve? Or cuffed sleeves? Or (removable) fur cuffs (black or tan) on the sleeves and collar? The possibilities are endless!
Welcome back, Selfish Seamstress! It’s lovely to see you, again. Especially in your creations.
Rose in SV
August 11, 2011 at 2:37 am
selfishseamstress
Ooh- I had not thought of black buckles… that is a good idea. Dare I say, an awesome one? Lovely to see you too!
August 10, 2011 at 10:18 am
Rachel
Yaaaayyy!! The jacket is fantastic! The post is even better!!
August 11, 2011 at 2:38 am
selfishseamstress
And best of all is the fact that you are here and have brought all of your Rachel Awesomeness along!
August 10, 2011 at 10:29 am
Nancy Karpen
Welcome back. I missed your particular brand of snarkiness and your great sewing. Terrific coat.
August 11, 2011 at 2:39 am
selfishseamstress
Hey, awesome NancyK! Good to see you too! Hope you’re surviving the brutal NY summer okay!
August 10, 2011 at 10:33 am
oonaballoona
WHOAH. are you selfish telekinetic? cause i JUST replied to ladykatza on my own blog, wondering where you’d been. it was concerning my decision to not write a haiku to the mystery machine needle; knowing that you could do it better.
your jacket is fabulous. turquoise lining; ROCKING THAT.
as for me, i’ve been extremely selfish, sewing for myself all last birthday week, and now i’m paying the piper by sewing for ruggy.
welcome back!!!!
August 10, 2011 at 11:33 am
ladykatza
I KNOW RIGHT?!? Selfish is back and she is awesome! YAY!
August 11, 2011 at 2:43 am
selfishseamstress
ladykatza, you are awesome. You are as awesome as cookies.
August 11, 2011 at 2:42 am
selfishseamstress
Wow. I think “telekinetic” means that you can physically move objects with your mind. Which obviously, I can. If you were in my house right now, you’d see me doing it. Awesome!
A week’s worth of sewing for oneself sounds like a *great* birthday present. Next year make it two. Great to see you Ms. Awesome Balloona!
August 10, 2011 at 10:39 am
Peter the Bold
Oy vey, you again…
Woo hoo — great to have you back!
August 11, 2011 at 2:45 am
selfishseamstress
I’m sorry, have we met?
Hiya P! When are you coming to visit? :D
August 10, 2011 at 10:45 am
Sara Cormeny
Yeah, ditto to all the bitches here who envy your snark wife and are settling for finally have you return, unexplained from the internet ether. Love your stuff!
August 11, 2011 at 2:46 am
selfishseamstress
I may be snark married, but it’s an open snark marriage. We can snark with whomever we want on the side. It’s an unconventional arrangement, but it works for us.
And you are snarkin’ awesome, Sara!
August 15, 2011 at 8:45 am
Martine (aka snarkwife aka golf widow)
But I save my best snark for you, luuvah!
I think it was actually one of the smaller ones we got the lining in, no? I think either Fabric World or Toni Textiles. The big store was A-One, the site of the doomed geometric print.
August 10, 2011 at 10:47 am
Becky
You’re back! I’m glad to see that you’re not selfishly hoarding all of the sewing awesomeness now and are letting us see it.
Also, I bet those other jackets don’t have turquoise linings. They’re probably not awesome enough.
August 10, 2011 at 10:59 am
Sarah N
Awesomeness indeed. The coat is fabulous. Welcome back!
August 10, 2011 at 11:04 am
Nikole
Awesome way to come back
August 10, 2011 at 11:04 am
Kathy Vaughn
I’m so happy to see you back. And may I say, that is one awesome coat. How you do inspire me!!
August 10, 2011 at 11:09 am
Heather Rose-Chase
You’ve returned! I almost forgot how to be selfish! Whew! Thanks for the reminder! That coat is awesome indeed. And welcome back!
August 10, 2011 at 11:13 am
Meg
OMG WELCOME BACK! You were missed. Lovely coat – you know how to rock that style!
August 10, 2011 at 11:15 am
Diane Wagner
I love how many times you used “awesome” in your post. The coat is stunning. I missed you and wish I had a snarkwife. I have to be unselfish and sew on Boy Scout patches today. I don’t want to but it is for my 11 year old son. I need to make him serve me as I sew I think.
August 10, 2011 at 11:15 am
BeccaA
What an awesome coat! You are totally awesome, and inspiring. I have missed your blog; glad to see you back in all your awesome selfishness. Great pix, too!
August 10, 2011 at 11:21 am
NT
The Selfish One is back! And in fine form! The world of snarky sewers rejoices!
August 10, 2011 at 11:27 am
Nadia
YAY soo glad you’re back :D
the coat looks fantastic!!
August 10, 2011 at 11:29 am
molly
It’s about time! The jacket looks great!
August 10, 2011 at 11:31 am
Katie
Since I cannot compete with you the queen of snarky witticism, I will simply say that your coat is TDF and that I’ve missed you! I was so happy to see you pop up on my reader!!
August 10, 2011 at 11:38 am
girdtmom
You’re alive!!!
Welcome back. You were missed.
August 10, 2011 at 11:40 am
Debi
YAY! So happy to have you back! You are beyond awesome!
August 10, 2011 at 11:43 am
Rosie
Well, everyone has already said it but what the heck – it’s great to have you back. You were definitely missed.
August 10, 2011 at 11:50 am
Alexandra
Gorgeous coat! Welcome back!
August 10, 2011 at 11:56 am
coco
Yep, you are indeed awesome, as is that coat!!
I’m new to your blog, but it looks fabulous and I agree, sewing DOES make a gal awesome!
August 10, 2011 at 11:59 am
Angela
My heart did a little pitta pat when I saw your post on my dashboard! Your coat is beautiful, and well worth the headache of deconstructing and reconstructing.
I recently made a shirt for myself. Being a mother of 3, this was a rare selfish treat. Your selfish voice was in the back of my mind cheering me on!
Did you make the gorgeous silk curtains? Did you finish your IKEA lamp?
August 10, 2011 at 12:01 pm
jadestar
Yay! You’re back. Nobody does selfish like you!
Nice coat!
August 10, 2011 at 12:07 pm
LinB
Oh, so good to see you’re back for us teeming millions! “We all, like sheep, have gone astray.” Glad you chose a cat print for your second inauguration! Alas, I am not being selfish enough. Sewed a sundress for a niece, and am altering skirts for my daughter. But she is moving out, so I can be selfish to the nth degree as of this Thursday.
August 10, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Pam
Welcome Back!!!
Love the coat- loved your articles in Vogue Patterns. So glad you’re back:)
August 10, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Liara
How nice to have you back!! The sewing world is now back in balance.
August 10, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Fresa Handmade
Welcome back! I’ve very selfishly been missing your selfish inspiration. And your coat is pure awesome.
August 10, 2011 at 1:00 pm
claudiaharper
A haiku to celebrate:
She’s back? She’s posting?
Can we hope for more Selfish?
I fell off my chair.
August 10, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Allison
Beautiful coat!
How’s this for selfish? I’m making three wedding dresses – all for myself – just so I can have choices the day of, and I’m not making a think for any of my bridesmaids. Yay!
August 10, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Marie-Christine
Welcome back!
Glad to see Europe hasn’t beaten you out of utter fabulousness :-).
August 10, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Carla
Welcome back! That is a bad a$$ coat. LOVE it! I am a big fan of leopard prints and I am in awe of your awesomeness :).
August 10, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Robyn
I am so far from being selfish and awesome like you, wait i am making a quilt for myself. Most of all I am so gald you are back nine months is far to long to be without you. I squeeled when you popped up on my reader this morning. I hope you come back to visit soon.
Did you get my email about the cowboy quilt? I really thought that might draw you out of retirement
August 10, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Julie
This totally makes my day. So, so glad you’re back!!!!
August 10, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Ginger
Just awesome… how beautiful! What would really be awesome is to know the price ranges of all those jackets that yours is CLEARLY more awesome than! :)
August 10, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Janet B
You sure have been selfish! I missed all of your awesome selfishness.
August 10, 2011 at 2:20 pm
ElleC
It must be awful to post for the first time in months and no ones notices. I feel for you.
Awesome coat. Duh.
August 10, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Lisa
Fabulous coat I love the turquoise lining .
August 10, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Karen Mulkey
Well, you’ve heard it! Yes you were missed though I did catch a couple articles posted in a fave sewing magazine. BTW the leopard coat is fabulous – quite fitting for a selfish seamstress!
August 10, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Anonymous
Nice to see you again – I am still working on the envy scarf :-(
August 10, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Bridget
Yay!
August 10, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Kerry
Welcome back! I totally 100% envy you, not only because you have this awesome coat but because you are living in the EU. I went to Rome and various parts of France on my honeymoon last month and I didn’t want to leave. I am turning into such a Europhile that I recently installed a dual flush push button lever on my toilet, stopped drinking filter coffee and exclusively drink cappuccinos, and bought a Fiat 500 (granted, I did that before we went over).
August 10, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Vannerz
This looks positively amazing! I love it, the lining, everything.
August 10, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Jackie
So glad you are back! Lovely fit on the coat, as usual.
August 10, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Anonymous
Glad to see you back on the scene,
awesome coat,
where have you been?
August 10, 2011 at 4:05 pm
piakdy
So that’s why you’ve been silent for so long – miles & miles of ripping to do? Welcome back. I thought it was me that drove this blog underground: I discover it, it goes silent. I think I deserve a star for that selfish thought.
And what do you mean “unlikely”? I bet if you spend your lottery winnings on those designer originals they’ll look worse than your Selfish attempt. Unless you’re the favorite god-daughter of some fat-cat banker / oil baron / russian oligarch, you won’t get a more flattering fit than what you whipped up. So congratulation – you look a billion!
August 10, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Jane
Woo hoo you’re back.
August 10, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Fashionable Stitcher
Please tell me you’re not teasing us because if we have to put up with another long drought without you, I think you should remove this post right now! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! The jacket is superb as ever and there you are, real as life! Oh I’m so excited for the “season of sefishness.” Yay! xoxo, Sunni
August 10, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Rebeca
Elaine, I have missed you so so SO much! I’m glad you’re back. The blogosphere just wasn’t the same without you. Your style is unique and very much needed, like a breeze of fresh air. With this new post you’ve made my week.
Congrats on the amazing leopard print coat, welcome back and best wishes from Spain!
August 10, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Amanda S.
WELL!!! I totally did a triple take at my monitor when I saw your post come up. I kept thinking “I will delete that blog, she’s never coming back.” And low and behold you ARE back with nary a word about your 8 month absence. Haha! That seems to fit your personality to a T. Love the coat, BTW. It fits perfectly and is so chic! Glad to see you back. Now, please don’t disappear for another 8 months.
August 10, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Susan - Knitters Delight
What Claire (aka Seemane) and Amanda S. said! Either way – we are all thrilled to have you back!
August 10, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Gauss
The jacket is awesome, and so are you! Welcome back.
August 10, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Lisa Estrada
Can’t believe you’re back! I almost started hyperventilating. I hope we don’t have to wait another 8 months for the next post. Are you a married woman yet?
August 10, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Eva
oh, I’ve missed you, Selfish.
August 10, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Pam from South Australia
Welcome back Elaine. Like many others I thought you had finished with us!! Your coat is gorgeous (as usual). Please, please, please bring us up to date with your news. We have been waiting ever so patiently. Did you miss us too? Did you…..did you……did you??
August 10, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Weaverbec
Welcome back. We all missed you. Yes, you are awesome in your jacket.
August 10, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Dibs
Finally!!!!
Welcome back. You, have been fully missed. Saw your article in Sew Weekly, and screamed my head off to my husband.
August 11, 2011 at 9:59 am
Dibs
Oops.sorry. article in sew today.
August 10, 2011 at 8:22 pm
allisonC
I thought my blog reader had gone crazy for a moment and was showing me posts from yonks ago! Love the coat, V2.0, I expect you have just been unpicking all this time, it would have taken me at least that long. Good to have you back!
August 10, 2011 at 9:19 pm
emadethis
Welcome back. Oh how I’ve missed your snark!
I made my own jeans! I had a HFS moment when I finished them. I don’t know if they’re Selfish Awesome, but they are Emadethis awesome.
August 10, 2011 at 9:33 pm
kathyh
I just e-mailed all my friends that you are back. So awesome!
Love the lining.
August 10, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Kyle
Just today, I wore a dress I made and saw my chiro, and he asked me if I would make him a suit from the same herringbone fabric, and I said, no, I’m a selfish sewist, I only sew for myself, and wondered where you were!
Welcome back!
I am Selfish Awesome, thanks very much!
August 10, 2011 at 10:00 pm
meli88a
It took you 7 months to dissect this jacket and put it back together? Well worth the labor… it looks marvie! And it’s nice to see you’re posting again.
August 10, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Whitney
We obviously missed you, oh selfish one. The jacket is fabu, as noted by all the designers trying to rip you off:)
August 10, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Jenn
Selfish, I couldn’t even admit to myself how much I missed you until you were back. We were all getting a bit worried.
AND, your jacket IS awesome! :)
August 10, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Gail
Just breathtaking! Glad your back. I like your style.
August 10, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Debra
Welcome back!!!!!!!!!!! You are awesome and have been missed by so many people. Your coat is fabulous!
August 10, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Germania Solorzano
I’ve missed you, Selfish Seamstress! I’m so glad you’re back and YES your jacket is tres awesome!
August 11, 2011 at 12:51 am
Santie
Yay!!!! You’re back!! Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!
August 11, 2011 at 1:05 am
sarogreen@gmail.com
Yay! Yay for you being back and yay for the fierce coat!
August 11, 2011 at 3:39 am
Nóra
I’m glad to see you again. Your jacket is cute.
Yes, I’m sewing now.
August 11, 2011 at 4:25 am
rachel uk
soooo glad you’re back!! Been totally selfishly missing your awsome posts! And awesome coat too!
August 11, 2011 at 4:29 am
Amy Tuite
Awesome! I bought that pattern after you made another jacket with it.
Like everyone else – wooooooooooooo! You’re back!
August 11, 2011 at 5:14 am
Spikklubba
The coat looks absolutely perfect, love it. Welcome back, have missed your posts.
August 11, 2011 at 6:17 am
Summerflies
I did a double take on my blog roll… there you are again! I am sooo pleased to see you alive and kicking! I look forward to many more European posts (I haven’t forgotten about those curtains)!
August 11, 2011 at 6:28 am
Jessica M
Beautiful coat! I am jealous of your awesomeness!
August 11, 2011 at 8:41 am
cidell
Like Summerflies, I had to look twice at my blogroll :)
August 11, 2011 at 8:48 am
Rose
So happy to have you back … And what a great coat ! Leopard at its best !
August 11, 2011 at 9:14 am
Suzy
Welcome back! Like many I missed your posts!
And I LOVE your coat!
August 11, 2011 at 9:16 am
PendleStitches
You’ve been missed (of course!). Love the awesome coat.
August 11, 2011 at 10:22 am
Stacy
Yes, you are awesome…love that jacket! Glad to have you back, too. :)
I have not been selfish awesome lately. I sewed for a friend…at the last minute no less! He needed it that night, so he didn’t have to wait months like most of my, “Sure I will fix that blah, blah, blah for you.” He promised me expensive alcohol,though, so how could I say no?? ;)
August 11, 2011 at 12:22 pm
kristin
I almost deleted you from my Reader last week because I thought you were gone forever! Welcome back! The coat is AWESOME.
August 11, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Anna | Mormor hade stil
Ha! Awesome to see you back in my reader.
August 11, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Anonymous
YIPEE!!!!!! Awesomeness in every way!
August 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Anonymous
so glad you are back too! love the coat and am waiting to view the next project. Hey, don’t keep us waiting so long next time! :o)
August 11, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Elaine (nobody you know)
I almost gave up on ever observing awesomeness from my sad, ruffle-skirt-with-an-elastic-waist life. Shelfishness has changed all that!! Thanks!
August 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Fourth Daughter
Where have you been? We have seriously missed our regular doses of sewing and snarkiness and cat pictures. I think I speak for everyone when I say we demand a long explanation with extra snark.
August 11, 2011 at 8:33 pm
amberelayne
Thank god you are back! I missed reading your posts and admiring your creations! I thought you’d stopped and nearly deleted you from my list :( I didn’t want to though…
August 11, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Lisabeth
That is just fabulous!!!!! I love love the lining! I just bought this sewing pattern! I’m a beginner sewer and I’m wondering how hard it is? Love it!
August 12, 2011 at 7:03 am
magdamagda
hey welcome back!:)
August 12, 2011 at 8:26 am
Whats Going On… « Toferet's Empty Bobbin
[…] Selfish Seamstress appears to be back, we’ll see for how long this […]
August 12, 2011 at 9:07 am
Lakaribane
Elaine! I have tears in my eyes, I’m soo happy to see you. I’ve missed you so badly. Welcome back! And you notice I’m not alone. *wild happy dance*
August 12, 2011 at 9:28 am
Carolanne
I am so happy to see you back! This trench is just incredible…love it!
August 12, 2011 at 11:26 am
twosheep
Glad to see you come up for air – hope this means you will post more often! Love teh awesomeness of your coat.
August 12, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Sabra
awe.some.
August 13, 2011 at 2:47 am
Cheryl
Yayyyy you’re back! When I first started reading sewing blogs last year, yours was a special treat – love that selfish seamstress attitude! That coat is awesome, and so are you.
August 13, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Brenda
Absolutely SPECTACULAR! Surviving on your articles in Vogue wasn’t enough to satisfy. Are the curtains finished? Or did you selfishly spend time only on the gorgeous coat? Welcome back!
August 13, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Jenny
We’ve missed you! I think you look awesome! I’ve always wanted an animal print trench!
August 13, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Tailypo
Damnit, you are back.
As long as you were ignoring your sewing blog, I felt okay about ignoring my sad little sewing blog. Every time I would check in here and see you hadn’t posted I felt all smug. “See? She hasn’t posted either. We cool girls aren’t posting right now.”
Yeah, now you screwed up my good, lazy thing. Screw you, lady.
BTW, nice jacket.
August 14, 2011 at 9:08 am
Sophia
This is a great jacket and the turquoise lining makes me drool!! Good to have you back!
August 14, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Anonymous
BEAUTIFUL coat, ElaineMay! As always your work is fabulous. Glad that you are back. But I am not as “selfish” awesome as you are lady. I still sew outfits for my daughter <>…..
August 14, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Katherine
There is nothing I love more than people who are true to form. You are so unbelievably awesome. And so stinking selfish. Thank you!
August 14, 2011 at 10:22 pm
The Slapdash Sewist
Welcome back! So glad to see you posting again. Love the trench! Wow, you are almost making me think that animal print is possible.
August 15, 2011 at 4:03 am
SenaSews
I can only find one word for this coat: AWESOME!
August 15, 2011 at 9:15 am
Finished: Heidi Merrick inspired dress « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] the way, thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post! I tried to go through and high-five everyone back, but after a while I was starting to annoy […]
August 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm
jlynn
Welcome back, have I ever missed you. Just when I had given up hope you would return. I thought you were still making those curtains, I was ready to come and help you finish them so you could get back to us. Love the coat, dress and blouse.
August 15, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Noelle
HOLY FECKING SHET! You are back! And it’s a delight to have you once again in my RSS feed. I am nearly bubbling with selfish excitement to see what you will entertain me with now! Where have you been? Who cares! Not me, I aspire to be as selfish as my role-model. ;-)
August 15, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Mimi O
Even though your selfishness knows no bounds I am glad to see you back!!! Enough of the niceties…where the Hell have you been??? Readers want to know…and know now….explanations are in order, pronto!!! ;-)
August 16, 2011 at 11:07 am
Cynthia
it’s sooooo great to have you back! I was seriously going into “selfish seamstress” withdrawal.
August 16, 2011 at 11:56 am
Anjanette Mensa
every few days I would faithfully check to see if my favorite selfish seamstress was back. Imagine my relief and DELIGHT to find THREE new posts since I last checked. Welcome home, friend.
August 16, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Anonymous
I am sooooo happy you are back!!!! I have tears streaming down my face, I am so happy. I had checked daily…then had to slowly to once a week…I am sorry to say…then fell to randomly checking. Welcome home…you make the best day brighter!
August 17, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Meredith P
Jeez Louise…I just casually sauntered over here in Google Reader today. Imagine my surprise to see 3 posts! Glad you’re back…but mostly glad you’re breathing!
August 18, 2011 at 4:28 am
Anadiaz
I would say you’re the MOST AWESOME!
August 23, 2011 at 2:51 pm
inkstain
I knew if I deleted you from my favourite blogs list your selfish ego would kick in! Aha! It worked! You see, E. there’s no such thing as a free lunch/listing, even for the Awesome!
August 23, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Jen
Awesome like everyone else said, but would it be worth a novice holding onto this pattern if she wears a size 4, at least in anything with a bodice, I seem need a 4, maybe I can wear a 6 if a skirt and this coat pattern starts at 8 so I’m assuming it’s huge on me, I’m about 5’4, 104 lbs, 32/25/33, boyish figure, but working on hourglass one, but anyway, I’ve seen books on resizing patterns and I want try figure this out on my own a bit too, but with a coat is that too involved do you think? Simp Project Runway has bunch of coat patterns and they all start at 4 so should I not bother with this and just make one the other coats? I don’t have much time to sew as it is and really don’t want the extra headache, so maybe the project runway patterns have plenty other nice coats to choose from, I really liked the classic trench style and not sure they have one as classic as this, maybe they get a bit more funky, I’d have to look at al of them again. Is it a lot of work to resize a coat pattern about 2 sizes down and if I’m a beginner I’d be years off from doing this?
August 23, 2011 at 4:56 pm
selfishseamstress
My, that’s a lot of questions! I resized this pattern to a 4. It does take some time, but it’s not difficult to do on a multi-sized pattern. Since I’ve used this pattern so much, the extra work up front has more than paid off.I routinely size my patterns down, as not many of them come in a size 4, and pretty much NO Burda magazine patterns start at 32, so for me, it’s par for the course. If you’re small, it’s certainly a worthwhile skill to have under your belt, otherwise you’ll always find your selection limited.
I made a how-to on how to grade a multi-sized pattern. You can find it here:
http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/make-a-pattern-larger-or-smaller
August 23, 2011 at 5:01 pm
selfishseamstress
Oh, and by the way, in case you haven’t sewn with patterns before, just a note- pattern sizing is NOT the same as ready-to-wear sizing. You may wear a size 4 at the Gap, but that **does not** translate to a size 4 in McCall’s or Simplicity. ALWAYS go by the body measurements (not the garment measurements) on the envelope and compare them to your own body measurements. If your measurements don’t match exactly, go with the size that has the closest bust measurement, as this is the most difficult part to alter. According to your measurements, you would be between a size 8 and 10 in Simplicity or McCall’s. So, that may solve your problem right there- the size 8 or 10 in this pattern may fit you right out of the envelope without needing to grade down. (As comparison, I wear a 4 with Simplicity and McCall and have about a 29″ bust.)
August 24, 2011 at 10:09 pm
mamacharm
YOU’RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so incredibly excited, it warrants all caps. i’m finally venturing out to try and make clothing for ME after having done children sewing and just yay you are back!!!!
September 1, 2011 at 7:48 am
Meetzorp
That is awesome.
A leopard print peacoat is in my future…I saw a girl wearing one a couple of years ago and I have coveted such ever since!
September 2, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Anonymous
Oh, thank goodness! And what a wonderful surprise after months of disappointment.
September 4, 2011 at 5:03 pm
That’s why I sew « The Overflowing Stash
[…] First my outrageously expensive annual travel card. Now my classy Brooks Brother sunglasses all the way from America. If I’ve had doubts about why I bother sewing this is it: sensible pockets to my heart’s content! Selfish Seamstress’ various renditions of McCall 5525 […]
September 11, 2011 at 7:05 pm
LynneW
So glad to have you back! I was losing faith…
November 4, 2011 at 9:06 am
Burda 9-2006-115: Stretchy and giraffey « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] print is all over the place now, and as you know, The Selfish Seamstress has a bit of a weakness for the stuff. Python is hot, leopard is a ubiquitous classic, snow leopard is waiting in the […]