DIY PERFECTO
My little cats! Yes, Wednesday is DIY! Here we go again, keeping up the pace, I want to make lots of clothes right now! I hadn't touched my sewing machine for months before writing this post! I'd really missed it, but what was I thinking? To tell you the story of this perfecto, you'll have to remember that over a year ago, I had made 10 perfectos that I sold on Etsy with completely crazy fabrics... And then I received dozens of e-mails asking me if I was going to make the perfecto DIY, where I'd found the pattern for mine etc... Already, I didn't particularly want to post the DIY, as it was a long time in the making and then it was our debut you and me, I didn't want to scare you with such an ambitious DIY couture, since then there's been this video with my sewing basics... Why don't you refresh your neurons before getting started? Then, a few weeks ago, I came across this photo of Christopher Shannon's perfecto and I thought, well, yeah, I want one too... Here's the story, get out your sewing machine, and obviously look beyond the end of your screen and imagine your perfecto in polka dots, tapestry fabric, etc... Have fun! To make this DIY, you'll need..: - Download the pattern HERE I made it with lots of A4s for you to print, assemble and cut out! ` We'll start with the right side. Obviously, before doing anything else, you'll transfer the pattern to your fabric (on the BACK) and cut it, leaving 1cm all around your line (the seam allowance). Make sure you have all the parts you need for the right side (see pattern) and finish-glue the facing. Lay the two fronts of the right side A + B one on top of the other, and hem part B (using your iron). This is where you'll sew the first part of your zipper, the male part with the zipper pull. Place the zip 5 cm higher than the bottom of the front, pin, machine-stitch and iron. Then place your first faux pocket using the 2 fabric strips, which you'll have carefully folded so that there are no sharp edges sticking out, using your iron to do so. Pin the strips to the front with the zip to create your faux pocket. We'll now move on to facing C. You'll pin right sides together up to the notch designated on the pattern, which is important for the rest of the process (this is where the collar will be). Stitch the pockets and the previously pinned facing, then notch the neckline and clear the angle between the facing and the front. Gently slide and turn over facing C and front A, pressing to flatten your seam. Use pins to form the breast clip. Machine-stitch and press. We're done with the right side... Moving on to the left side... Start by pinning the left right A' and the facing C', sandwiching the second part of the zip so that the top of the zip touches the bottom of the neckline as shown in the first photo. Pin the faux pocket as for the right side. Machine-stitch, notch, slide and iron as for the other side. You're starting to look like a real seamstress! Now on to the sleeves, which are very easy: prepare two strips of fabric and preform them like bias strips. This will give a pretty finish to the bottom of the sleeve, pin and machine-stitch. Pin the rest of the sleeve right sides together to form a tube. For those of you who don't have a serger at home, I recommend stitching normally, then doubling your stitching with a zigzag stitch. Now on to the back. It's very simple: first join the two parts of the back, D and D', stitch and open the seam with an iron. Then pin the back darts and machine-stitch, remembering to iron well afterwards. As indicated in the pattern explanations, trace two strips in the fabric, which you will preform as bias strips, and stitch to obtain a very clean fabric ribbon. Pass the slide loop through the first ribbon and form a loop so that the loop never falls out. Pin this little martingale in the middle of the back, or further down - it's up to you to decide where you'd like your perf' to be cinched, rather at the waist? rather on the hips? Secure these martingales with the sewing machine, forming a cross with the seams. Then you've got your back, your two fronts and your sleeves... Start by pinning the back and fronts together, right sides together. Stitch and double your seam with a zigzag stitch. Then flatten the seams with an iron. Now on to the sleeves, which are starting to look like a perfecto... Now pin the sleeves onto the body of the perfecto. If you've done things right so far, the circumference of your armholes will coincide perfectly with your sleeves. Stitch and double-stitch with the zigzag stitch, then iron... You'll see how automatic this becomes. Now on to the collar. Using the iron, form a small return as shown in the photo, then pin your collar right sides together, stitch it in place, clear the corners and slide it onto the right side. Pin the collar to your perfecto, using the notches marked on the pattern as reference points, corresponding to the perfecto's shoulder seams. Carefully machine-stitch the collar with ribbed stitching. Then come the finishing touches... the snaps! It's very simple, using an "Anorak" kit, you just follow the instructions, and everything will work out just fine. I've only fitted the female part (the smooth button), as the snaps here are purely decorative. But there's nothing to stop you fitting the other part of the snaps. Oh yes, don't forget to sew the belt around the bottom of your perfecto to finish off your jacket (you'll find the instructions in the pattern explanations!). And TA-DA! the little flowers are Macon and Lesquoy so adorable!
