For the Gentleman!

Here is the ascot (or cravat) I made for my Dad, for his 

92nd Birthday!

My Dad always dresses very elegantly. My sister and I always say he dresses like an English gentleman! So this was an excellent accessory to sew for him. My Dad lives in portugal, where I'm from, but since i'm living in Sweden I hadn't celebrated his Birthday there with him for a few years. This year I made sure to be there with him and I'm so glad I was and to personally give him this present. He was already wearing an ascot, of course! One which I bought in a shop in England a few years ago. But he immediately took it off and put his new one on, commenting on how much better quality the one I made was!  It's the joy of handmade!

The beautiful fabric is a high quality quilt cotton with a lovely touch.
The fabric is called "Cocorico", by Hoffman California International Fabrics.

I can't believe my Dad is 92! He looks amazing and as elegant as always!

I even sent this top photo to the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog challenge Make it! Wear it! and it was chosen to feature in the highlights but because of different time zones, by the time I read their e-mail it was probably already too late to send my approval. Oh well, maybe next time! And I'm still flattered!

The ascot was made form the Burda 3404 pattern and it is a very easy one with very effective results! The pleats are fun to make and immediately give it a very elegant look.

 

"The Modern Gentleman's Neck-Tie ABC"

Then I found this fun little book in a bookshop in Sweden.

 

 

 Through clear pictures it shows how to tie different knots on different neck-ties.

I had to wear a tie for years as part of my uniform when I went to school but I had no idea there were so many different ways to tie it! With the help of this useful little book I now know that the knot I tied is called English I, and according to the same book it is "the "classic" knot, the most common and easiest one to tie". Oh! What a surprise!...

 

After some googling I learnt that Plastron is also called Plastrong, the Swedish word for ascot, or cravat.

And here is how you tie it!

 You can also get help with the perfect suit/tie colour coordination!

Click on the images to enlarge to get a closer look.

If you're a man, there's no excuse now! If your man needs help, here is the answer!

The mustasch is optional...

Isn't this classy? 

We talk a lot about how beautiful and elegant vintage ladies wear (dresses, skirts, blouses) was (is). I'm thinking 30's to 60's. And how much fashion has changed. But for the gentleman (!) has it changed that much?

From the little I know about sewing blogs I haven't seen much men's fashion, so I propose a challenge for anyone who wants to show any sewing projects you have made, are making, could make, for men!

Check out other ties I've made, here!

Ties

Here is the first tie i made!

I made the pattern by tracing an old tie and then used the facing from that tie.
I used a vintage fabric which I bought in a flee market here in Sweden. It was an old curtain!
It's really fun to recycle materials. To make something new and completely different from the original item.

The lining was really tricky to sew in as it has to be aligned in a certain way which, if you are making a tie for the very first time with no instructions, is a bit of a mystery. It was for me! So I had to do and undo many times until I finally got it and was satisfied.
For the second tie it was all much easier, although there was still a bit of undoing.

This is the second tie






Tie in the making





The whole project is quite fidly but once in a while I really enjoy this kind of work!

Welcome! Day One.

Hello and welcome to my very first post on my very first blog! I am Miss Pelicano!
This blog will be mostly about sewing. My sewing stuff and others'.
I started sewing sometime in february this year, inspired by a very talented crafty blogger, Constança at Saídos da Concha.
Since then I have also been inspired by many other very talented crafts people and their amazing blogs.

My partner has also encouraged me to continue sewing and to create this blog.
For him I have so far made two neck ties. Photos up soon!

I won't be a fluent blogger as I have little time over but I'll try to show the things I'm making, ask for advice and hopefully exchange ideas and inspiration with you.

I'm from Portugal but I've been living in Sweden since 1996. My partner is English and we have two young boys.

I am a Montessori teacher currently doing some further studies in education at Höskolan Dalarna in Sweden.

The photo for the banner shows the gardening gloves I made from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. The fabric I used was from a girl's dress I bought in a second hand shop.

More sewing from that book will follow on other posts!

Why the name "Miss Pelicano"?
My name is Barbara Pelicano Soeiro. At the school where I have been teaching the children call me Miss Pelicano. It wasn't my first choice for the name of this blog, but after many, what I thought were original ideas, I realised that nothing is original anymore except your own name! Anyway, "Miss Pelicano" will remind me of all the wonderful children I have taught! And now having taken two years off to study it's nice to have that memory!

I hope you enjoy this time with me!

Barbara

You are welcome to send a link of my blog to your friends and quote me on anything you find interesting, but I would appreciate it if you do not use my photos. Thank you!


Technicalities:
I'm a novice in sewing and blogging. As you will see the quality of the photos isn't the best, a bit fuzzy. when you CLICK ON EACH PHOTO the photo is enlarged and the quality is actually better. What am I doing wrong?