A thimble on my finger, task lights on, supplies nearby and my head down, I’ve been spending my time appliquéing skinny bias tubes onto a beautiful and sheer kimono silk. Stitching them in place with pretty, sparkly beads.

So close! This one is almost done.

This last week I’ve been in my studio, blissing out, listening to podcasts, news shows and books on tape, all the while hand stitching around the edges of these little kimono silk squares.

It’s for a very special customer who’s asked for a wide collar coat, like this one only with a navy base.

Like the original, the coat will go over a jacket made from a beautiful kimono silk.

Below, the jacket in process. It’s a swing shape, which is why it flairs out at the bottom edge.

I cut out the jacket and used all the leftover scraps for the little squares. I ironed down the raw edges and pinned them in place on my board. I basted them down, turned on my bright task lights, found my audio, threaded my needle

and…

slowed …. down….

and stitched….

one stitch… one more….. another…. and again, around each edge of each square.

On London’s ‘Fashion Street,’ looking absolutely fantastic, Kathryn in a genuine Ann Williamson Trench coat.

Sewn from this oh so cool kimono silk. The perfect name for this pattern, ‘Cracked ice.’