My mom began teaching me to sew when I was eleven, part of my training to be a good wife and mother. At fourteen, I made my first coat, a fabulous brown crushed velvet maxi-coat with a white pile lining. The fabrics came from the Sears Catalog. I didn’t accurately tailor it, knowing only basic sewing techniques described in the Simplicity Patterns instructions. Around ten years later, I decided to make my first tailored suit, learning primarily through the Vogue Patterns Magazine and the instructions included with the pattern. It was beautiful wool and the first garment I lined. After that, I started lining virtually every dress and jacket I made, whether or not the pattern called for it. I made my first quilted french couture style jacket a few years ago while trying to learn what made a Chanel Suit special. Claire Schaeffer’s books on couture sewing were invaluable as my guides-game-changing! I loved my finished jacket and wanted to use this quilted construction technique whenever it made sense, despite the amount of time involved with all  the hand-sewing.