Monday, January 02, 2012

The Project That Keeps On Going. And Going. And Going




I've been working on this particular project on and off since November. It's been a long haul.

In the meantime, Snowy checked the quality of my sleeve just this afternoon. He and Smokey, his brother, are getting larger!

Last spring, my friend Patti gave me a beautiful blue/purple boucle. I bought buttons to match in NYC in September (M and J Trim), and then bought some lining from HotPatterns' Etsy site.

Here are the buttons, lining and fabric shown together.

I had determined to make a classic 'chanel style' jacket, by quilting the lining to the fashion fabric. Muslin. Check (I was not going to risk a fit disaster!). Thread traced the seam lines. Check. Cut all out. Check. Then, I started quilting lining to jacket fabric, just as the instructions in a number of Threads Magazine articles instruct. At that time, I realized that the quilting seamlines would show on this particular fabric. And it was not a couture look. More "REI meets Chanel". So I could have continued, but I decided to re-engineer the project. So now, I'm sewing up the jacket, Simplicity 4954, regular-style. With the V neck. It's turning out pretty well. I'm using traditional (new style) tailoring techniques, such as fusible tape, sewn-in silk organza in the upper back and such. Here it is so far. Notice how the neckline edges hug the dress form? That's because I used fusible bias tape, and stretched it ever so slightly as I applied it along the neckline.

Check back in a week or so to see (I hope) the finished version!

7 comments:

patti said...

Oh, Barbara, it is going to be beautiful!

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

The buttons match the fabric PERFECTLY! This is going to be one awesome jacket!

Lisette M said...

I love the lining and buttons you chose and the neckline looks wonderful!

Sz said...

Absolutely gorgeous fabric. I'm sure it will be beautiful when completed. Having felines to evaluate one's sewing is a must! They are so discerning.

Marcia said...

Yikes! I think I have this fabric and was planning the same Chanel type jacket treatment. Now, with your experience, I will try the "quilting" of the lining to the garment fabric BEFORE I do all the rest of the fitting, etc. Thank you for sharing and good luck with the final outcome.

Marcia said...

As my friend Jenny (aka QuiltSkipper)always says, TEST, TEST, TEST. Words to live by.

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Beautiful fabrics! This is going to be a lovely jacket.

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