PART TWO OF MY CHANEL JACKET

This is the top that I wanted to make specifically for my Chanel inspired jacket. This is McCall's 5708 that I made the protype of earlier just to try the pattern out.

Part 3 of the Chanel inspired jacket will be a matching pencil skirt. I'll come back to show pictures as soon as I get everything finished....until then HAPPY SEWING!

CHANEL ALL DAY LONG...

I worked on my Chanel Jacket ALL DAY LONG on Saturday. This project is truly a labor of love. I can't tell you how many times I have whispered to myself, "I don't think I can do all of this!", or "This is just too much work!", or "I just quit!" But since I won't let my students quit, I guess quitting is not an option for me. So I have trudged onward and here are the results of a few evening work last week, Friday evening and ALL DAY LONG on Saturday.

Although not perfect, all of the quilting is done (Thank God)!


The plaids/stripes match (Yahoo!!!)

My (Sheila) faux welt pockets are on.


And this is a picture of my fabulous lace with rose and black pearl trim, which by the way will have to be hand sewn.

So, now I need to:

• Set the sleeves, bind them with bias trim and hem them.
• Sew on my trim.
• Add my chain, and
• THEN I WILL BE FINISHED.

Now I've got to pause to study for a test that I have to take tonight - the other things of life are calling to me. Maybe I'll be able to make it to the finish line some time this week between the 133 pages I need to read for my Psych class. At any rate, I'm a lot closer that I was before. Being able to dedicate an entire day to sewing was PRICELESS....

FAYE

CONFUSING MYSELF...

The more I think about my Chanelish jacket - the more I confuse myself. I notice that lots of people are making the Vouge 7975 pattern and so am I. I have several questions about this pattern:

. Due to time constraints I have decided to follow the instructions from Threads issue 128, where the lining is bagged and then quilting it. The Vouge pattern has front and back facings, CAN THE FACINGS BE ELIMINATED TO FACILITATE ME BAGGING THE LINING?
AND, IF I ELIMINATE THE FACINGS WILL MY JACKET BE COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY?

I am looking for a soft carnigan style jacket, so maybe eliminating the facings won't matter, but I'm unsure.

I am not fusing my fashion fabric for this jacket, mainly because I had a bad experience with fusing earlier this year.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING WITH THIS PATTERN????

STILL GOING CHANEL...

Never can remember whether Chanel has one "n" or two - oh well I'm sure you know what I mean.

I'm working on my jacket muslin, and the process is going very well. I'm planning on adding faux welt pocket flaps, but I'm undecided whether to use just two - I could use three or even four, but I want to make sure that I'm not over crowding it. The pocket flaps will have braided trim across them (I still have not purchased the trim yet) and I don't want them to make the jacket look junky.

Vouge 7975 has a two piece sleeve which I usually try to avoid. In addition to the two piece sleeve, I still have to contend with excess sleeve cap ease. I know that ease is a necessary thing, but I cannot stand the puckers that result from it. Several months ago my friend Lisa Howard had told me about using Armo-Rite (found in old ties) cut on the bias to ease sleeves in with the puckers. I tried it and obviously did not know what I was doing because it did not work. I noticed recently that Erica Bunker showed the same technique in a tutorial so I gave it another try. I used regular bias tape (ironed open) as a substitute to ease the sleeves in my jacket muslin.


This time it worked like a charm. So I owe a big "Thank You" to both Lisa and Erica because now I'll satisfied with my sleeves.

Today I'll search my limited source here in town for my trim, and if that fails I turn to the internet. It's time for me to get the show on the road and cut into my fashion fabric.

I'VE GOT TO GO CHANNEL....

I'VE GOT TO GO CHANNEL....

OR GO HOME. I've done little else but introduce myself here, but I have been watching and reading all about the great thing you all have been doing. I finally got around to starting my jacket for the challenge. I'm a little over the start date of September 1st but better late than never... I cut my muslin yesterday and started putting it together this evening. Here's the pattern I finally choose from the ones I had on hand, my fabric and shocking pink lining.

This is my first fitting after making a few adjustments in the waist area of the jacket. I decreased the four princess seams 1/4inch in the waist area and I think I like the fit because the fronts are not supposed to overlap.


This is a picture of the neck/upper chest area of the jacket that indicates that there is too much overlap in this area. I think that I will increase the front princess seams from the shoulder to just below the bust a 1/2 inch on both sides to decrease the overlap in this area. Muslins do take extra time, but are well worth the effort.

I make notations on the muslin so I won't forget the adjustments I need to make. If these ideas work out, I'll transfer the reminders right on the paper pattern.

I've seen some great jackets produced since the challenge started. Believe me, I am picking up suggestions, ideas, and learning from you. I am trying my best to keep it simple with this jacket as I do have a habit of over complicating things. By the way I do plan on making a matching pencil skirt after the jacket is finished.

See you girls at the finish line...

FAYE

HELLO FROM GEORGIA....

I hadn't had a moment until now to introduce myself here Until now; I'm Faye from Georgia, and I'm so glad to be a part of all this excitement! I plan on seeing this Chanel Sew A Long through, even though I keep asking myself - "WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?" I know I'm ultra busy right now, but the Chanel sew a long doesn't officially start until September 1st and runs through November 15th. And since the making of a Chanel jacket is on my list of Sewing Goals for the year, this will actually be good for me.

When I saw news of it I decided to jump right on the band wagon because I didn't want to get locked out like I did with the Coat Sew A Long last year. So, I am officially entered in. My classes end around September 16th and I think that even if I don't start until that time I should be able to finish by the Nov. 15th deadline. After all I'll be in the process of taking my FINAL class during that time, which should be a lot less time consuming than the two class I'm taking now.

I have my fabric and four patterns to choose from already. I think the only thing I'll need to order is the trim for the jacket. I'm also starting to read up on Chanel Jacket construction and paying close attention to the Sew A Long blog. There's going to be tons of inspiration and information that I can get here. Ann sent me some Chanel Jacket construction information earlier in the year that I need to bone up on. I have to make a note to get the Claire Shaffer book "Couture Sewing", and I'm reading up on two piece sleeve construction since I usually choose not to do them. I should be good to go.

FABRIC GIFTED FROM MY MOM LAST YEAR

MY FOUR PATTERN CHOICES

I'm looking forward to learning and sharing all along the way to November 15th.

....XOXO