Thursday, January 10, 2013

Channeling Chanel:

A few years back, I started to work on a Chanel style jacket inspired by this vintage Chanel suit:


and this more modern Chanel suit:


You can read about some of my work on this thing on my old blog HERE (January 10, 2010)
The fabric is a Vera ivory boucle’....from back in the days of that fabulous Fabric.com Vera sale. Remember that?

Well, that was before I really started being particular about fit. No, let me take that back. that was before I really know all of the particulars of fit.

I spent many evenings hand sewing that trim in place. I loved the fabric and trim and the buttons. But, that silly jacket has hung unfinished in my sewing room for years. Mostly because I was not happy with the way the sleeves fit. I tried letting out the seams, but it still didn’t work for me. I shortened the sleeves for a different proportion. It still didn’t work for me…even with tight sleeves.

So I tried it on again this week. And I ripped out the sleeves.


Then I rooted around the stash for that fabric (which I had plenty of….I had originally wanted to make a matching skirt, in fact.) And started to think about those sleeves.

I redrafted a wider sleeve to set into a deeper opening (whatever that part is called!) And suddenly, I had a cute little jacket.

                                   (this is a very primitive documentation of my alterations!)



I guess the lesson in all of this is to never give up on a project. When I looked at that jacket hanging there, sadly unfinished for all these years, “failure” or “waste” or “wadder” were not words that came to mind. I knew given time, this one could be resurrected…

After all, it is a Chanel. And Chanel is timeless.

12 comments:

  1. I too have a partially finished Chanel type jacket hanging in my sewing room. At least you on working on yours again. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good for you, Lynne, your jacket is lovely and deserves to be completed. So happy you had extra fabric. It will look fantastic on you, can't wait to see the modeled pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SO amazing. YOU ARE so amazing.......
    I love your sidebar Butterick 5706

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nicely done, as always! I enjoy seeing your creativity come to life.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pretty jacket. Black on white--timeless. You must feel a real sense of accomplishment, finishing it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good on you for sticking it out with this beautiful jacket! Your colour choice with this pattern is brilliant - extremely stylish!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh YAY! I'm so glad you found a good fix! This jacket deserves to be worn!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ooh, I love what you've done here and I love your inspiration pics.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am in awe of your perseverance.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So glad that you didn't place this in the wadder pile....it's lovely! I have a cute little ponte knit dress that I made last year which is just 'off' in the sleeve dept. Thanks for the motivation to rework it, tho it will be a challenge since I don't have any fabric for new sleeves!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would like to begin a fashion/lifestyle blog.
    I love photography, but I would like to upgrade my camera to a
    more professional one. I also wished to start your blog, so which camera would you recommend me.
    I have a little budget, if you may find something which is just not too pricey, I would be thankful.

    Thanks a great deal!.

    Here is my page ... rootcanal100.com
    Feel free to visit my web site ... PBA

    ReplyDelete
  12. Glad to know I'm not the only one with half finished Chanel type jacket in my sewing room. Though mine has been there for many more years than your 6. Maybe I'll get inspired this year to finish it. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear from you! Let's talk!