You remember that bible story about Jonah? He had a mission from on high and he decided to ignore it and do his own thing. Every time he went off to do his own thing, God sabotaged his activities until he had to give up and follow the voice from on high.
Well, I had a similar experience with this coat. My intuition was to make this winter coat. I ignored that intuition for many reasons but top of the list would be the hot summer sun and high humidity that comes with it being MID-SUMMER here. But every time I tried to start a sensible project - a summery tunic or dress or skirt I'd either lose energy, or in the case of the tunic, lose a whole pattern page with 2 vital pieces on it. I decided that for some unfathomable reason, this coat just wanted to be made by me, right now.
And since Burda had yet to start their pattern naming escapades (they started that 09), I have taken the liberty of calling this "the Jonah coat."
This is the most challenging project I have sewn to date - the fit through the bust took several hours of tissue fitting and I ended up retracing the bodice piece 3 times before I could get it right. Also challenging those pleats - almost gynecological in shape - they need to fall exactly from the corner of the front bodice piece.
I got the fabric from my local Sally Army - they only wanted $5 for it - can you believe it? 3 1/2 metres of 100% wool gabardine in perfect condition. Someone obviously did a stash trash. Or died, more likely, because no-one could get pure wool out of my house except over my dead body.
Anyway, I thought I'd show you what I'm doing and where I'm at because I won't get this coat finished before my holiday down south and then I will be helping my sister sew her coat. It'll be New Year before this coat makes its blog debut.
The coat has this cute little neck band, that when you fold it up, it forms a kind of scarf around your neck.
See, all folded up, now you just have the big floppy collar:
The back pleats mimic the front. It's a whole lot of look, but hey, I really felt it was OK to take a risk on a 5 buck coat.
And if you feel like sharing, tell me, how do you decide what to sew? More importantly, how do you resolve the tension between sewing what you feel like sewing, and sewing what your wardrobe requires?
The eternal question- sewing what you "should" sew, or sewing what you fancy. Sometimes one wins, and sometimes the other. Personally, sewing a coat in mid summer seems perfectly sensible to me. You would want it for the start of winter after all.
ReplyDeleteLove those pleats. I sew what I want to. Usually inspired by fabric first and then I find a pattern and then I have to buy shoes/jewellery/etc to go with it. I think I do it a bit wrong
ReplyDeleteI love that coat pattern - looking forward to seeing the finished piece! I'm no good at sewing what I should... So I try to follow my inspiration. Except that sometimes, a project that starts inspired, turns into a should (as in, I should really finish this). Then I try to stick to it and not start too many other projects!
ReplyDeleteBurda love putting pleats in unexpected places. I love the line created at the back. Look forward to seeing the finished product.
ReplyDeleteThat is going to be a great coat! I can see why it pushed your other projects aside. I try to stay organized and sew mostly wardrobe needs, but sometimes fabric or pattern called to me and forces other things out of the way. It's quite disconcerting the power it has over our lives...
ReplyDeletehm. i usually try to plan sensible projects, then give up and make what is itching to be made. Last JUly when it was summer here, I was powerless to keep myself from sewing a wool dress.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a wool problem?
You really are the master of coats! This looks so good and it's not even finished. What I can never decide to sew is a coat or jacket...I have fabric and patterns grouped together but just can't get started because they are in my "too hard" basket. I wasn't going to do any wardrobe planning for my sewing this summer...then I read the Vogue Australia for January...and now my wardrobe seems terribly lacklustre...nothing like a glossy magazine to create consumeristic desire.
ReplyDeleteI love those inverted pleats.
ReplyDeletenow that's what I'd call a very fashion forward coat. Look forward to seeing it when you're done.
ReplyDeleteI sew craft items because they're quick and cute and the kids like them. I'm afraid clothes for me lies behind even the most boring of sewing (i.e. curtains). Tragic, isn't it? I like your coat there Jonah, very nice.
ReplyDeleteI really like the collar on this one - I'm interested to see it finished.
ReplyDeleteI make a long list of sewing projects, mostly based on wardrobe needs and stitch one thing at a time going right from one garment to the next. I have to do it that way otherwise I get very distracted with more than one garment or spend way too much deciding what to do next. And then when I throw in something fun and unexpected, it feels....VERY exciting.
I've always thought that creativity doesn't conveniently follow a mold, a 9-5, to do lists, needs before wants, or somebody else's structure including the pragmatic part of you that says, 'this is what you should do'. Looks to me like you've made the right choice making up that coat.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing that coat made up - I love the pattern, and the fact that it's made up in $5 Sallie Army wool is a most excellent bonus ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great Christmas :-)
J x
Wow. That is exquisite. I can't wait to see it finished!
ReplyDelete