Saturday, January 2, 2010

It's raining coats.

If I could call last year anything, I'd call it the year of the coat. I made a lot of them - it was only natural then that I'd put all that expertise into my two finales - helping my sister make a coat for herself, and the "Jonah Coat" for myself, the crazy difficult BWOF 11-2008-107.

Here's my sister's coat. (Butterick 5295) Didn't she do well? Helping someone create a nice coat? Satisfying. Being able to boss about my older sister? Priceless.





The Jonah coat was the hardest thing, by a long long shot, that I have ever sewn. It would have been fine if my figure was closer to the norm: but with multiple adjustments I could barely keep track of what I had added to where - it became very hard to figure out.

I'm not the only one having a tanty:



It is never my intention to wear this coat done up, but I put on the domes and buckles just in case.



The lining - a beautiful sage green acetate (Bemberg) from Nicks.



Because I made a side panel bust adjustment, a front panel bust adjustment, a waist and hip adjustment, a narrow shoulder adjustment, a full bicep adjustment, a low bust apex adjustment, a sloping shoulder adjustment, a forward shoulder adjustment and an arm length adjustment. Most of those adjustments where "slash and spread" adjustments, and not a matter of adding to or taking out of side seams.

I have a new definition of envy: it's someone who says, "I sewed a standard 40 grading out a little from bust to waist."

For all its crazy look and fitting nightmares I really feel good wearing this coat. I'll feel even better wearing it when it's winter instead of high summer and when I've forgotten a little bit about how hard it was to make.

Yes, in another 5 months it'll be perfect.

Costings: Fabric, Sally Army, wool gabardine, $5, lining, Acetate (bemberg) Nick's $5, domes, thread, inside buttons, petersham ribbon and buckles, tailor's shoulder pads $22, interfacing $10 = $42

17 comments:

  1. Oh my, I am lusting after that Burda coat. It looks gorgeous! Absolutely wonderful job. You must be so proud of yourself, or at least you will be in 5 months when the birthing pains are forgotten. ;) Happy new year!

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  2. So it was deliberate, finishing the coat in summer, you are such a forward planner. You will have forgiven it just in time for cold weather.
    I would like to borrow your definition of envy. Those people can probably wear RTW without adjusting it too.

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  3. I forgot to mention my first thought, which was, what terrific coats.

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  4. Oh I so agree with your definition of envy! Love the coat. Very good planning to have it finished in plenty of time for the cold weather. Of course, if you were still in Dunedin that would probably be next week, lol.

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  5. Both your coat and your sister's coat are lovely!

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  6. Your work is always, to take a word from Tim Gunn, stunning! Always well crafted and impeccable.
    Also, wow for all the adjustments you made! You have more patience than I do.
    Happy New Year!

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  7. Maryanna - your coat is fabulous. I am truly in awe of all those adjustments. It's a designer coat from start to finish.

    I gave my coat it's first outing last night when annarose and I went to the movies. She said she felt like she was dressed like an exclusive bretheren girl - and me - I felt like royalty!!

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  8. You do have an enviable collection of great coats. Will you continue adding to this collection this year, or will you move onto something else. I like the idea of a garment for a year. I keep collecting blouse fabrics, telling myself that this year, no this year, really, this year is going to be the year that I tackle all the required alterations for a blouse. Hmm, maybe next year.

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  9. ....hallelujah, it's raining coats.....

    etc etc.

    I love it! The shape is just brilliant, and the fact that the shoulder pads cost more than the pure wool fabric is pure stingeometer gold. Now you just have to suffer through this brilliant, cloudless summer before you get to wear it ;-)

    J

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  10. That coat really is amazing. Even the lining looks intricate. Boys have just crowded round to have a look. We all agree. Amazing.

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  11. That coat is so amazing. I am well impressed. Hey and THANKS for my birthday present, very exciting! Will give you a full report of the pattern and fabric as soon as I decide.

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  12. Fantastic-- the blue is to die for and it looks great on you. Congratulations on two wonderful coat successes!

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  13. I love the coat. Looks terribly difficult! Beautiful tailoring!

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  14. I forgot to mention--I absolutely adore the aqua lining in your sister's coat~ I need to use your idea!!

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