Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Vogue 7975: Chanel style jacket - Finished!







All done! After so much hand sewing its finally done! Its funny, not long after I started I was thinking about giving up it just seemed like so much work but by the end I was really enjoying it. I've been doing the hand sewing inside watching tv each night which has been nice, gives me something to do with my hands.



Things to remember for next time;
  • Use a wool boucle - the silk tweed is lovely but I think the quilting would have felt a lot more luxurious with a bit more thickness behind it.

  • Make sure to stop at least an 1" before the stitching lines and a couple of inches before the hem lines, including when fell stitching the lining. I went too close in some spots which made it really awkward when cutting the seam excess off or trying to shorten the sleeves/hem.

  • Don't just double knot the thread ends, triple knot them as I found some had come undone when I was sewing the trim on.



  • I read somewhere that its meant to take 70hours to make a Chanel jacket, I didn't do 70 it was roughly around 45hrs, which seems like heaps of work but it was only a couple of hours here and there with a couple of full days.
    I can understand now why you use the best quality possible fabric though, after all that work its kind of disappointing to have used a polyester lining, but in some ways this was a practise go at the different techniques and I know I'll make more...eventually!




    So the pattern info;
    Vogue 7975
    Size; 12
    Adjustments; I did minimal adjustments on this jacket - a 1" petite adjustment and a 1/2" narrow shoulder adjustment. I cut the under sleeve on the bias to help with arm movement.
    Would you make it again: Yes, I have one planned for me next!
    Would you recommend it: Yes! I really like how it has the princess seams in the front and back for that extra shaping. I do see however that one of the new Vogue patterns (8804) is a Claire Shaeffer Chanel style jacket so I want to get it to compare it to this pattern.


    All in all, not as scary as I thought! All the techniques are very easy they just take so much time, but I am very happy with how it turned out and Mum loves it!

    17 comments:

    1. You have done the most beautiful work on this jacket. It looks fabulous. Congratulations on a very stylish jacket.

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    2. Oh Wow! Well Done! The jacket looks really terrific, I'm really impressed. Good points you made about the fabric type, even though it's gorgeous (I love the colours, both in and out), I'll add these notes to my inspiration sheet for my future Chanel jacket.

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    3. Great job Suzy and it looks like a great fit on your mother. I am sure she will love wearing it. It looks sensational. Do you think that some interfacing may have made it look more "luxurious" in the quilting? (Although it looks great to me) Just want to know for when I use my silk. Don't know if I am as adventurous as a Chanel jacket but I do want to use it in a jacket. Yours looks so great that I might just be tempted to try the Chanel.

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      1. Thanks Beajay! I think interfacing would have made the jacket feel very stiff, the silk tweed makes more of a thinner summer jacket. Maybe its just because I've been doing normal quilting and I'm used to the stitches really sinking in which they don't on the silk tweed. I'm looking forward to making the next one out of the wool boucle to see the difference!
        If I was using it on anything other than a Chanel type jacket I reckon I'd underline it with something like silk organza or muslin I reckon, or interface the front and side front pieces in a medium knit interfacing like a pro-weft or armo-weft, depends on how structured you want the jacket though.
        Please have a go at a chanel style jacket, it really is easier than you think and its such a classic thing to have!

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      2. Thanks for the advice Suzy. I will definately follow your tip about not interfacing it. I look forward to seeing you boucle one.

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    4. Wow, it looks amazing. Well worth the effort of handsewing to achieve such stunning results. Love it and I am sure your Mum does as well.

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    5. you have done a wonderful job- I too have just finished a Chanel type jacket for my sister's wedding in a couple of weeks. Mine didn't take 70 hours either (I keep thinking what didn't I do??) but the hand sewing is quite relaxing and the end results very satisfying. Your mum must have been delighted

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      1. Thankyou! Yep, Mum was really happy, I imagine by now everyone in her town knows I made it for her, lol!

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    6. This is a perfect jacket, very well done and it's so lovely that you made it for your mum. Are you planning on making one for yourself too? Gorgeous.

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      1. Thanks Ruth, yep am definately making myself one! I've made the muslin and prewashed the fabric so I'll start on it this weekend :)

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    7. What a lovely jacket! I love the colours, especially the lining. :)

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    8. This is beautiful and I think it's wonderful that you spent so much time on a garment for your mother! Can't wait to see what you do for yourself!

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    9. I love your jacket you did a superb job. I made one too. I will be making another. I used a cheap wool boucle and a polyester lining. Boy that was slippery. Good thing no one will take a really close look. I used the same pattern Vogue 7975. You can see it on www.wearthehat@blogspot.com if you care to look.

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