Saturday, November 21, 2009

Coat D'Azur

Who told me to make a coat? Why did I feel I needed to make a coat? How many coats does one girl need? Did I really need another coat? (Answers: Your lack of impulse control; you were probably drunk; four, five at the max; absolutely not, you rowdy fool. You have 12).
It's absolutely ridiculous that I decided to make this coat, but to quote a line from the delightful "Being Julia," I drop-kicked all good sense and reason out the window and proclaimed, "I can't stop! Let me go my wicked ways!"


The first fabric I chose was a sage wool plaid, and it's lovely. The pattern is a 1930's wrap coat from the Vintage Pattern Library (post below). Then I walked into a local fabric store and was seduced by a brown felt wool the color of hot cocoa. It was entirely too expensive for my budget, but being the wicked creature I apparently am and acting like a girl who had far too much to drink at bar closing time, I went home with it.


I had no idea what a bronking bull I had unleashed in my dining room/sweat shop. In a word: Nightmare. If I ever work with boiled or felted wool again, I would be wise to insert a slip of tissue paper in between the layers of fabric before I cut them, otherwise, it's impossible to get it smooth. The fibers clutch to one another, giving the cruel illusion that both layers are flat when actually, the bottom layer will be all bunched up and rippled, only exposing itself after you've cut. Lesson learned. I had to recut every piece, some of which were substantially larger than it's "twin". This was especially a problem with any pattern piece I had on the fold, which there were several. My notches were all off, although in the end, it didn't prove to be as much of an issue as I expected it would.


The fabric clinging together didn't stop at cutting, however--it continued on as I began to stitch, with the top layer shrinking while the bottom layer grew MORE and only resolved itself when I switched to a larger foot AND went to a larger stitch (I started on one; ended up at three). Basically, this coat is basted together, but there was no other way to construct it without going to a larger stitch.


Although the coat is meant as a wrap coat, you can also wear it open, and being the wide collar/lapel-loving girl that I am, I'm going in that direction. I also need to add here that I LOVE TRIM. (Dirty minds excuse yourself.) Unfortunately, I don't like cheap trim (nothing says "hussy" like bric brac on a JoAnn's clearance table), and unfortunately squared, we happen to have a very nice trim shop in Eugene that is owned by a lady who loves M&J Trim even more than I do. I didn't have anything long enough in my stash from anything I got at M&J to cover the lapel (I needed four yards), so I needed something new, and she had it. Don't ask me how much a yard. DON'T ASK ME. Just look at it. It's gorgeous. Seriously. I never stood a chance. Here is the layout of the collar/lapel, and then the trim itself (I know. It's like trim porn.)




I am almost finished with the construction of the coat itself, I just have to attach the lapel, and I'm waiting for the lining fabric to come from Fabric.com. I decided to eliminate the belt and button the coat at the side waist--I had a huge Art Deco antique black glass button that's gorgeous and has been in my button drawer for 10 years waiting to be put onto a coat like this and serve its duty appropriately. I'm hoping to finish this after Thanksgiving, I'll post the pics of la Grand Dame when I'm done. Just note: Wool felt will undoubtedly drive you to Valium, gin or a bowl of brownie batter, whichever your drug of choice. I'm serious. Make sure you have any/all on hand.



7 comments:

  1. Wow! What a story... I can't wait to see the finished coat!

    http://puppydogtails-marybeth.blogspot.com/

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  2. Love the progress pictures on the coat. I recently decided to upscale a vintage dress with a velvet trim I found in a local store I realised after I had measured it I would need 7 meters (around 8 yards). I understand the pain of falling in love with a trim. (Luckily the better half misread the hand written receipt and thinks the price per meter was the overall price. )

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  3. There's an award for you over at my blog for being so fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Who told me to make a coat? Why did I feel I needed to make a coat? How many coats does one girl need? Did I really need another coat? (Answers: Your lack of impulse control; you were probably drunk; four, five at the max; absolutely not, you rowdy fool. You have 12)."

    "Don't ask me how much a yard. DON'T ASK ME. Just look at it. It's gorgeous. Seriously. I never stood a chance. Here is the layout of the collar/lapel, and then the trim itself (I know. It's like trim porn.)"


    OMG, I nearly fell out of my chair when I read that! You're so amazingly funny, I found this blog just now and fell in love with it!

    The coat looks like it's going to turn out wonderful!

    PS: that trim actually *is* gorgeous.
    PPS: I know how much a yard something like this can be - hmmm, well, I know how much a *meter*, to tell the troth... but there are lots of yd/mt converters on the net, so, ha!

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  6. Your coat looks like it's going to be amazing, and so worth it. The trim is divine. I'm not surprised you lost control.
    Thanks for your comment on my blog!

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  7. You should see how my pal Wesley Virgin's autobiography begins in this SHOCKING AND CONTROVERSIAL video.

    As a matter of fact, Wesley was in the military-and shortly after leaving-he found hidden, "mind control" tactics that the government and others used to get anything they want.

    These are the exact same tactics lots of famous people (notably those who "became famous out of nowhere") and elite business people used to become rich and famous.

    You probably know that you use only 10% of your brain.

    That's because most of your BRAINPOWER is UNCONSCIOUS.

    Maybe that expression has even taken place INSIDE your very own head... as it did in my good friend Wesley Virgin's head seven years ago, while driving an unregistered, beat-up trash bucket of a vehicle without a license and $3.20 in his bank account.

    "I'm absolutely fed up with living payroll to payroll! When will I become successful?"

    You've taken part in those types of conversations, isn't it right?

    Your very own success story is waiting to be written. You just have to take a leap of faith in YOURSELF.

    WATCH WESLEY SPEAK NOW

    ReplyDelete