Chanel jacket deconstructed

A lot to say about this project. Here is the summary:

• Yes, the finished project is as comfortable as promised. This is a serious consideration when thinking about doing one of these jackets. I have long thought that so much sewn into women's jackets - all the interfacing, lapels, taping and shoulder pads, sleeve heads and shoulder stays really are all constructs of male tailoring. I do not need to look like a male banker and I don't want to feel like one. You have to be comfortable to get through a girl's day.

• However you really need to love your pattern. Note to self. Any pattern that took this much time to fit, in the muslin and in process, was a bad pattern for me. A good pattern for you requires only a few tweeks - I have decided once you start to do more you and the pattern are at cross purposes and always will be.

• You really, really need to love your fabric. I loved my lining and would have thrown the whole thing in the garbage at the first midnight otherwise. It would have been good to have felt the same way about my outer fabric, which I am convinced spent the whole time wishing it was something else, like say an A line skirt. Don't try to convert your fabric. Also you are going to spend so much time with this you have to like it to get past the worst part of for better or for worst.

• All the hand stitching was wasted in the sleeves. Because I did a 3 piece sleeve (waste of time for a vent but worked for my rescue treatment) I ended up with 12 little flags of silk to hand stitch down before I could sew it in around the armhole. I found these little units most annoying. Next time I unit quilt the sleeves and hong kong the seam allowances on them. Done and just fine. I may still do the body traditionally as it does make a nice little inside next to your body. You never know when you will wear this with a bathing suit.

• The chain is a good idea - might sew light chains to the hems of some knit jackets or cardigans as an experiment.

• Forget tiny pockets unless you are a tiny person who carries tiny things. No dog leashes, no snacks.

• On the subject of scale my expensive bought trim looked wimpy. I figure to scale it up to me I need a trim that is about 1.5-2 inches wide. This would require layering a couple and that would have required driving back to Nova Scotia to get it. I doubt there would have been much buy in for that.

Will I do it again?

Yes, but only because it is comfortable, but with a new pattern (I really enjoyed stuffing the old one in the kitchen garbage can) and something simpler. May even do this New Look pattern. 

After all if all I want is a sweater disguised as a jacket why complicate things?

BTW Janine's suggestion to add a button to the top of the vent is a great one, I even dug out a scrap from the garbage in case I can locate a button form somewhere.

Next I am putting my feet up and sewing Stylearc's Jane blouse.