Continuing with the Chanel suit

Boy time flies when you're doing other things! I have been working on the suit but haven't been blogging. I am taking a course which is now over except for the exam which will be on March 30. The course was every Sunday, all day, for four Sundays. It was about how to be a personal trainer - not sewing related. You can check it out here. Anyway, back to the suit.

I can always tell when I am making progress when the various pieces of fabric suddenly get sewed together and they are not all over my sewing room. I have almost finished the skirt. It is the pattern I make over and over so I can do it in my sleep. Here, I am just showing the zipper, how I pin it on and then baste it.

Especially with loose fabric like this, you want to be careful that the fabric doesn't get rucked up one side and down the other when you sew in the zipper. Because the "stripes" are so close together and because they aren't uniform anyway, I am more concerned with making sure the vertical threads line up than the horizontal. I take the pins out before I sew with the machine, of course.

I sewed just the facings together and did not then attach the lining to the facings. I am going to be putting a thin line of piping between the facing and the lining and will do that after I attach the facings to the jacket. All will become clear soon!

I've attached the sleeves to both the jacket and the lining and draped everything over the dummy. I have also basted the piping on to the front edges and around the collar of the jacket. In the photo, I've tried to tuck the raw edge of some of the piping under, so you get a glimpse of what it will look like.

Here, I've pulled back the jacket to show the lining and the facings draped over the dummy. That sure is shiny smooth satin! I will be making a blouse out of it but later. Next, I will sew the facings to the jacket and sandwich the piping between them into its finished position.

Happy holidays

Time flies by when there are other things to do.

I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I asked my Dad for a lift to the fabric store when they were here over the holidays, because they have a car and it is just so much easier to get there with a car in the winter. I was in need of seam binding and used up a whole package on the hem of the jacket, its sleeves and the skirt. The sleeves are on but I haven't finished the armholes yet.

I have to choose some buttons for this jacket. These are the only buttons I have in my collection that might work but when I asked my Mum, she suggested I cover some with the same fabric. That's a good idea but I don't have any forms for covering, which would mean a trip to the store without the benefit of Dad's car. I think the gold is too gold and the wood buttons don't do much for me. What do you think?

Once I get over this hurdle. then I have to decide what to sew next. I want to make the faux Chanel jacket, especially as I found some pale rose satin that will be perfect for the lining. But I am hoping for a serious job interview and the navy Chanel wool would be perfect for that. Hmm.