Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Must Be Dreaming...

... About spring :))



This coat dress happened because the fabric I ordered was not as chartreuse as I thought, more like a spring green. Which does not work for me. Chartreuse is a finicky color and I should have known better. Maybe I'll post a picture later with all the fabrics I now have labeled chartreuse, if I take the picture in natural light it will show how different they all are- ranging from spring green to mustard!
I've wanted to make this coat dress for DD ever since it first came out, BWOF 02-2008-117. She has the perfect figure for it; small upper body and waist, swayback and full hips. The fabric, from Fabric Mart, is silk shantung and the lining is silk chiffon and charmeuse; here's a link, they still have some left:

No shoulder pads so it can be worn both ways.

This is not a difficult pattern, but because I lined it- and I wanted her to be able to wear it both ways- I had to change a few things. Most importantly: I used casings instead of shirring elastic at the waist. Quite tricky, but the final result is good. Of course, I haven't tried it on her yet, so we shall see, it will go under the tree. I also didn't have fusible batting, so I used regular, which takes a little extra effort- the walking foot came in handy here. A lot of thread was used for this project :))

Speaking of thread... I left loose tails at each end of each topstitching, which then was woven into each seam... yes, that's a lot of work, but it looks much better this way.


The snaps were covered with fabric and carefully stitched on in the same formation; itsy bitsy details but for me worth the extra work.

The label is on the outside.



And about my coat: It's done just need to attach the buttons, and slipstitch the lining side seam closed. I'm not in love with it but it will work over white jeans. Next time I'll cut a 36, this coat is roomier than I thought it would be.

To all my readers:

Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday!!!
Thank you for visiting, I so appreciate it.
Hugs and love,
Birgitte

34 comments:

  1. How beautiful!! Looking at it makes me feel guilty of the half made version I have. It is such a gorgeous pattern. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Birgitte-It is stunning!!!!!YUMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!!!!

    I have gunmetal silk for this coat to be made in the spring but OOOOOOHHHHHH I love it in a color!!!!

    Please write a PR review-I would love to follow it.

    Merry Christmas to you-I so enjoy your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Me again.

    I'm waiting for the Balmain.............

    (no harassment intended :) )

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is Beautiful. Your work is just amazing.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful coat and awesome sewing. Just awesome! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's just gorgeous!
    A Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh this is beautiful! I totally love the fabric combination. It would be hard to decide which side to showcase. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love it. How wonderful to make it reversible. I really love the fabric you used for the lining and wish I'd seen it last month when I purchased yardage from them. What a lucky daughter you have! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful pattern, beautiful result. Use of the charmeuse/chiffon for lining is inspired. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Speech. Less. It's amazing! Merry Christmas to you too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Omigosh, your two girls are so lucky! This is a gorgeous coat, Birgitte. Every detail is just so right. Love it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've thought about making this coat too. You've done a fantastic job.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fantastic! I love all the details. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brigitte, that is so stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, magnificent, and more adjectives that I can't think of to describe it. Your dd will be thrilled. Merry Christmas

    ReplyDelete
  15. Delightfully gorgeous! Your daughter will adore this coat! I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This coat is utterly luminescent! Gorgeous. You do the most amazing work from the inside out.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm visiting all my favorite blogs to wish my favorite bloggers a Merry Christmas, and I'm so glad I did because there are even MORE pictures of this luscious coat/dress! I love the label on the outside. I'm really looking forward to seeing it on your daughter. Merry Christmas to you and your family and thank you for your generous sewing-spirit that gives and gives and gives.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stunning and beautiful! Oh my gosh what a beautiful gift!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow - this is fabulous....love the trapunto technique on the coat. Chartreuse is a very tough color to get right and even tougher to wear, so maybe it's better that this is "spring green"!!! Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh this is still one of my favourite patterns ever. Gorgeous coat and the lining is spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are truly amazing. It just keeps getting better and better.

    ReplyDelete
  22. WOW! That is beautiful. What a fantastic gift.

    ReplyDelete
  23. OMG. That is a gorgeous coat!!! I hope your daughter was excited to find it under the tree!

    ReplyDelete
  24. WOW I love it!!! What a very lucky girl.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Can I be your daughter??? ;) That coat is just gorgeous. And you made it reversible? WOW! Beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  26. That is the most beautiful coat! I can't believe you have made it so it can be made both ways! I am most impressed.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This coat is too beautiful for words! You are a magnificent sewist!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have loved this coat ever since I saw it in the magazine. I love your version and all the extra attention to detail you have included. What a work of art this is!
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I want that coat!! I have a similar frame as your DD, so if she doesn't want it, this little girl in Cali would gladly take it off your hands. ;)

    In all seriousness, that is just lovely. Your daughter is very lucky!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I know DD is happy as a lark! The coat is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Brigitte, I've totally missed this post in the Christmas holidays and find it now browsing for your tutorials ;). Happy to see it, gorgeous. Great style and color which is absolutely spring. Something we need to see on the dark, cold and raining day it is here now. Lucky daughter.

    ReplyDelete