Well, it's done and I have to say, I'm very pleased/relieved. This jacket was an enormous amount of work and so easy to become distracted away from because of it. It's been a serious commitment to get it finished this month before staring any new projects. AND, has definitely been a practice in patience for sure. I must have done at least 20 hours of hand work, last week alone, in the push to get it finished. My hands are a little broken, but they can rest for a little while while I do some decision making about future projects.
The hardest part of this jacket was finishing the buttonholes. 14 in all.
A few musings on the things that were the most hindering-
1. Not happy with my trim choice and lining. I had purchased something different, originally along with a black lining. Both were used for other projects. In the end, both the contrasting lining (which is much easier to photograph than black) and the trim are growing on me. After seeing the photos, they both look pretty good.
2. Learning about new techniques after I finished doing something. Case in point, the buttons. After already starting my buttonholes, I found that the buttons could be increased in size by covering a ring, just larger than the button, with fabric and then sewing the button in the middle. This technique is in the Claire B. Shaeffer Couture SewingTechniques Book. Since my buttonholes were already started, the size of my buttons could not change. Arg.
3. All the hand sewing - the only machine work I did was seam sewing (Outer body only) and the little rectangles for the buttonholes. That's it. The rest, was entirely by hand.
4. Shiny Object Syndrome - The ability to get distracted with other, more quickly rewarding projects. I suffer from this regularly - Do you?
Some musings on why this jacket is so wonderful and why I would do it again (Yes! I would do it again!!)
1. It FEELS AMAZING on and it's warm. Quilting the lining to the body fabric is kind of magical. It also kind of feels like you are wearing a really comfy soft quilt.
2. It's GLAMOROUS. I wore it to a board meeting and my colleague told me I looked like a politician. That made me laugh. HA!
3. It's TIMELESS. A wardrobe classic, it's style will never fade and honestly, I think it will last forever.
4. While daunting, the process really taught me a lot - PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT AND MORE!
5. It made me a BETTER HAND-STITCHER. All that practice really goes a long way. And that's one of the things I drive home to my students all the time - The more you PRACTICE, the better you will be at just about anything.
6. It's FANCY! Who doesn't need a super fancy (but not formal) jacket, in their wardrobe?
This has been an amazing experience. I have a little jacket in mind that MIGHT use some of these techniques (but not all of them). And of course there is already a line of projects waiting for my attention, so we shall see what's next.
Until next time.....Happy Sewing!
Jennifer
