This is how UFO's happen ...

I've become obsessed with my Chanel jacket. I was up until very late last night reading the Claire Shaeffer book about couture sewing and I've spent a large part of the morning staring at my fabric. You will notice from yesterdays post that I have one unfinished jacket already and if you look in the background of those pictures you will see my previous jacket, also unfinished. It just needs hemming, buttons and bloody good press. I will finish the silk tweed today ... I want to wear it on Wednesday.
But back to Chanel .. I am quite keen to use the selvege as a trim and have been trying to think of a way to cover the white chain stitch. I think if I make a braid and stitch it down, it should work. I think using a purchased trim on this fabric wouldn't look right. I think the ruggedness of the fabric demands a more rugged and less perfect trim, if that makes any sense. I dragged out a box of embroidery thread and started tossing colours around. This is what I have so far. Three colours that I love and are all in the wool fabric. The middle is a dirty pale green and the lavender is dirtier than it appears in this picture. I quite like these muted colours, the dirty versions of their bright brothers and sisters. I was thinking a three strand braid in either this combination ...

Or a three strand braid in this combination ...


But I think this is my favourite combination; a four strand braid using all these colours ...Even though we don't have a decent fabric store for about 750km, we do have a very well stocked yarn store in Mullumbimby (The Silver Thread, unchanged for decades - if you're in the Northern Rivers area, take a look). I know I will be able to find these colours in a knitting cotton because the smoothness of that is what I am seeing in my mind. I'll test it and see how it looks.

I was originally planning buttons and starting to dread the search for something appropriate, but then I hit on the idea of hook and eye closure at the front as I have seen some others do. If I use the fringe of the selvege down the front, it will cover the hooks so you shouldn't see them when it is closed. Any thoughts or suggestions????

Comments

kbenco said…
I like the 4 strands too. Have you thought about making a braid from the embroidery cottons rather than yarn? - the teenage girls here wear pretty flash "friendship bracelets" made from interesting braid and knot combinations - then you could match the colours perfectly. Aren't there about 700 DMC colours? I am thinking that 4 lots of 8ply could look a bit thick.
I think the hook and eye closure would work beautifully.
October 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Gail said…
I love the idea of a making a braid. I had so much trouble finding a decent trim and ended up with something that I've underwhelmed by. I gave up on the idea of plaited chiffon when I worked out the cost of cutting it on the bias. Re the obsession, it is catching. I spent a lot of time researching quilting the lining etc, only to realise that my spring fabric is way too fine. I'll do another in winter that is totally Coco couture.
October 12, 2009 at 5:43 PM
gwensews said…
If that white thread on the edge shows, try coloring it with fabric markers. I color the inside edges of machine-made buttonholes with fabric pens because the interfacing usually peeks out.
October 12, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Audrey said…
I like all of the combinations of color you show for the braid. But if I was forced to choose, hmmm I think I like the 4 color combo best.
October 16, 2009 at 3:35 AM
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