Chanel Jacket

Posted on July 1, 2018 by craftycreeky

DSC_0009 (2)After about nine months of faffing about I finally knuckled down and finished my Chanel jacket last night. It’s not exactly the weather for wearing it at the moment, but I needed it crossing off my to do list! So it’s definitely time for Snoopy to do a happy dance!

I started this jacket last autumn at a two day workshop at the Yorkshire School of Sewing. It was a great workshop and at the end of it I had the basics of a jacket, I just had all the hand-stitching to do….

There’s an awful lot of hand-stitching on a Chanel style jacket, hence I have only just finished it, not helped by having a few other projects to distract me! This is where I was last time I showed you the jacket in April, lining stitched in but waiting for all the decorative bits…Making a Chanel Jacket

The jacket is made from a gorgeous loose-weave tweed typical of Linton Tweeds, it might be a Linton Tweed but I think I bought it in Dewsbury, so origins are unknown! I love the rich colours in it. Chanel jackets are traditionally a bit shorter and don’t have buttons, but I wanted a slightly more wearable one, this length is more me! The lining is quilted to the tweed before the jacket is constructed, so all the lining seams are effectively hand sewn. The side seams were straight forward but I did find the sleeve head a bit more tricky. Gillian our tutor had suggested padding the sleeve head but I couldn’t work out how to get the lining over the head neatly, so in the end I took them out.

The buttonholes proved a bit tricky too. I couldn’t physically get the front/facing seam under my buttonhole foot without risking ruining the loose weave of the tweed. In the end I paid for a lady in Otley to do them! She has a good reputation for alterations and she did a great job of my buttonholes, it’s worth remembering her again! I wasn’t sure about my black buttons at first, I even tried a set of plain  burgundy ones too, but looking at the photos I think they look fine.DSC_0010

Chanel jackets usually have some kind of decorative braid around the edges. I’d found a burgundy coloured braid which matched beautifully. I decided it would look neatest just a little bit in from the edge. It seemed to take for ever to hand stitch it on, every loop, both sides…it’s a long way round my hips!!DSC_0014

The finishing touch was the chain along the hem. These help the jackets to hang nicely. It’s probably more relevant in the shorter, buttonless jacket but I decided to add it anyway. So for those of you who like to see the innards of an outfit…DSC_0016

I braved the heat to take some photos outside this morning so apologies for the summer skirt and T-shirt that accompany it, though you escaped lightly as if I thought I’d get away with cropping the photo I’d have left my shorts on!!! I’m really pleased with it, the body of the jacket feels like it fits well, though the sleeves feel a bit snug, I certainly couldn’t get a jumper underneath it! I think it’s designed to be worn with a classic Chanel sleeveless shift dress.DSC_0006 (2)

I love the finish of the jacket with all the quilting and hand-stitching, though it’s an awful lot of work so I can’t see me making another one except for a very special occasion! I shall try and remember to wear it to the Knitting and Stitching show in November so I can show Gillian my finished jacket.

Linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, it may not be quilting or embroidery, but there’s an awful lot of hand-stitching! Follow the link to see what everyone else has been stitching.

About craftycreeky

I live in a busy market town in Yorkshire with my husband, kids, dogs and chickens. I love trying new crafts, rediscovering old ones, gardening, walking...anything creative really I started this blog after my New Year resolution worked so well. My resolution (the first one I've ever kept!) was to post a photograph of my garden on Facebook every day. My hope was that I would then see what was good in the garden and not just weeds and work, which was my tendency. The unexpected side-effect was that I have enjoyed many more hours in the garden. I am hoping that 'The Crafty Creek' will have the same effect. Happy creating!
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36 Responses to Chanel Jacket

  1. claire93 says:
    July 1, 2018 at 11:36 am

    that’s a very expert piece of sewing there! Enjoy your happy dance!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Jane M says:
    July 1, 2018 at 11:49 am

    That looks gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. KerryCan says:
    July 1, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    It’s amazing! The details are so interesting–really set it apart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Carole @ From My Carolina Home says:
    July 1, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    You did a wonderful job on a couture jacket! I’d love to make one of those myself one day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Kayla Groening says:
    July 1, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    All that hard work paid off. That is one beautiful jacket.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. nanacathy2 says:
    July 1, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    That is beautiful. Tres Chic! Are you going to Harrogate?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Laura says:
    July 1, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    Well done! The jacket looks terrific on you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. amcclure2014 says:
    July 1, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    It’s lovely. Well done! Mine feels rather snug not helped by putting on weight. I’ll wear it to Knitting and Stitching Show, though – incentive to lose a bit of weight.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Robin says:
    July 1, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    Lovely, lovely jacket. It’s a beautiful color and the trim really accents the edge. Thanks for the peek inside, that chain is a really good idea.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. kathyreeves says:
    July 1, 2018 at 11:50 pm

    Congratulations Margaret! A lovely job, well deserving of a happy dance!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. CurlsnSkirls says:
    July 2, 2018 at 12:52 am

    Gorgeous job, Margaret!
    Treble well dones!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Deb says:
    July 2, 2018 at 2:33 am

    ❤️ it! 👏👏😄

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Jenny Benton says:
    July 2, 2018 at 4:03 am

    Many congratulations, what a beatiful jacket!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Donna M says:
    July 2, 2018 at 4:41 am

    Love all that beautiful detail. Great job!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. rutigt says:
    July 2, 2018 at 10:33 am

    Like!! What a beautiful jacket!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. karen says:
    July 2, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    That’s so beautiful. Well done. I used to make all my own clothes. I got my first job because I was wearing a suit I’d made with a pleated skirt. I waffled on so long about the process of pleating, they just gave me the job! The other candidate was much better educated than me. I need to get a dummy though as I think that helps a lot when you are making anything. All the best. Karen

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    Reply
  17. Catherine says:
    July 2, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    What a lovely jacket! It was worth the time spent making it. You will get lots of use from it when the weather cools a little

    Like

    Reply
  18. CathieJ says:
    July 3, 2018 at 1:54 am

    What a beautiful jacket!

    Like

    Reply
  19. tialys says:
    July 4, 2018 at 11:10 am

    Great to be able to cross it off your list – especially as you’ve done such a good job with it too. You should show us again in November when you are wearing a chic little sheath dress underneath which you could start to make now if you’ve got a spare minute 😉

    Like

    Reply
  20. rosejasm says:
    July 6, 2018 at 11:31 pm

    I too wondered if you would be tempted to make a shift dress?
    Your jacket is stunning 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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