Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pattern question - a diversion

I picked up the January Burda Magazine and am quite smitten with the dress on the cover.

This one.  It looks very plain here, but demurely interesting in the magazine photo.

Here's the schematic drawing.  I think cuffs at my elbow would drive me crazy so I'd lengthen the sleeves.

I have some really nice navy teal (if that's a colour) lightweight wool & cashmere blend fabric, with a jacquard/texture combination woven into it. Scrumptious and understated - hopefully not boring (Montreal, 2010).

Then I started thinking of jackets because a lightweight wool dress doesn't cut it for warmth during winter here in Canada's capital.  (Don't laugh, I might get to it before spring!)

I have another piece - truly scrumptious hand spun, dyed & woven Merino wool from sheep raised by the spinner/dyer/weaver close to home in the Ottawa Valley (Fabric Flea Market 2009).  It's a cushy jacket-weight, multi-coloured including teal/turquoise, and definitely not lightweight.  I don't have a great deal of this, about 3 metres but it's only 90cm (36") wide.

I identified two candidates from the October Burda Magazine.  This was my first choice, subject to a question for you:













Second choice - ignore that it's shown in shearling; I'm confident it would work in wool:










So here's the question.  Which of these two styles would you choose to wear over the dress?  Can two vaguely shirt-style collars get along?  What if I modified choice #1 so it's single breasted with a slightly lower front neck (maybe 5cm or 2" lower)?

Any other pattern suggestions for my hypothetical jacket?

I have a feeling I know what you're going to say, but go ahead anyway!

(PS - I do remember I've got some UFOs in the sewing room, but a girl can daydream...)

22 comments:

  1. #2 is the safe choice but I can see why you're considering #1. It is lovely, but..

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  2. I think 2. Generally double breasted is tricky to wear over a dress, especially if you want to leave the jacket unbuttoned.

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  3. I would also opt for #2. I agree with what Gail said. Also I think the shorter length would look nice on your figure.

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  4. Um, can I say neither? I think a collar-less, lapel-less style would work better. I'm thinking more vee than Chanel.

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  5. I really loved 2 when I saw it in the magazine. I also think the lines are better to complement the dress. Look forward as always to seeing the finished result.

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  6. I would choose 2 too.
    This dress caught my eyes in the magazine but I am less certain of it on me

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  7. I'm with Debbie Cook - V neck collarless and fitted. But then I am quite conservative.

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  8. I like either #2 or Debbie's suggestion. However, I bought a Simplicity pattern for what I thought was a cute jacket, but because they designed it for shearling type fabric, they didn't include facings and the collar was an unfinished edge with the wrong side showing. Just a thought that Burda might have done the same.

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  9. Both jackets are nice but neither would be ideal with the dress. Maybe the Chanel style would be better?
    However I think that the dress could look really good on someone of your build. Years ago I made lots of dresses in that style before I realised that they did nothing for me due to my large shoulders!

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  10. TSL,
    I'm dying to see your completed leather jacket!

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  11. Debbie Cook and I are of the same opinion here Kay. C. None of the above. Go for a collarless jacket.

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  12. I like jacket #1 a lot. The collar does match the dress, maybe a little too closely for comfortable wear. It is double breasted but the buttons are up high, versus at the waist. What kind of jackets are you seeing others wear with this style dress? When I can't decide sometimes a little lunchtime "market research" at the mall helps me out.

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  13. Sorry, another one for collarless Chanel style jacket. I find a dress/blouse with a collar just doesn't work for me with a collared jacket.

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  14. I like #2, but I'd belt the jacket instead of the dress.

    Christiana
    sewamusing.blogspot.com

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  15. I know everyone is chiming in for #2, but I like it cause it's fitted and that's it. #1 is not, and I'd be concerned it would be a little boxy and I just don't see that as professional looking as #2, but the collar, double-breasted-ness, nor anything else bothers me about #1 - if you nipped it in at the waist, I would vote for #1.

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  16. For a keep-it-on-in-the-office jacket, I suppose 2 is better, but I like choice #1 more. If cut single breasted, you could pull the dress's collar out over the jacket's collar. I think that could be cute. But it could also be weird. I don't know.

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  17. I like #1 or the channel suggestion. But at first I thought you were going to interpret the dress itself as a jacket. Thanks for implanting that idea- with the CB pleat, it's looking like a good shirt jacket to me!

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  18. Kay, I really don't know which jacket... Can you put a "col chemiser" under Shawl collar... humm I have to search for that. You certainly can put two shirt collar one over the other. I would make the one underneath a tiny bit bigger and play with layers effect.

    For the dress, I like that pattern very much. The narrow belt takes character away from it. The model has a very wide obi that can be so not comfortable (I know from wearing obis often). I suggest you to get a obi to add punch to your outfit and to add an "effet surprise" when you take off your jacket.
    see what this lady makes :http://www.etsy.com/people/elizabethkelly?ref=ls_profile
    Her service is so friendly and excellent.

    C'est tout !

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  19. En fait Kay, si je peux ajouter à mon commentaire précédent, je ne porterais pas de veste avec cette robe. Je l'aime toute seule avec, comme je le disais, une très belle ceinture.

    Si tu regardes la photo à la page 10, ils ont mis le manteau à col chemisier par dessus en cachant le col de la robe... que devons-nous en conclure ??

    Selon moi, les robes chemisiers ne vont pas avec une veste Chanel... Cela est bien personnel, je le concède. ;-) Bien sûr, je respect l'opinion des autres.

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  20. Will you flush me if I add one more comment? I forgot... I love shirt dresses with stylish a tiny bit manish sleeve less vests ;-) the colar then allows you to wear a gorgeous silk scarf (like one from Hermes) around your neck.

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  21. I really like the style of #2 and it will look chic over the dress. Just my two cents!

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  22. I am with Debbie on this too . I think thjat the issues of layering are really interesting and I would love to start a whole converstaion about this . Not only with respect to collars but also with regard to proportion.Its all so tricky . When its right I can see it but WHY is it right??

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