Help me decide

 deets

deets

I can't decide between these two wools for my coat. I am drawn to the plaid, but afraid of matching all the lines up in my coat like a nice burberry.

OOOORRRR should I listen to my theatrical side and go with something a bit more eye catching, maybe like this?

Remember though, I *am* using this fur for the collar and lining of the hood:

If I can't do something fun on the outside, maybe a party on the inside with mustard charmeuse as a lining?

Thoughts please.

Sketch

Do I've come up with a sketch for my coat, and I'm really loving it. I am concerned about what color I am going to do...I feel like with all the added details, like the cape and the fur collar, that I have to keep the color very simple, like a gray or navy. I'd hate to make a great coat so boring, but I feel like it's a must in this case. I love my fur and capes too much to pass them by for a plaid wool or bright grass green. Am I right? Seriously, I need your comments. 

The hood is going to be detachable. The sleeves are going to be bracelet length, which is right above the wrist. Ever notice that nothing I make goes all the way to my wrists? That's because I hate that claustrophobic feeling of something sitting there and getting dirty. eesh. 

Don't judge me by this rude sketch. My hands were freezing when I drew it and I kind of hurried it. 

I started the basic pattern making last night. From my basic sloper, I fashioned a basic coat foundation from the rules in my pattern-making book. From this, I'll make the design with a double-breasted opening, slat pockets, cape, hood, two-piece sleeves, and two-piece collar. 

stupid blogger getting my pictures all screwy.

The more I look at my sketch, the more I realize my coat should really be a simple boring color. O well. At leased there will be leopard fur. 

Famous last words.

That chill in the air.

Man, it was a great day. I rocked it out at work (didn't mess up once!), made the most amazing steak ever for dinner, and then I rocked it out in my sewing room tonight for dessert:

Pinterest has truly inspired some amazing designs out of me. My favorite thing is to take three or four dresses or skirts or other articles of clothing and combining to make them my own. It is such a great digital bulletin board of wonderful ideas. So follow me if your interested in what I'M interested in...which is happens to be a lot of design and how- to projects.

The chill in the air has made me want a new coat, and not just any old coat from a store, but a coat that I MAKE! I haven't made a coat since college, and that was just a shorty one that is way too thick for my liking. This coat is going to be full length, perhaps green with a fur collar (?), and overall a combination of a few coats I found on Net-A-Porter (also on my "inspire" board). Take a gander through my design process with me:

I definitely want a cape aspect, but I don't want the cape part fall past my elbows:

I love the back of this cape coat, and the length of the cape is perfect. It will still have sleeves though... I don't like cold arms.

I love a good hood, too. So warm and cozy. Imagine if my coat were green and the lining of the hood was leopard fur??? If there is a hood, maybe no collar?

 The combo of the last two pictures would be PRICELESS, right? ooo I'm so excited. Check back later for the pattern making steps!

PS

Don't worry, it won't look like this:

The never-finished blouse

Last night I finally hunkered down and finished my Anna Sui blouse that has been hanging in my sewing room for weeks now just begging to be hemmed. The roll-hem foot that I've been practicing with is tricky...especially on a very loose-weave light-weight chiffon like mine. The blouse is tucked in for the pictures because, well, the hem just sucks. I think I'll just wear the blouse under dresses or tucked in from now on... I can't really fix the hem right now because unpicking it would just ruin the fabric, and cutting it off would make the blouse just too short for my taste. O well. My next blouse will be that much better!