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Monday, April 6, 2015

The Italian Cardigan



The Inspiration
La Mia Boutique knit jacket

The Pattern
McCalls 6844
Line drawing


Staggered collar bands
Tapered and curved bottom edges of front bands
It was a challenge making a such a big buttonhole!
Close-up of lettuce edge
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Saturday, January 31, 2015

The Kate Dress Coat Dress


In February 2012, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey tweed, double-breasted 1950s-style frock with a full skirt, elbow-length sleeves, and a wide shawl collar.  This dress caused some controversy because the clothing label Jesiré had gone out of business about a year before she wore their dress.  It's widely speculated that her dress was a purchased second-hand by a secret shopper at a small vintage store close to Kate's family home in Bucklebury.  One of the rare dresses sold on Ebay for £950.00 (about $1432.00 USD), and it wasn't even owned by the Duchess!  I'm so glad I can sew!



The great thing about Kate's clothes is that you can find images from all different angles to recreate the details, including a side view with the underarm zipper pull


and a full back view.


There's this zoom of the two decorative buttons and two working buttonholes.  I never cared for this unevenness, so I made mine with all four working buttonholes.





There's even this lightened close-up of the tweed fabric.




Invisible zipper in the side seam.  This fabric was a dream to sew; the seams pressed in place so smoothly.


This was a frankenpattern consisting of a the top half from an old reliable pattern


and a new pattern for the skirt.







Fabric used:  Black and white Isla herringbone silk suiting, 2.5 yards at $4.24 = $10.60
Red Radiance silk/cotton lining: 2 yards (sleeves are not lined) at $3.99 = $7.98
Buttons: $3.08
Total: $21.66
Barganista savings: 98%.