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A new Coat of…

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Bright red cashmere!

We had a jaunt into Brum this afternoon, a military operation, with the missus dropping me at the Fancy Silk Store while she parked, meeting me in the rag market while I found a zip, then a DELICIOUS lunch at Cafe Rouge, fast shopping for veggies while rain PELTED down, then round to Barry’s, gently steaming, to get high quality interfacing, shoulder pads, and thread.

BRILLIANT!

The cashmere was pricey of course, but meant to be.  I’d set my heart on bright red wool, and when I browsed through the miles of yards on offer, there it was.  And EXACTLY the length I needed left on the bolt.  Right next to the coat fabrics, of course there are all those delicious high quality shot paisley linings, and I chose gold shot with red.  Drama!

The other thing my black and withered heart required was [mock] astrakhan for the collar and cuffs, but the salesman drew a blank.  Sad face time.  However, a voice came from behind us, and the boss himself led me to a roll of lustrous velvety astrakhan, up in the upholstery section, which he said has been very hard to locate, this being an ex-designer end-of-roll.  Still twenty squid a metre though.  Bloody good job I only wanted half a yard!

So, a pricey project [the cashmere was FORTY squid a metre] but it will be worth it for such a luxurious, dramatic coat.  [I’m doing view D, full length, but with deep cuffs and stand collar in the astrakhan.  Yum.]

Can’t wait to start cutting…wonder if there’ll be enough to squeak a matching hat out of it?  I have a Japanese hat book that’s been taunting me for years….

24 thoughts on “A new Coat of…”

    1. Hope so! Big decision though- I keep reading blogs with folkses who ‘block fuse’ before starting sewing…I’m very wary in case there’s bubbling [even though I bought good quality fusible]. Do you think it’s really necessary to fuse the whole thing? I only usually do the facings/edges and add a teeny bit of tailoring with chest/back supports….

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  2. That cashmere looks fabulous! Can’t recall seeing the coating fabrics in Fancy Silk when I was there in October, but then a day in Brum at the fabric shops is always a bit overwhelming. I look forward to seeing how this coat progresses – I’m sure it will be divine.

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    1. Coat fabrics are ground floor, at the back on the left [alongside the fancy linings]. Floor to ceiling, quite an overwhelming choice! Let me know if you plan another visit, I’ll give you the guided tour lol

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      1. There is so much in that store, I never saw them there. Birmingham is a bit of a trek for me, but with the lack of shops round here, I try to make it up there a few times a year. Many thanks for the offer, perhaps in the New Year when I’ve reduced the haul I brought back from there last time. I can easily be persuaded…….

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  3. Will be so luxurious and snuggly to wear. Can’t wait to see your vision realised. Wonderful when you have a clear idea in your mind and can actually find the fabrics to execute it.

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  7. Oooooooo! This is going to be beautiful! I have yards of astrakhan in my stash because I went through a season of making little dress coats for my daughters, all trimmed in the stuff. A word of warning: you will be sneezing out the black ‘dust’ from the fabric for days. Totally worth it, though!

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  8. Following along when sewers start a new project just makes me drool!!! Using top quality fabrics and proper planning is orgasmic! Using red cashmere just takes the cake….can’t wait to see how your creative brain jiggles all this into something wonderful!

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    1. I must get it cut out and just sew it! I will underline for warmth [those playgrounds are COLD and my post has no shelter] but keep seeing people doing this block fusing thing. Should I bother or not? I will prob put some hair canvas into upper body because of the weight of all that wool…I don’t want to ruin the cashmere if the fusing goes wonky…

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