I made a smoking jacket for Samuel for his birthday. (It was his idea and I ran with it). So here it is. It is probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever made, and also my first piece of menswear. The reason it was difficult is because it is a tailored garment, and has lots of easing involved and shaping and such. It has some mistakes, but only the kind that I or someone really experienced with tailoring would notice. It was fun to make, but I don’t think I will be making normal men’s jackets or anything in the future. Though they are basically the same as this, they are kind of boring to me. And difficult. This jacket was exciting because of the fabric and because it is a Smoking Jacket. It isn’t really in the traditional colors (generally maroon or bottle-green, though there are certainly exceptions) and I was originally thinking of green. But Samuel likes blue, so I kept my eyes open, and when I could not find any green fabric that I liked (he likes green but not red), I found this lovely navy stuff. So that is why it is blue and gold. I made it all without Samuel seeing any of it, even the fabric, though he did know that I was making a smoking jacket for him. Today is his birthday, so he finally saw it and tried it on. It fits very well and I think he looks quite good in it. I used the Folkwear pattern “Le Smoking Jacket”.
My mother-in-law sent me four yards of sapphire dupioni silk and someday I am going to make my own version of this dress.
Soon I will be posting about my short cloak that I made with some beautiful wool fabric I got from my parents for Christmas. It is finished except for the closures. I wanted to make a cloak that did not look like a costume, and I think I succeeded. Sure, it does not look like what you see every day, but I like it. I personally am trying to make cloaks, shawls, and other drapey garments come back in style.
For Easter I am going to try and re-create this dress that Helena Bonham-Carter wears in Big Fish. I have the floral chiffon already, and a pattern I found on ebay is coming in the mail. I am quite scared of the chiffon, it is difficult to work with and I have never used it before. But I have almost a whole semester before Easter and I can ask people at work for advice if I have problems.
Christmas vacation means time for sewing!
I know that Samuel and Avram have wanted smoking jackets since they lived in the Bird and the Bullock together; Avram will be jealous Samuel has his, now. Unfortunately, I can sew, but you love sewing in a way I don’t think I ever will. The jacket looks great, though, and very smoking-jackety. Good luck on your dresses. You should post a picture of your cloak, too.
Oh. My. Word! That is the smashingest thing there could be! He is a smart husband to have you sew smashing things for him.
You should keep sewing men’s-things! You could actually get rich, I think, seeing how much men’s tailors charge (and that they never make anything so smashing).