Jacket or not

[Manuela]

@Greybird, that was me. I had a dispute with the pattern designer about it. She argued that it would be possible to shrink/shape 7cm of excess fabric across a pattern piece that was less than 30cm wide. That happened a number of years ago on the Stitcher’s Guild - in the old forum, before the ‘incident’.. The last we heard from her in the thread was that she is not supposed to discuss her patterns on an internet forum 
The pattern is not bad, but the steam shrinking/shaping step across the back needs to be omitted. The shaping can be done easily at the seams.

[Greybird]

Thank you @Manuela - I knew it was something like that. I am relieved to know that my memory isn't always letting me down!

[Gernella]

As things currently stand there will not be much movement on this project until October, although I have ordered the lining.

Thanks for the tip on stay tape @Manuela I have roll of it that will do nicely.

I shall have to content myself with gathering information and looking at videos.   I watched one last night that made it look so easy, although she did use metal furrier hooks.  Another one used a buttonhole machine.  Trouble is sometimes if you watch too much you frighten yourself to death. Better to just go for it, which is more my style.

[Manuela]

@Gernella, don’t worry too much about the buttonholes. If you don’t want to make hand worked ones, machine made keyhole buttonholes* will do just fine. I’m not a fan of contrast linings in Chanel style jackets, hence I didn’t see the need to do the buttonholes according to the instructions - I also find there rather ugly. I made my jackets with plain handworked buttonholes, they almost disappear in the boucle.

* I personally find 4-step buttonholes appalling in jackets and coats. Then again, others are happy with them 

[Gernella]

I was going to make them @Manuela I don't fancy my machine on this fabric for buttonholes,it can get snooty with 'good' fabric. I don't really have a problem with them although I have got lazy. Occasionally when I've had a duff one with the machine, rather than pull it out I've usually finished it off by hand.  In any case I think these will disappear into the fabric.

I've also made another purchase.  Size 18 for this freaks me out.  The last time I went for a size 18 in Vogue was for a dress and I was climbing up to 12 stone.  I finished up having to cut big chunks out of the sides to get it to fit.  Now I'm around 10st 8.  I also have narrow shoulders and short arms (so the short sleeves should fit me nicely).  So I've  decided to make a toile for the body first.  That should take some worrying out of equation.