January 18, 2023
You may love, or hate, or be totally indifferent about Mademoiselle Coco Chanel. She had good taste. She was an opportunist and a shrewd business woman. She was a woman who understood the power of mystery and the importance of discretion. She reinvented her past to elevate herself to the highest ranks of the society.
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November 14, 2022
The trickiest part of the Chanel-inspired jacket is the three-piece sleeve. I am sharing my personal tips on how to make perfect sleeves for your Chanel-inspired dress or jacket. But you can use the same techniques for your other projects.
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October 29, 2022
This sewing tutorial is about how to make a trim for Chanel inspired jacket or Chanel inspired dress. This trim has two contrasting fabrics and sew-on rhinestones.
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October 29, 2022
The principle of making couture rounded patch pockets is similar to the one you learn in shirt-making with the addition of hand-sewn lining and trim. This sewing tutorial is showing the step-by-step instructions on how to sew couture rounded patch pockets for Chanel inspired jacket of dress.
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October 24, 2022
This sewing tutorial with video will show you how to make beautiful couture patch pockets for your Chanel-inspired tweed jacket.
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October 17, 2022
This is the next part of sewing tutorials about how to make a tweed jacket inspired by Chanel. I will share the tips about how to sew the side front. We'll cover converting bust dart to ease, quilting, attaching the lining, attaching the pockets.
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October 10, 2022
This video is highlighting my tips for making beautiful handmade buttonholes on tweed dresses and jackets.
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October 03, 2022
This is the second part of Chanel inspired jacket sewing tutorial. I am using Vogue V8804 sewing pattern. This time is it all about the front piece quilting and taping.
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September 26, 2022
Learn how to make a Chanel-inspired jacket. This is part 1: Introduction and materials and supplies you need for this project.
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May 10, 2022
Why should I make a mockup or toile when I have a pattern? Isn’t it overkill? This concern comes up often so I think it’s important to clarify the importance of making a mockup, or a test run of your garment, also known as the toile or muslin.
Your mockup should be a shell of your garment that you can actually try on complete with zipper, collar, pockets, sleeves and any relevant pieces of detail, such as marked or drawn placements of your buttons and buttonholes, and even a rough drawing of applique, embroidery or beadwork.
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October 13, 2021
Just until a few years ago, I never even dreamed of making a Chanel style jacket. I didn’t dare to think that my sewing skills were that good. But after making a few vintage Givenchy and Dior garments, I was inspired. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I am now in the process of making my very first Chanel jacket. To get a touch of courage, I acquired great books about haute couture sewing, and particularly the books about the famous Mademoiselle Chanel. It was important to me to get the spirit of Coco Chanel in my first jacket.
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March 27, 2021
Cotton fabric is the king of affordable textiles and the beloved child of designers. It feels comfortable in all seasons, easy to sew, and widely available. There is some confusion about which fabric is best, which cotton can be used for shirts, dresses and even face masks. I wanted to dive into this topic and get the answers for you.
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February 26, 2021
In this article, I answer your most popular questions about learning to sew, like what age should you start sewing, can I teach myself to sew, can I learn to sew online, what should I sew as a beginner, can I sew my own clothes, how do I start learning to sew, how long does it take to learn to sew, is sewing an expensive hobby and others.
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January 23, 2021
I recently sat down with Marga (virtually, of course) to talk about her extraordinary life, her mistakes and triumphs, her challenges during the pandemic, multiple projects and her life lessons. Marga van der Vet, a beautiful 50+ model from the Netherlands, has contagious zest for life, unique business acumen, great intelligence and very warm and genuine personality. In addition to managing her professional portfolio, this bright and energetic model also has the website for aspiring dressmakers https://www.sewingchanelstyle.com/ in Dutch and in English where she shares how to make Chanel-style jackets and all about the Chanel brand.
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January 13, 2021
Microfibers are microscopic plastic fibers. They are shedding from both synthetic and natural textiles (Le), particularly from those fabrics that are short in length, or loosely spun or woven. Most microfiber shedding occurs during laundering. These plastic particles are so small that they cannot be easily removed and they flow straight into the rivers, lakes and oceans.
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December 28, 2020
The purpose of a lining is to cover the construction details of the inside of the garment, any unfinished seams and also to extend the life of your clothes. Historically, lining were mostly used for warmth. In the 1900s, the wool lining was featured on men’s country clothing and it was intended for keeping warm during shooting and hunting pastime. Contrasting lining on women’s clothing first gained popularity in the 1930s and it is still a favourite today. Let’s explore what lining fabric to use for your garments.
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December 17, 2020
Why is sewing so good for us? I looked into a sewing hobby specifically, but any hobby can have the same positive effects. Spoon-making or pet grooming are just as beneficial. Learn how sewing can reduce anxiety and depressing, potentially slow down Alzheimer’s disease and help our brain function longer, improve our self-esteem and meet the most amazing friends.
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November 26, 2020
Silk is the most luxurious fabric that we can think of and despite various cheaper alternatives coming up on the market, nothing beats the real thing. The silk noil and raw silk are often used interchangeably to refer to silk fabric with linen-like plain weave and slightly nubby texture. I wanted to find out more in order to understand the difference.
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November 06, 2020
Whether you are an absolute beginner, a hobby seamstress with little experience, or an experienced seamstress, the success of a project often depends on choosing a good pattern. Which sewing pattern is the best if you want to create a DIY Chanel jacket? We will help with a step-by-step guide.
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October 20, 2020
Fashion designers don’t think about buttons as simple closures and unusual novelty buttons are in high demand to draw attention to the garment or bring a little oomph to a simple design. Online shopping opened a world of rare baubles that you would never find at the local Fabricland. In this article, I will look at how the buttons evolved throughout history and the current outlook of this important fashion item.
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September 23, 2020
The hallmark of bespoke sewing is excellent fit and finish. Inside construction details, like correct underlining, lining and interfacing, are all parts of that. If you are just starting in sewing, you may overlook these important details or think that since no one can see them, they don’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. They play a crucial role in the look and feel of the finished garment. Let me explain the differences between these materials, their uses and little tips from the haute couture masters of the past that can teach even old dogs like me new tricks.
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September 13, 2020
Vintage sewing patterns are very popular. Not only because their value is high (especially when they are collector's items!) but mainly because many seamstresses also consider it as a sport to actually make clothes from the vintage sewing patterns. They make the clothes to wear themselves or for Cosplay and LARP events. But there are some common problems and we have tips to avoid them.
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August 31, 2020
Fil coupé means "cut threads" in English and it is a type of jacquard weaving technique which involves an extra step of cutting the weft thread on the back of the fabric. Jacquard weaving means, of course, that it is computerized patterned weaving. The fabric is a plain-woven background with some special effect pattern design. After the jacquard weaving is completed, the weft threads of the patterned designs are cut to make the fabric lighter and/or to create a special effect.
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August 25, 2020
I inherited this rug from my Grandmother who had a trunk full of these. I don’t know what material they were made from, but they feel very soft as if they were made from natural fabrics. This is an heirloom work of the old traditional weaver. I have one such rug in my bathroom, and it’s so pleasant to walk on.
I liked the texture and colour combinations of this rug and I always wanted to make something interesting out of it. And so I decided to make a summer jacket without a lining from this rug that looks as if it got bleached in the bright July sun.
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August 17, 2020
A crinoline is a kind of underskirt construction that allows a skirt to be worn wide, very wide and extremely wide. In the 19th century, they were an important part of everyday clothing. Today they are made for costumes for movies, musicals and events such as the Fantasy Fair. However, for Cosplay, they are becoming increasingly popular. And don't forget the Gothic and Steampunk!
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August 03, 2020
Why do we love the French Chanel jacket so much? Why do we want to know about the construction, the sewing techniques, the history and above all: how are we able to manage to make one on our own? A lot of reasons, not just because…. Our guest blogger and an expert in sewing Chanel-style jackets reveals 13 reasons why you should create your own luxurious Chanel inspired jacket.
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July 27, 2020
We often think of jacquard as a pattern woven on silk. The term jacquard actually refers to the automated weaving or knitting process and the type of woven or knitted patterned fabric produced as a result. This story traces the origins of jacquard weaving and explains this very beautiful textile art.
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July 21, 2020
The haute couture method of sewing buttons involves forming a rigid shank which keeps the button away from the fabric. The button should lie flat on top of the buttonhole without puckering or looking loose. Before you attach the buttons, you need to finish all buttonholes and mark the location of the buttons with a tracing thread.
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July 13, 2020
Almost every woman on earth dreams of having a Chanel jacket. A Chanel jacket is pure haute couture: sophisticated, perfectly fitting, timeless classic and very, very expensive. Sewing a Chanel-inspired jacket yourself is like sewing a wedding dress. A long process and you need to have a lot of sewing experience. But it should not be a dream. It is possible and we will help you!
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July 09, 2020
So you purchased your very first vintage pattern and you are excited to get started and make that unique piece that is going to wow your friends and colleagues. At this point, you should take a deep breath and stop for a moment. I put together a few important tips on how to start sewing with vintage patterns so you can avoid the mistakes that I made.
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July 08, 2020
Facings are used to finish the raw edges of neckline, armscyes, sleeves, pockets, etc. They literally “face” that part of the garment. When you design a garment, part of your planning includes the closures and the finishing you will use. If you don’t have a collar or a cuff in your design, for example, then facing serves as an elegant finishing to the raw edges of your creation.
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July 01, 2020
Silk is a very beautiful and expensive fiber and fabrics made from it, such as chiffon, georgette, crepe de chine, fine atlas silk and others, are difficult to cut and sew. I will reveal some dressmaking tips and tricks which will help you to overcome these difficulties.
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June 18, 2020
With such an abundance of polyester and cotton fabrics available everywhere, it’s easy to overlook the oldest fabric in the world, the humble and noble linen. But it wasn’t so humble in ancient Egypt and up to the First World War when linen had a very prominent place in the fashion world. Because it is so absorbent, silky and cool against the skin, and at the same time extremely durable, it was the best choice for undergarments and clothing for hot and humid weather. In ancient Egypt, linen was considered a symbol of light and purity.
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June 04, 2020
If you have great eye-seam allowance coordination, you are very lucky, but for the rest of us, making sure that you stitch the precise 5/8” could be a challenge, particularly when it comes to sewing around the corners. One wrong millimetre and the entire piece would look asymmetrical. Let me show you my trick for turning perfect corners on collars, belts, pockets and anything you like.
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