Project Minima:

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

My My My Myiake

I made it!  The Issey Miyake coat designed for Vogue patterns (1476) some 20 years ago.

~ Some things just get better with age, yeah? ~



I was so intimidated to even try it.  Plus it takes 5 yards of wide fabric.  And there's only 2 pattern pieces that don't resemble anything wearable.  


~ it looks exactly like the pattern picture ~

While it turned out to be a quick sew, it was quite the elaborate cut out.  I had to move out the chairs and table from the sewing room so I could work on the floor for this one.  I mean the one pattern piece was ginourmous - like 60" by a zillion I think.  And there was no way I could work that on my 3 x 5 foot table (I tried).

Gadding about on hands and knees from one end of the wooden floor to the other...now that was a whole 'nother adventure that I don't care to encounter again.


~ gadding about in style ~

The fabric I used was a dark gray double-sided fleece I bought at Fabricmart.com.  But it acted more like faux fur in it's shedding capacity while cutting it out.  shoo-wee.   It was extraordinarily soft and lightweight.  One side has longer napped fleece than the other, but both sides show in the design of the coat.

The big pockets are amazing.  I did raise them about 2 inches according to other people's reviews on the Pattern Review site.


~ dramatic bat back view ~

I also added wide elastic to the sleeve hem to bring it in a bit and not have it so accessible to the cold wind.  They're not tight on the wrist at all.  I didn't use the sleeve facings then.  I also didn't miter, top stitch, or hem anything because it was, after all, fleece and therefore, unnecessary.  That's why it was such a quick & easy sew.


~ whoa, the big reveal ~

Ladies, I'm also wearing:
  • hat handmade by Viv X
  • embellished fingerless gloves handmade by Elaine 
  • embossed suede with satin trimmed vest handmade by moi
  • chiffon print dress handmade from Tina Givens Adelle pattern
  • herring bone sox from Sox Dreams
  • golden Fluevogs from ebay


Seems this coats turns out to be one size fits all, more or less.  Just check out the pix after the break!


~ ala Viv X ~


~ ala Sara ~


~ ala Tony ~


~ the show stopper ~

With that I'd like to thank Sara for photo-ing all, and the models who were marvelous.

I hope I'm not to late to join the Visibles at Patti's Not Dead Yet StyleAnd Catherine's I Will Wear What I LikeAnd Cherie's Shoe and TellI think that about covers it.  I never seem to match up with Anne's 52: pick-me up, alas.  I either can't plan ahead that much or be that spontaneous.  I don't know which.

Hey, I'm wearing hats!  I can finally join Judith's Hat Attack on Feb. 1.  See you all there.




28 comments:

  1. I've had that pattern since it first came out and never made it. You found the perfect fabric for it! A warm and wearable blanket for sure.

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  2. Brilliant!! This is piece is jaw-dropping, plus you can fling it about dramatically. Five stars for the floor-crawling, heh. Your models are also all stellar but the first pic of you - such an imp!

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    1. Moi? An imp? ahh, but it takes one to recognize one, eh? My imp-sister.

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  3. Oh oh oh oh oh oh. So gorgeous. You remind me of a rich lady traveling first class on an ocean liner in the 1920's. So cozy and chic. Definitely posh.

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    1. You mean the Titanic? Yes, it was probably a coat like that that sank it, I'd say.

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    2. Ha ha. No. A nice ship like the Queen Mary. Is the title of this post supposed to be sung to "My Sharona"? Because I can't get it out of my head!!!

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  4. Fabulous coat! Issey Miyake patterns always look scarey - I'll take your word for it that it was easy. I love it anyhow.

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    1. Now, wouldn't it look lovely made out of an old quilt...

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    2. You are so right, I hadn't thought of that. Mine usually go for beds for the dogs but you've set me thinking..

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  5. Fantastic coat! I really like the way you styled it with the metallic shoes. Looks unexpected on a man!

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    1. Yes, but appropriate too, don't you think? Just need's longer sleeves and lower pockets.

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  6. Oh I love it! Particularily love the fashion show! Miyakes are always my TNT, from 1980s to now. My goal is to make the sleeping bag coat 1859: literally a comforter/sleeping bag with arms.

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    1. I luv that coat (the sleeping bag one) and have even been tempted to try it without a pattern (rolls eyes)! I've only made a couple Miyakes so far. They are amazing. I'd luv to see what you've done.

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  7. omg, best coat ever - so glad you did it and now we get to envy it. Fab-u-lous. xo

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Just what you need in Florida. Perhaps in a nice silk chiffon.

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  8. These big blanket coats are the best. They are so easy to throw over anything to add that extra layer of snuggle. Especially when made in fleece!
    I remember cutting out a window blind on the floor when pregnant...never again!
    Thanks for your comment about inspiring others. Been feeling down about the blog. Your comment was perfectly timed!
    Making plinka pants in self dyed silk for pettipants...yuuuuum!
    Xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Made out of the natural dyes you've been working with? That will be amazing and wonderful to wear.

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  9. i remember that coat when it came out!! and i adore it!!!
    though i do not like fleece made of poly-animals i see that this is a good idea - such mountains of fabric would be very heavy in a wool!
    anyway - you did a brillant job!!! and your rosy dress underneath is gorgeous!
    xxxxx

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    1. Yes, no poly-animals were killed in the making of this coat. Were they?

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  10. I am just so impressed that all of the pieces of your outfit, excluding footwear, are handmade! I love dramatic pieces like that coat - Way to Go Pao!!

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  11. I just loooove seeing your coat on such a variety of models! :o)

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  12. Breathtaking! You are brilliant. The coat is a piece of art and you look fabulous in it. I was SO happy to see you pop up on my screen for Hat Attack. I see that you're wearing two hats in this post, which thrills me. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  13. Really nice! I am always on the lookout for affordable Issey Miyake paaterns (an oxymoron, I know) and this one is a beauty!

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  14. Great coat! almost makes you want cold weather!!

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  15. This is one of the best versions I've seen! It has made me want to make another version for myself. My first was in a soft, navy wool fabric that I picked up for cheep in my local market. I used to wrap it over my daughter when she was a baby, carried in her sling. It kept all manner of English weather away from the both of us. I eventually used it to make a smaller coat for one of my girls. The second was for my older sister, I think someone in the family 'borrowed' it. I've not seen it since the 90's. I made the shirt for myself but she took a liking to it. It looked better on her anyway!
    Now where's that Miyake pattern......

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