i’ve done a lot of work on the french cardigan (or chanel-style) jacket. typically, this jacket involves couture techniques including a quilted lining, hand-closed seams, a stitched chain along the hem, and elaborate trim and buttons. the average amount of time to complete one, after fitting, would be about 70 hours.
all of these things may sound scary but they are completely do-able! it just takes finding your own rhythm and giving yourself permission to take as long as you need to. of course, if you are like me, that doesn’t help – so there is also a “shortcut” method. i’ve tried both with excellent results.
vogue 7975: seventy hours well spent
return to camp chanel: day two, day three; day four
forgive me, susan khalje, for i have sinned: “shortcut method” experiments
WIP updates: little (or long) french jackets
butterick 5952: cry hallelujah, it is finished
la coco, elle est terminee
bonus jacket: butterick 5952, shortcut style
resources:
the little french jacket sew-along
the classic french jacket: 70 hours to the dream
the go chanel or go home blog
threads magazine #121
threads magazine #128
susankhalje.com
patterns:
vogue 7975
new look 6028
Burda 02/2013 #102
Burda 06/2013 #123
Burda 11/2010 #104
Burda 03/2012 #109
StyleArc: Classic Chanel Tweed suit
StyleArc: Coco Jacket
StyleArc: Lorie
Burda B8949
Burda B7934 view A
Butterick 4028
McCalls 4311
Marfy 3182
Marfy 3220
Marfy 3045
Marfy 3056
Marfy 2417
Marfy 2922
Marfy 2920
Burda 7115
puu's door of time 
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