Hello All,
April Mohr, Threads Editorial Secretary has suggested that I join this wonderful forum and enjoy its many benefits.
I am currently obsessed with a Marni jacket – worn by Sarah Jessica Parker – Sex and the city – Season 5, #6 photo – cream jacket with black lines on hem and flowers on body, lace trimming on sleeves.
Can anyone offer suggestions on how I may do the flower embellishment?
Edited 5/16/2004 7:24 pm ET by Dragana
Edited 5/16/2004 7:33 pm ET by Dragana
Edited 5/16/2004 7:34 pm ET by Dragana
Replies
Hi, like to help you with that, however, the link says the picture is not available or they have move it. Tell me a new place to look for the jacket.
I did a jacket once with artificial flowers that I took apart and sewed on by machine in a row around the sleeve end and then embroidered seed beads by hand. I think the flowers I used were dogwoods and I put three gold seed beeds in the center. the cuff turn up was pale pink shantung on a reversible chocolate brown shantung. It was striking and got loads of comments.
The link pulls up an HBO site. Click on Sex in the City, then click on The Look at the top of the page. This brings up a page that lets you select the season. You can then click through the photos of that season.
HTH.
Ginna
Thank Ginna for your assistance on the HBO web page.
Any ideas how I can do the sleeves? Layers of lace.
Dragana
I would apprecite any help I can get. I am so obsessed with this jacket. I just have to have it.
I have ordered 2 books from Taunton press to see what my options are.
Any ideas are more than welcome.
Yeah, I agree about the stiff fabric comment, it looks like silk organza that has been cut in circles and folded in half and painted with either dye or fabric paint in a gradient way. I perceive the ribbon as black velvet 1/4 or 1/2 inch wide laid down with railroad track sort of embroidery thread. Everyone that looks at that sees it a different way, which is great! The sleeves I would just take some more of those organza scraps and gather to the cuff, unhemmed. Yippee! the base fabric for the jacket itself would have to be raw silk. Run with it .
Sorry I have already closed out the sight for the jacket before reading the question about the sleeves but for the flowers I think I would use a wide silk ribbon and play with it to form the flower itself and then embroider by hand the stem. It also looks like there are some beading around the flower. For the flower stem it looks as if they wrapped some thread around a yarn or something similar and then couched the stem down on the jacket. At least that is how I would aproach that part. Good luck and post some pics when you get it done.
I like that jacket! I may try to make a copy myself.
The flowers look to be an applique of a thin fabric (from what I can tell in the photo). Something like gauze or organdy, perhaps? I've been searching for another photo that might be clearer, but the designer's site is "under construction", and the Firstview photos don't include that particular piece.
Shannon
OK. now I am getting the picture . Please explain some of the terms: what do you mean by "couched" the flower?
Would you cut the petals out of a wide silk ribbon and glue on or applique on? Is the stem in black silk ribbon and worked with a stem stitch?
I thought the black dots could be black silk ribbon "knots".
The black lines on the hem are possibly part of the fabric, but I could sew on black silk ribbon in neat rows?
Choice of fabric: Linen or suggestions?
Thank you all, this is so much fun.
I'm guessing the original is some sort of a smooth textured medium weight cotton, possibly with lycra. It doesn't look wrinkly enough to be linen. I'd consider a stretch cotton twill, maybe a white denim or a poplin. If you want it to be a bit dressier, you could use a silk/linen.
Shannon
Thank you for the alternate fabric suggestions.
I have replayed the video over and over to get a better idea of the flowers.
The petals are sort of loose and it appears that the motif is worked on something else and then applied to the jacket.
Would it be difficult to do silk ribbon embroidery on a tight weave? I have never done any silk ribbon embroidery. Threads have many articles on the subject and I have ordered two books on embellishments.
Let me know if you decide to make the jacket and how you will do it? I am mad about it and just have to have it.
To answer some of your questions the term couching means that you will sew it down basically doing a zig zag stitch back and forth across the cord or what ever you are couching down never really catching the piece being couched in the stitches. Also having had a chance to look at the picture again and without being able to zoom in on the details the sleeves look not much different than regular set in sleeves but it looks as though there is some ruffles peeking out of the sleeves (perhaps to mimic a blouse cuff under).
This looks like the jacket fabric.
http://www.manhattanfabrics.com/catalogue.cgi?ddisplay=310
Thank you very much for the suggestion. I wonder if they ship to Australia?
I have also done a lot of research and now know how I will do the flowers.
Joan Shay has written some books re flower Applique on quilts. The method is definitely the way I will be doing the flower embellishment.
When I get this jacket finished (in a few months) I will try to post a picture.
Thank you all for your ideas.
Welllllll......I got busy and made a version of the jacket. I did not leave the flowers loose, but decided to do an applique flower. I used twill tape for the stripes at the bottom, rather than a separate piece of fabric. I have yet to put the facing on the front and do the hems...I'm really pleased with the look of this.
I used a cotton pique with lycra for the body of the jacket. The stems of the flowers and the bottom stripes are of the same twill tape. I used beads for the "dots" around the flowers, and did some silk ribbon lazy dazy stitches where the base of the flower meets the stem. Because there is so much applied work, I've decided to line my jacket to hide all the embroidery ends on the back. I'm pretty sure the original is unlined. Research of other Marni pieces would indicate that most, if not all, of her jackets are unlined.
I'll try to put a photo up when it's complete.....it's a great jacket!
Shannon
Your Jacket sounds wonderful. I would love to see a picture of it
Can I ask some questions? What is cotton pique with lycra? Is it like linen with stretch? or wool with stretch?
I was thinking of doing the same with the black stripes. I was going to use a shiney black ribbon, width 12mm(probably polyester). What is twill tape?How did you mount the tape for the stem? What size beads? Did you use Embroidery Floss for stem at bottom of flower?
Elisabeth in these discussions has suggested the manhattan fabric site and I have found some wonderful looks. and YES they do ship to Australia..
I have not started yet on my but will keep you informed.
Edited 6/4/2004 6:19 am ET by Dragana
Hello Dragana , Are you in Melbourne? I am .I have enjoyed this jacket discussion very much i love the design but think you would have to be willowey with all those horizontal stripes?????
Yes, I am in Melbourne. Caulfield.
I love my sewing. Especially when I can copy designs I see. and yes Sarah Jessica Parker is rather thin. I would not wear my dress that short. but I love the jacket and cannot wait to make it. I am doing all the research at the moment. Have been sewing and patternmaking for years, but have not attempted much of the craft type stuff.
I am being inspired by the Marni and other designer labels.
Are you going to the Stitches and Craft Show in September at the Caulfield Racecourse?
Hello Dragana, I think I might have spoken to you once about your pattern making classes????? I am in Brunswick. I might get to the show.I have young children and work and seemt always have no time although I HAVE to sew or I get rather tetchy so maybe i might take it that bit further and go!What is your opinion of it?
I can relate to what you are saying. I work full time, run some part-time classes and have 2 children. Hubby stays home and looks after the kids and the household.
The Stitches and Craft show often have workshops on some of the techniques. This year I would like to go and do some. I am getting board with just sewing and tailoring. I want to embellish my clothes or even just make some nice cushions for the house.
Will keep you informed of my progress with the Marni jacket.
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