Jacket

Yesterday was the Textile coffee morning at Thornham, and surrounded by all those lovely textile-y ladies, I always feel duty bound to wear something I've made.  It was a bit chilly when I went out, so I wore my newly 'pimped' charity shop jacket.  

I bought the tweed jacket a couple of years ago from a charity shop in Pokesdown near Bournemouth when I was staying with my cousin Annie.  I was attracted to the colours - purples and maroons - it was 100 per cent  wool, fitted perfectly and I seem to remember it was six quid.  Even better - when I tried it on, the pockets were still sewn up and I don't think it had ever been worn.

Its been hanging up in my wardrobe, awaiting transformation ever since, so this weekend I finally decided to customize it.

I changed the two plastic buttons on the jacket for two beautiful vintage glass ones  (they cost more than the jacket!) - and then I added an assortment of others, some vintage, some new. In fact, the purple heart button was one I'd made in my pottery class. 

I added a bit of vintage lace to one of the pockets, and some velvet ribbon to the cuffs, and a few tweed patches.  

Now I think about it, this must have been planned for quite a while as I'd bought a pack of tweed offcuts from FabricAffair at one of the Knitting/Stitching shows ages ago.

I also added a beautiful tweed corsage made by my friend Sarah Burt from the Thornham textile group 

Anyway, I'm really pleased with how the jacket turned out it and it got a few nice comments, and when we went to the Deli next door for more cofee, I remembered to get some photos for the blog.

Underneath the jacket I wore my first Esme dress from the Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Style book

Ignore the pose - I was getting advice from the group on the most flattering way to stand for photos - but it just looks as if I've lost a leg.  I don't remember that happening to Mrs Beckham.  Anyway, here's the alternative pose, 

and a close up - excuse the creases, I'd been sitting down for a few hours.  The fabric is a lightweight chambray with little stars on.  

I love the pattern - really easy to follow, simple to make, and I'll be making more from this book.

Jacket - The Courteeners