Friends, I simply must share with you what followed me home from the flea market this morning.
I'd always thought a vintage wool blanket would be perfect for the Japanese pea coat/winter jacket I'm making, and this morning, a vendor was selling a pile of old camp blankets for a very reasonable price -- especially if you purchased all three.
Readers, I purchased them.
First, there's this blue wool, which is huge. It has a few tears, but nothing I can't cut around. I love the color and the wide stripe. Of the three, this one has the flattest weave. I wish I knew more about how it was made. It's a little darker than it appears in these photos, sort of a weathered denim.
I almost skipped buying the next blanket, and you'll understand why I went back for it when I show you the third. It's pine green and has more of the fluffy, slightly felted feel of a typical wool camp blanket. It is also huge, i.e., more than enough to make a full coat.
It made me think of this beautiful coat, which I'd pinned onto my sewing project inspiration Pinterest board only yesterday.
The third blanket seems to have been cut in half, but there's still more than enough to work with. Actually, it's almost better that it's cut, because otherwise I might not want to hack it up.
There's a mysterious tag on the edge where it was cut:
 |
| Rainbow 43? |
All three blankets:
While I could make a whole coat from any of these, I was thinking of possibly color blocking. This is from Kenzo:
Here are a few others:
A solid coat is still a possibility, of course. The best thing about these blankets is that they have that weathered look that's nearly impossible to find in new fabric (done well), other than stonewashed cotton.
In closing, I'm off to find six things to get rid of. Then it's time to start sketching.
Happy Saturday, everybody!
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Wow! Those are beautiful. The colors! Do it like the yellow one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and I love your inspiration board. Whatever you do, I just know it will be fabulous.
ReplyDeleteNice haul! This will be interesting to watch.
ReplyDeleteReading 'colourblocking' in the title of your post, I was highly skeptical, but I like many of your inspiration pictures. Basically, all those which have just two blocks… In fact, I've been thinking along such lines myself for this winter (mostly because I have some sunflower yellow coating which I love but which doesn't love my complexion).
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend doing sketches. If you have any skills in something like Illustrator, if would come in handy here because it would allow you to use pictures of your real fabrics, those lovely camp blankets, as 'color swatches'.
If you are less than 6'8", you might want to rethink that color block stuff. The blankets are woderful. Color blocked clothing is for the uber-tall and uber skinny.
ReplyDeleteYes, it can be done, but you have to be careful with the proportions......getting the right balance of color for your height is crucial!! I've done color blocked sweat shirts and it takes a sharp eye to see things in three dimension, getting that balance of the two colors is crucial.
DeleteWhere have you been scorpionblue?
DeleteWe've been missing you and your heart of Blass.
Oh my, blanket envy from Blighty. Gorgeous textiles.
ReplyDeleteJean x
I've never seen a color block peacoat before but I'm totally digging it!
ReplyDeletewonderful haul---wish i could find such treasures
ReplyDeleteI love the color blocking! I was just ruminating on the same idea on my blog. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteThe stripe in the one. Will make a block of its own. Love the pattern but have no idea how you would use it except in very small doses so you don't see sea shells which would be strange on a winter coat.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a color blocked coat! I can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what fabric you planned to use (thought I must have missed that bit). How exciting, with or without colour blocking.
ReplyDeleteSpud.
wonderful blankets, great idea. I think the two greens would look fab together if the proportions are right. Will be unique!
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a great find. I love the idea of colour blocking the coats - what colour combinations will you choose. You will have to make sure you use a similar weight fabric to block with otherwise it might feel strange or affect the drape of the garment.
ReplyDeleteHave fun making your snuggly winter coats ; )
This could be amazing!
ReplyDeleteA very exciting find. The green inspiration coat is so fabulous that it almost seems a shame not to use it for the entire coat, but you excel with fabric mixing, so once your muse speaks to you, the results will be gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYou are a fabric acquisition magician.
ReplyDeleteooh, I still need a winter coat (mission impossible to find one I like) and I was just looking at cape patterns (since a coat seems too much for my sewing skills). This might be an idea, thanks!
ReplyDeleteNeat! I'll be watching to see how it turns out. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! What a find! You were meant to have these blankets for your coat project. I'll be watching for the finished product :)
ReplyDeleteGood purchase! The color blocking idea is genius. The only issue I see with it is that it is very fashionable, meaning that in a couple of years it will be OUT of fashion. I suspect you won't care, though.
ReplyDeleteThe vintage label with the campfire motif is so awesome! Maybe you'll consider removing it and making it a part of the finished design. A little soak in oxyclean will brighten it right up.
ReplyDelete