[Tutorial] DIY Fur Collar

Winter is Coming!

I bought a DKNY wool coat at Goodwill for $10. And it's really nice and all, it just needed a little spicing up! So I decided to use my faux chinchilla fur I've had for forever to make a fur collar to go on top. And it is just enough to make the coat look fabulous.

The Inspiration:

  via Emerson Fry / via Boat People Vintage

DIY Fur Collar Tutorial

You will need:

Faux fur (mine is from fabric.com)

Heavy interfacing (I had heavy fusible interfacing around)

Lining fabric (from the  scrap pile at Joann Fabrics)

Pattern paper (or old wrapping paper, like I used!)
Good fabric shears

Pins, needle, and thread
Sweater clasp or fur hooks (in the button aisle)

Let's get started!

Pattern WTF?

For your amusement:

Because everyone wants a furry chest, right?

My All-Important Opinion: BurdaStyle 12/09 and 01/10

The Burda Review: December 2009, January 2010

Ah, the beginning of an age: my very first sewing magazine was sent to me for free (!) thanks to those nice Germans across the pond. It came in the mail, and in my hands I felt such power--so many patterns in one little package! It was seemingly impossible; I was probably drooling. Though my excitement was a tad overboard, the 12/09 issue didn't completely disappoint.

Some of the "party" clothing was a bit, how do you say, raunchy? Hoochie? Stuff that you haven't seen in ten years, and even then was on someone of "questionable" taste? Yeah, there was some of that. For example, Exhibit A:But for the most part the other stuff was just "not my style" if I didn't like it. There was one that was quite pleasing, the 106. It's in petite sizes [rawr!] but I'm sure I could figure out how to finagle it. It's just too good: the one-shouldered goodness is too much!

This one was cool, but wearable? Unlikely.

I need this cardigan. So badly. I have a cozy sweater knit picked out and everything! So simple yet so...usable! (It's the 119)I dunno, this jacket is really cool. The length would be awkward on me but I don't really care. It's still cool! You'd have to be a top stitching god to get it perfect though. (Burda 111)
And so, I was eager to see the next issue, and it just so happens I got a year subscription as a Christmas present! Heck to the yes.

The whole white on white thing was weird, and you couldn't see like ANY of the clothing, but I really liked this dress (103).

Ah, then we leave Miss All White with blonde wig-looking hair and instead follow the newsgirl reporter in her fab, home-sewn olive/black wardrobe. This shirt (113B) looks super low (!!) but the mix of jersey and poplin is so clever. Of course, I'd change it to poplin and satin, but no matter. It says "Hello, I'm a German model-gone-news reporter who does indeed sew her own clothes!"

I don't care how tall or skinny you are: these pants probably look good on .01% of the population. Ankle length: impossible! Pleats: unnatural! WHY then, do I still find them attractive? I must love this color far, far too much (It's the 106C). Obviously I don't have corporate meetings with my student body of guys who wear their pants at their ankles and girls in the land of the yoga pant (though I do adore yoga pants, I feel so conformist), I think that this blouse, the 121, is awesome. The collar, French cuffs, really spiffy in a stripe, too (I'm jealous of their fabric choice!).

Plus Size gets all the fun! Look--how adorable is this girl?! Freakin' adorable, that's how much. Any size would be freakin' freakin' adorable if they had this top. Seriously.

It seemed Burda 01/10 could do no wrong, but then I realized they hired the Crafty-DIY-Demon-From-Hell. He or she can take perfectly classy items and incinerate everything they stand for with just a snip here or there. I give you....the horror!

Letter to the photo editor: please attempt to choose flattering pictures of children when they are smiling without balloon strings in their faces, even though no child would look happy in that costume. Thanks ever so much.

Ohh, this was so much fun! I'm sure to do more soon.

While my iron heats up:

I'm redoing the hem on my coat. Once that's done I'll post a zillion pictures--I'm so proud of everything but the hem right now!

I have recently been really fascinated by Colette Patterns, since the creator just put up a free mini bloomer pattern that you print out just like a BurdaStyle pattern...

Aren't they darling?

I can only imagine how cute your tush looks if you felt asleep in these as pajama shorts...ooo those give me the heebie jeebies! And you only need a wee bit of satin...flannel backed perhaps? YES.

As for the rest of the site, Colette sells beautifully revamped vintage-feel patterns, all modeled in 40s and 50s glam and adorable fabric. And look--curves! I am a big supporter in the idea of size healthy and using all types of body shapes for modeling clothes...as long as the person looks good in them!

The Macaron pattern is my favorite. If I bought any, it'd be that sucker. That faux strapless look would be hideously gorgeous with a top of chiffon. *Deep sigh* But that particular fabric love affair is for another day....

Aren't the models absolute bombshells? And just think--anyone from size 0 to 18 can look fabulous in them!

Anywho, back to ironing. The hem is improving!

What I'm stalking right now...

I am currently on the hunt for the most amazing high-waisted jeans pattern ever.
It has been strenuous, hours poring over patterns, but nothing looks quite right. I put on my camouflage pants and a bandana and headed out into Joann's. Nothing. Not one poor creature with even a hope of being perfect. They're all scummy mom jeans. [!!! There. THERE! I said it. Forgive me, beloved pattern companies.] No one wants pants that come up to your belly button unless you look hot in them. Seriously.

And just when I was ditching the idea completely, it hit me.

From BurdaStyle there is a pattern that just might be brilliant...

Can you say ciao, Bella!? This is the Bella pattern, which, alas, is not one of their free patterns, but for $4.00 it is so worth it. Now if only I had a credit card...ha. I mean, look at how the waist is high but not frumpy: genius! The legs are loose to ward off the m*m jean effect. This one they made is a little baggy...but that isn't a hard fix. The pleated pockets concern me...but if I hate them that's not so bad a fix either. In any case, definitely more in-jean-ious than a lot of jean patterns out there. Oh man, do I crack myself up!