I’m working on another matelassé jacket, and kinda sorta wanted to do bound buttonholes. I used a crinkle polyester taffeta, stabilized with fusible interfacing, as the contrast binding and the facing on the centre front pieces of the jacket.
The matelassé is a gold/olive green/black weave in I guess what you would call a ‘patchwork’ pattern. The gold crinkle taffeta was the best match from my stash.
Can I just tell you that I decided to make bound buttonholes after the facing and collar was attached? I had planned to go the lazy machine-stitched buttonhole route, but after a series of trials on scraps, decided bound buttonholes would look the best. Instead of a straight-forward set of buttonholes, this became a fiddling-redo-rip-out-redo game, but I’m happy with the results.
What’s the best make-it-unnecessarily-difficult-extra-work decision you’ve ever made on a project?
Mezzo Couture 
The buttonholes look fabulous. I love the fabric, the jacket is going to look spectacular.
I look forward to seeing the finished jacket, that fabric is beautiful. I have had many unnecessarily-difficult sewing examples, since I can be bad about planning ahead or “leaving my options open” (almost always a bad strategy). Closures are generally the culprit, but bound buttonholes top the list, since they can’t be left to the end. You made the right choice, though.
Your garments never look like you chose the easy way out! I am learning so much from your blog; I am committed to make my first jacket after the holidays. What pattern is this? It’s just beautiful.
It’s Vogue 8600. I’ll be posting about it soon! Yay for your first jacket! I remember making my first (Claude Montana in the 80s) and being SOOOOO proud of it. If I can recommend a pattern for your first jacket, go with a Vogue because the instructions will very tightly hold your hand all the way through the construction process.
I am in awe of your fabric! Where ever did you find it! So beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing your finished garment.
Thanks! The fabric is from EmmaOneSock. She always has interesting fabrics. And she’s having a sale until tomorrow midnight, so go shopping!
Oh! Great! A fabric sale is a scary thing. 😄
I have to think about what is the best make-it-unnecessarily-difficult-extra-work decision I’ve ever made on a project, but, I want to say straight away that these are gorgeous buttonholes!
Amazing buttonholes! Using the lighter fabric really works to highlight your precision! The back side on the facing looks wonderful so you can leave the jacket open to show them off too!
I try not to have projects that take too long or are fiddly…if they fall into the category, they get forced to have “time out” for years in the aging closet.
Delicious! You were right to chose the road less travelled to achieved spectacular results.