After finishing the oversize bomber for a friend, I really wanted to make an oversize bomber for me. Yes, I have made many bomber jackets for me over the years, but they have been considerably less generous in width and, especially, length. I wanted this to be big.
I didn't feel like doing patchwork for this, though. My last visit to the craft thrift store had turned up some dark pink toned wool bouclé, which the previous owner had cut sleeves from, then folded the sleeves and everything back up and did no more with. I figured I'd make a blazer from it...until I decided I wanted to make a big bomber. I knew the existing cut sleeve wouldn't be wide enough, but I figured I could use part of it, and add a seam to make a mock two-part sleeve.
There was the big question of which knit to use for the bands. I have a lot of a pale salmon-y pink (also from the craft thrift store) that does coordinate, but I didn't like the idea of having lighter bands with the dark shell. On a whim, I dug out what was left of the chintz print knit (used for a dress, a shirt, and in the patchwork cardigan) and tried to judge if it would coordinate well with the wool. (Yes, that knit fabric is also from the craft thrift store.) I decided that it didn't matter if it coordinated well--I just liked the idea of using it.
And then, for lining, I decided to coordinate with the floral print, and use the light blue charmeuse I picked up at the craft thrift store the same day I got the wool.
It is, perhaps, a bit more luxurious than I planned. That's always nice.
