Jacket Challenge #6

Here is Jacket #6. Again using the Capri Jacket pattern from Textile Studio. This time I combined it with Grainline Gear 'My Favorite Things' vest pattern. I copied the the front styling but without any piecing.

I sewed a strip of the patterned fabric in the back with zipper 'piping' on either side. The zipper was from a jacket that I had to replace the zipper. The front was the patterned fabric with solid sleeves.

I again cut a larger back facing and added my monogram. For the hem I used a facing instead of turning up a hem.

All items were from my stash, metal buttons, crinkle linen that I had bought 7 1/2 yards on sale back in '07 and a handwoven(?) that I had gotten in a grab bag at some time that was only 34" wide. Not sure I like how this one turned out though.

See you next week with another jacket.

Jacket Challenge #5

Here we go with jacket #5. This time I combined the Capri Jacket pattern from Textile Studio with the Swing Jacket pattern from Country in the City. I copied the back with a yoke and pleat. Added cuffs to the sleeves and eliminated the v-neck and curved the top of the front of the jacket the same as the bottom.

Added a contrast 'placket' on the front right. Cream linen was used for the fronts, yoke and yoke facing. Tan linen was used for the 'placket', sleeves and lower back. A black, tan and cream plaid was used for the pleat inset and cuffs. Black buttons on the front and two buttons combined on top of the pleat in the back.

Since I still had fabric left I made a shell with the cream fabric with tan raglan 'sleeves' Sewed some cream trim over the seams on the front. I used Great Copy 1260 for the shell.

The best part was once again, everything I used was from my stash. The fabric had been bought to make some kind of outfit so long ago I can't even remember what I planning on using it for. The buttons on the back were in a jumble of mismatched buttons that I inherited from my grandmother.

I only have about 10 large containers of fabric stash left to try to use. How many jackets will I make? Not sure but it has been fun, watch for more jackets in the next few weeks.

Jacket Challenge #4

This is jacket number 4 from the Capri Jacket pattern from Textile Studios. This time I combined it with an old McCall's pattern, 7255. It was a vest pattern that I had made several years ago and I really liked the asymmetrical opening. The fabric was once again from my stash, a piece I had picked up at Libertyville Sewing Center. It was a pieced cotton so I looks like I did a lot of work but I didn't. I traced the new front onto the original front piece and also drafted new facing pieces.

I also drafted a larger back facing and added my initials. Then it was constructed as usual. Sewed the seams, serged them together and pressed to the back. Sewed the facing pieces together, serged the edge and sewed into place. Went together very quickly. Then added snaps for closure with lily buttons from my stash for decoration.

Then there was leftover fabric so I decided to make a matching purse. I used a pattern, The New Yorker by Purses by Design, I had picked up at the ASG conference in LA this past summer. I made view C and used handles I had bought at JoAnn Fabrics in the past. I had great difficulty sewing and turning the purse with these hard handles only to be told later that the handle can be unscrewed from the metal holder. That would have made life so much easier. Always learning something new.

Jacket Challenge #3

Here is jacket number three from Textile Studio Capri Jacket pattern. Over ten years ago I bought some winter white wool and lining to make a jacket. I had made an original one but shrunk it when I accidentally washed it. I never got around to making it and when I was looking at the pattern I was going to use I am glad I never did. It was a boxy, unstructured jacket and would certainly not fit now.

Some more digging through the stash revealed some lace, buttons and Ultrasuede strips that I was going to use to decorate a vest. I had bought these in 1993 (receipt was still with the items). Also in the stash was a beautiful needlepoint iris I had stitched out, again bought in 1993. I figure having aged almost 18 years they were ready to be used ;-)

I first centered the iris on the back of the jacket, stitched it down and then added a 'frame' of Ultrasuede. Added a lace strip down the front and the other piece of lace was used to make a 'collar' for the back of the jacket.

To line the jacket using a pattern that didn't have a lining I just cut the lining the same as the jacket. Then I finished the facing pieces with a turned under edge and just laid them on top of the lining pieces and stitched them down. I stitched together the jacket pieces and the lining pieces so I now had 2 'jackets'. I sewed them together around the facing pieces, turned and understitched. Then serged the edges together and hemmed as usual. Not the most conventional way to line a jacket but it was quick and easy. Added the buttons and then used snaps for closure because I didn't want to have to try to button through with all those different shapes of buttons that I had.