Becoming a Jacket

I am beginning to feel like I will have a new jacket soon.  I made lots of progress this weekend.  The jacket unit is complete; next is to sew the lining pieces together and attach to the jacket!!

Here are a few photo shots of the jacket in progress on Alma Marie.  Alma Marie is a little large than I am and she has much broader shoulders so the jacket may look a little distorted.  The last sewing I did earlier today was to attach the sleeves.  I plan to insert sleeve head before attaching shoulder pads.

Front on Alma Marie, unzipped

Back view on Alma Marie

Close up of welt; no pocket bags attached.

I am on vacation and holiday next week; my hope is to complete the jacket before DH and I spend time with friends for Thanksgiving.  I hope to be able to wear this then.  The weather has turned cold, not cool; so I think this will feel nice for a day time event.

I have enjoyed this sewing project.  The fabric has been great to sew with, I ordered it from Mood back in October 2014.  It is a Marc Jacobs Italian Wool Tweed.  I have not sew a jacket in a long time and jackets were items I made a lot.  More to follow.

Front jacket is complete

Here is the front pieces pinned to AlmaMarie.  I used the welts but did not sew and insert the pocket pieces.  Many reviewers say the pockets are rather small.  I misplaced the pattern piece and it is lost in my sewing room somewhere.

 The zipper on the left side (right side below) is basted then sewn to middle front piece.  The right side zipper is basted (left side below).  When the lining fabric is sewn to the center front facing piece, this zipper side will be fully stitched in the sewing step.

I am loving the feel and the sewing of this fabric.  Thank you Mood Fabrics!

B6169

I made some headway with Butterick 6169,  I made all the fitting adjustments to the numerous pattern pieces.  I cut fabric and then started on the lining pieces.

I decided to go with golden color for the lining.  I pulled brown and black which is the predominate colors you see when you look at the fabric both real and in photos.  However the lining I chose brings out the golden specks in the fabric.

I started cutting out the lining pieces and have more to cut yet.

I have been sewing such easy knit tops and dresses, that I forgot how many pieces a jacket may have. Then there is the lining fabric to cut.  Nonetheless, I am excited to be sewing this pattern.  I need to update jackets in my current wardrobe.

I hope your sewing weekend was productive!

This and that sewing

I had sewing plans for this weekend.  Due to illness on Friday and only partially well on Saturday I did not get all plans completed.

My snap setter from Amazon arrived as predicted on Tuesday, today I attached a Black Metal Snap to B5789 and it is now complete.  I took some shots of the snap and will post another when I wear the knit jacket.

The SnapSource snap setter is really a nice gadget to use when you want to add snaps to a project.  They have several sizes, colors and designs to choose from.  For this fabric I found the snap was a better closure piece than making a buttonhole.

I finally also completed an infinity scarf using the instructions from a Nancy Notions's booklet on making several styles of scarves.  This scarf was made using left over fabric from a McCall's top with color, fabric was from EOS.

And I completed making pattern adjustments to McCall's 7019.  I am making View B with View A's peplum which is not longer in the back as the other views.  I have the fabric cut out and ready to sew.

Hopefully sewing plans will be back on track soon.

Last and first garment

I actually had almost completed this cardigan-M6844-but still had some sewing to do the next day (1-1-14) so I guess this will be my first project for 2014 as well as the last project I was working on for 2013.

This is View A and pretty much all fitting adjustments were made to this one and pattern pieces have been adjusted now also for the next version.

Here is the back

I am not sure if I will wear this all that much but I did use up some of my stash.

I have cut out the knit boucle fabric and it is ready to sew.  I am making View C with short peplum.  I just got home from visiting family in Danville so no sewing this AM; I will be in the sewing room soon after posting this.  I need to get machines set up and start sewing.

This is an easy sew and now that I have done it once the second one should go smooth even though it is a different view.

I will share my fitting adjustments and hopefully take a photo of me wearing this later today/tonight.

Cordova progress

I finally finished making numerous pattern fitting adjustments this evening.  I started on these last evening.  I had to make my usual forward shoulder adjustment, 1.25 inch FBA.  Just these two adjustments required numerous pattern pieces to be adjusted.  Other adjustments included narrow back and adding additional width at hip area in the back.

The separating zipper I had on hand just was not the right one for this jacket.  I did not want metal teeth zipper for this jacket.  This required a trip to JoAnn's where I found exactly what I needed. 

As noted previously the fabric is one I acquired from EOS  over a year or more ago.  I had black lining fabric in the stash as well.  I am now ready to cut out the jacket fabric and lining.  More information later.

Next up-jacket and dress

I fell in like with Vogue 8799 when new spring patterns were introduced.  As any good Club BMV member would do, I waited for a sale and purchased this pattern.  I have not made a jacket since the faux sherpa jacket this past winter. Thus making this jacket will be a new adventure.  I also plan to make the dress as well; this too will be an interesting journey as well

After arriving home this evening and having some free time, I visited the sewing room to look at knit fabrics and patterns thinking I would make one more top for the Starting at the Top sew along.  I just was not feeling the love for any of my knit fabrics that I have in the sewing room.

I was feeling the love for several woven fabrics and decided that I was going to start to work on making some other items.  This pattern was laying on the top of a stack of patterns and that led me to finding the recent "tangerine" cotton herringbone fabric I recently purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics.  This will be the jacket.

This is fabric I purchased in 2011 from Sawyer Brook and the orange is close match to the jacket fabric.  This is a woven cotton with a raised pattern.  This will be the dress.

The back of the pattern envelope states this is an unlined jacket nor does it reference that the dress, top, pants or skirt are lined.  However the pattern pieces clearly states how many pieces to cut of fabric and lining.  This was unexpected so I will be going through my lining fabric to see if I have the appropriate lining or do I need to purchase tomorrow.

I have cut around the pattern pieces, but have not begun the pattern fitting and measuring yet.  I have worked up an appetite so decided it was time to fix a small dinner for me.  More updates later.

Back view

Back view, a photo by Danvillegirl on Flickr.

Here is view of back. The exposed seams will be trimmed to 1/4 once all fitting is finalized.

Jacket progress

I made good progress on the Sandra Betzina's Vogue jacket pattern over the past two days. All the seams have been sewn
after basting and fitting. I took a 3/4 seam for the shoulder seams. I did not take my usual 1/4 inch horizontal tuck in the upper chest area. I will probably take deeper seams in the front seams; this is the great thing about princess seams, the ability to make easy fitting adjustments.

After my search for the perfect gray zipper, I decided to go with the brown. The medium gray zippers were a good blend with the gray fur, but the metal zipper teeth were just too much of a contrast. I have stitched one side of the zipper and that is where I stopped the sewing for the evening.

Will upload photos soon.

Lining pinned and ready

The lining to the Butterick skirt is pinned and ready to attach.  All I need is few moments of sewing time. 

My next garment is going to be a jacket, this one from Sandra Betzina's Today's Fit pattern line.

Photo from Vogue Patterns website

I purchased some lovely faux leather/Sherpa fabric from EOS.  I was going to use a KS pattern that I made a jacket from before.  DH was really pushing me to make this one, which is rather unusual in that he normally does not suggest patterns for me to make that often.  I need to get started with this as I plan to have it completed to wear in our ASG Annual Fashion held at our annual holiday event.

I have some vacation time coming up around Thanksgiving so will have some extra sewing time, I hope, during that week.

More later.

What next?

I completed the Butterick skirt this AM.  Decided that I needed to do some culling out of sewing debris and went through a huge bag of patterns in my sewing room that I will either sell or give to Goodwill.

I want to make this Butterick jacket, the view at the bottom right.  I have enough of the tobacco/camel wool fabric as well as the black.  I am thinking of making the sleeves in black and the rest in the other color.  I want to wear the jacket with the new skirt; but I am thinking that just may be too much color blocking together.  I think that doing that I could still use the jacket with other black pants or skirts. 

I would really appreciate your feedback about this. Is it to much color blocking? Please take a moment to comment.  Thanks.

Without further comments

Here are a few photos of the finally completed Butterick 5460 jacket and dress:



And without jacket:

So glad to get this completed.  I just could not move on from this until done. 

Is this the right jacket?

My plans were to make the jacket that is included in this pattern.  I am not sure that I really like this jacket; I do like that it is loose and not so fitted particularly when the weather gets warmer. The fabric I am going to use is this one from Sawyer Brook, a silk rayon woven. 



I fell in love with this fabric the first time I saw it on the website.  I acquired this piece in January/February during one of their sales.  It is perfect with the fabric used in recently as well as another piece or two I have in collection to sew this spring/summer.

I am just not sure if this is the right jacket for me.  Sometimes I think I look lost in this types of jackets-that is those with drop or no shoulders.  Yet another jacket I am drawn to is similar.  Decisions, decisions.

More later.



Another item for Goodwill and moving on---

The McCall’s dress is complete except for hemming.  I will not be keeping the dress as I just don’t like the look of it.  Even using a size 12 in shoulder/upper chest area, the neckline is just not flattering on me.

I just did not feel like handling it again and trying to make it work.  I am just not feeling the love to continue to work on it.

So I am moving on to the next project.  This will be Butterick dress and jacket.  It is Butterick 5460. I plan to use this fabric acquired from EOS earlier this year.

The jacket will be made from this fabric, a silk rayon purchased from Sawyer Brooks in January or February.

I cut out the pattern and pin fitted it to determine adjustments needed.  Of course the usual swayback and FSA were necessary.  I also needed 1.5 inch FBA. I also added some width to the front armsyce area as I did not like how the sleeveless area was sitting at the front.

I have the thread, the zipper and I am ready to go. 

Wearing KS 3764

I took the opportunity yesterday to pose for photos of me wearing the completed KS 3764 jacket.  I still have to get snaps for the bottom waistband.  I am wearing clothes for work so this is not a planned outfit just only to see how the jacket looks when wearing. 

I learned a lot from the making of this jacket and should I make it again I would do some things different with the front closing zipper.  It works as per the instructions but I think I would prefer the zipper to go the full length of the front lapel.  Enough said.

Front view

Back view with zipped sleeves



Fully zipped up, a cold weather look



Side view

My next project is going to be a knit top, hopefully a quick and immediate gratification project.  More updates later.

Quick update

I trimmed out the armscye in back and front on the jacket bodice.  I re-attached the sleeves and I have a much better fitting jacket.  I can see the end in sight!  So many sewing ideas and so little time.  Taking advantage of 10 incremental minutes to work on this.

Response to pattern info questions

Gail enquired about the pattern I am working on.
Linda, which pattern are you using for this jacket, please? I just never know what you're working on! Thx.



Gail D.

I forgot I changed the WIP photo on the right that showed the actual pattern.  The pattern is KS 3764

Progress but not complete

I had hoped that I would finish the jacket today; but I am not going to finish it up.  After inserting the sleeves and basting the side seams for fitting, I decided that I needed to tweak the fit in the upper back area as it was too wide as the armscyce was not falling into the right place.  I did some more basting in the back as well as front armscye areas.  I decided I needed to scoop out about 1/2 inch in the back and about 3/8 in the front.

Having to do some household chores as well as prepare some items for dinner, the jacket is again waiting for me.  So I have to reattach the sleeves, sew side seams, attach waistband, and attach snaps and it it done!!!!

There are really a lot of moving parts with this jacket.  My next jacket is going to be a simple and easy one to tackle-I hope and that's the plan.

Sideview-wip2262011

Sideview-wip2262011
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

Side view of the jacket. I am liking the look.

zipper pocket and zipper closeup

zipper pocket and zipper closeup
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

Close up look of the front zipper and one of the zipped pockets. I thought they turned out well; had to fiddle a little to get zippers centered. I used the embroidery thread to stitch the zippered pockets.