Friday 11 November 2011

Vintage style jacket

Here it is, here it is!! My first ever jacket!



I'm pretty proud of myself with this make.  After two muslins (my maximum number I'll ever have the patience to make, I've now decided) the fit is nice and slim and the length is just right.  Having arms about the same length as a T-Rex, being able to get the arm length spot on is very satisfying.

Ah, satisfaction
The pattern came from the Built By Wendy Coats and Jackets book and whilst the basic shape of the pattern is fine, I did have to make quite a few alterations to get it to fit me.  I deliberately used a book, rather than a commercial pattern, as I wanted to try to learn as much as I could about jacket construction before attempting a commercial jacket pattern.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to absolute beginners though - even though there's a good amount of detail on making and adjusting your pattern, once you start constructing your jacket, the instructions are pretty sparse.

Although there are lots of jacket making skills I still need to learn, there are a fair few I can now tick off my list.  I feel like I have at least a basic understanding of jackets, which will give me a bit more confidence when I venture down this path again, perhaps trying my hand at this elegant beauty….?


So, on to the jacket itself.  The main fabric is a reasonably heavyweight wool I found by some miracle in my local charity shop.  The buttons are plain, 1940's utility buttons from eBay and I lined it with a teal/duck egg satin lining.  As documented here, I loathe and detest slippery lining fabric, but this one didn't behave too badly (it wouldn't dare, the look I gave it whilst I was cutting it out was terrifying).


I improvised with the collar as there wasn't a pattern for the shape I wanted - the result isn't bad, just a bit bulky under the top edge.


I made my own facings and after a few false starts, managed to create a successful three way party between jacket, facing and lining. Hoorah.

Behold my beautiful lining
Despite my surliness towards the lining, I loved the feeling of first trying on the jacket and sliding my arms in.  It felt so luxurious and professional, I just had to repeat it a few times (make that 20).

The bottom edge of the lining fabric was very prone to fraying, so I attached it to the main jacket with bias tape.


I did the same thing with the sleeve lining too.


Because the fabric was such a bargain (£3 for three yards of the grey wool and £1 a metre for the lining in a closing down sale), I did initially view the whole project as a practice, but once the lining was in, I realised that this was a jacket I could easily wear out and about.  And being grey with a light blue lining, it will go with most of my handmade clothes.  A pretty good result for five pounds I think. Have a lovely weekend. x

37 comments:

  1. Wow, that's amazing! It looks great on you - colour, fit and everything - and for such a good price! The idea of making my own jacket is vaguely terrifying, so it's really interesting to hear about the process, thanks. Maybe one day...

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  2. You SHOULD be proud! Awesome, construction on it. It's beautiful.

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  3. Your jacket looks very pro! I love the colors, too!

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  4. Jane, your big smile in these pictures sums this project up! What a great success, you're so talented to have worked from the book and to have drafted your own collar and facings. The fit is perfect on you and the colour is just gorgeous! A garment to be truly proud of methinks ;o)

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  5. Wowzers! Classy stuff Jane. I'm not brave enough for a jacket yet! Welldone indeed!!
    Px

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  6. Wow!! It's gorgeous! Hope you get loads of wear from it.

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  7. It's beautiful Jane, and a complete bargain as well as a work of art! I've not been brave enough to have a go at a jacket yet so major kudos to you!

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  8. Wow - Jane this is FAB! well done! you should be proud - such an acheivement. It fits so well and looks so good.

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  9. Wow, Jane that's fabulous - great work! As you say, not bad for a fiver and looks lovely too!

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  10. That is great, I'm not ready to attempt a jacket yet so you should be so pleased with yourself, its lovely....

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  11. Jane I love it! I really adore the colour combo too - so nice. Can I ask how you worked out the lining or was that included in the book instructions? I'd love to add a lining to mine but not quite sure where to start. Beautiful job - how happy are you right now eh?

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  12. Aw thanks everybody for your lovely comments. Joanne, making a lining was included in the book instructions, it's basically just using identical pattern pieces to the main jacket and tweaking them. Sewaholic did a really good tutorial on Tilly's blog when Tilly was making her jacket which goes through everything step by step. http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/2010/10/sewaholic-tutorial-drafting-jacket.html
    Hope it helps and yes, I am very happy! x

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  13. It looks amazing. Congrats. That is an awesome accomplishment.

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  14. Oh Jane this is lovely. You should be really chuffed with this. It's a great colour too!

    How easy is it to work with wool on a sewing machine (or did you use an overlocker)?

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  15. Respect to you Jane, a masterpiece and at SUCH a bargain price too. Looks great on you, and just my colours so I love it all the more.
    Happy weekend to you too.
    Kate x

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  16. Beautiful jacket! Inspiring!

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  17. The last shot shows the beautiful color of this wool. I bet it is lovely in person. It would look great paired with jewel tones. Lovely job on your first jacket.

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  18. yay!! jane, it looks AMAZING! definitely doesn't look like a five-pound jacket, and especially not a first-ever jacket! i am so impressed!! the lining is such a pretty color and i think the bias tape adds a really nice touch. love love love this. can't wait to see you make a million more jackets ;)

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  19. It looks fantastic Jane, well done!! And definitely worth more than a fiver, even if it cost that :)

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  20. I LOVE the bias tape at the bottom of the lining - sweet and professional. You've clearly done a tidy job. And it will go with your snood! (Not that I am encouraging you to cover up your collars, oh no!) You do look utterly delighted.

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  21. A fiver? It looks a million bucks. Great colour, great fit. Well done you!

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  22. ooh fab thanks for the link Jane :)

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  23. It's beautiful, Jane! I can't believe you got this wool AND the lining for under £5. major score!

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  24. Wow, that's a tricky project you've tackled there, and it looks awesome. And nice and warm! Well done!

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  25. Thanks again everyone.
    Law, the wool was fine, it was quite a stiff fabric though, not stretchy like jersey, so it behaved itself. I just used a robust needle as it got quite bulky sewing around the collar and facings. I used my normal machine, as my overlocker is still (ahem) in its box....!
    Karen, surely you didn't think I chose the colour of my snood at random? I wanted it to match my lining all along (seriously)! x

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  26. Such a beauty of a jacket! Very nicely crafted!

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  27. congratulations! its really lovely and you did a marvelous job!

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  28. Woot! That looks like a "real" jacket! You have every right to looks so proud and pleased!

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  29. Jane, what a landmark! It's fabtastic and I love the vintage styling you've gone for- I know how much you must have had to do for yourself, having this book too. It looks like a wardrobe staple! well done again! Just in time for the weather!

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  30. Hi Jane! I love your blog and your projects. Nice jacket. Sewing tailored knits is a real challenge. I am starting a sewing linky party today called Sew & Tell Saturday at my website and I am hoping to get some vintage sewists aboard to post their projects because there aren't any sewing linky parties to show off vintage creations. I hope you can come over and post a link to your blog today! Thanks so much!
    Justine @ Sew Country Chick

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  31. Nicely done. The shape and colour suit you very well. Your handstitching is couturish (my new addition to the sewing dictionary!)

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  32. Great work, Jane! Making a jacket feels like such an accomplishment, doesn't it? I love the way you attached the lining with bias tape - it looks really neat. xx

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  33. Excellent job :-) Love the colour on you. I dont think I would ever be brave enough to make a jacket and so am doubly impressed with yours ! Bargain score on the fabric too ! x

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  34. you clever thing! I am very impressed with the make, and with the charity shop bargain-ness of your fabrics. Love that lining and the bias tape too, yeay for handmade:)

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  35. So lovely. And what a bargain! I can't believe you managed to find wool in a charity shop! Its such a lovely shape and I love that lining colour x

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