Make Me Something Jacket

I bought some interesting fabric at the Knitting and Stitching show last October and decided I would try out  the coat pattern from "Make Me Something".

I had to modify the pattern slightly as I did not have enough fabric and so it is shorter than the original, and more like a long jacket.

 I could not decide which side of the fabric I liked best and so made the coat reversible.

There are no buttons on the jacket, though it could be fastened with a pin or broach.

When the jacket is worn open, the collar creates a waterfall look.

I added pockets on both sides.

Blue Linen Jacket

My sister Jeannie kindly agreed to model the blue linen jacket I made earlier this year.  The jacket is unlined with a draw string at the waist and hem.

You can see she really got into the modelling!

She actually did a brilliant job.  I wish she could model all of my hand made clothes for this Blog, but she lives too far away.

I was very pleased with the jacket and found it was straight forward to construct.

I couldnt resist putting this one in!

The pattern I used was this Burda Young number 7047.

Black Kimono Top

I bought a metre of black sheer fabric for £3.50 last year from Fabric land with the idea of making a simple kimono cardigan. I don't like sewing with this sort of man made fabric as it is hard to handle and this experience didn't change my mind. However the print was gorgeous and I couldn't resist buying it.

I couldn't seem to create a  perfect unpuckered seam even though I tried a couple of different methods.  When shopping I looked at commercial garments and found that they were just the same, so have decided that it is just the nature of the beast!

I folded the fabric over sideways with the selvages along the bottom.  I cut up the front of the cardigan to the fold and at this point cut sideways each side to allow for my neck. I removed some of the fabric to make a rounded area at the back of the neck and to shape the front to make a v shape.  I then removed an oblong of fabric from each lower corner to create sleeves.

I sewed up both sides and neatened with my overlocker and then turned back all of the other edges.

Black is a bit harsh on me as my skin is pale but the cardigan may be useful around Christmas time. 

I left the bottom edge raw as it had a pretty fringe along its length.  I sewed on some lack ribbon to hide the selvage holes.

Mauve Linen Jacket

I decided that I wanted to make a linen jacket in a loose track suit style.  I bought New Look pattern number 6142 which was really designed for stretchy fabrics. I made the jacket one size larger to be on the safe side but  I kept the length the same for my normal size 12.  The sleeves were also from the size 12 and I decided to make turn ups for a change as they turned out quite long. 

The jacket is quite roomy but I am pleased with the result. The linen was bought from Fabric Land for just £6.99 per metre and I was pleased with the quality especially for the price.

Blue Linen Top

I have been very distracted lately with moving, planning, selling and all the legal and other issues that go along with it.  I however decided to spend some time dressmaking in an attempt to use up some of the mountain of fabric that I have accumulated.  I forced myself to become creative and finally the bug bit and I well and truly started to enjoy myself.  The only thing was that in becoming excited and having to go and buy bits and pieces to finish garments, I have bought more fabric than I had before!

The  first garment  I constructed was a blue linen top that I have made before and is a modified pattern from the book Bold and Beautiful- Easy Sew clothes .  It is such an easy pattern and very loose and cool to wear.

I like to wear this top over linen trousers or jeans and dress it up with a scarf or colourful jewellery.

The pattern was a PDF download which I narrowed slightly and straightened the bottom hem.

Maple Cardigan - part six

With the sleeves and buttons sown on, the cardigan is finished.  I chose simple mother of pearl grey buttons as the cardigan has enough colour and pattern on it.

This cardigan has been a big challenge for me and I am pleased I unpicked the back and knitted it again. I am chuffed with myself!

The cardigan is quite short and I am long waisted but it still fits me. These old jeans are low waisted and so do not help! I think the cardigan will look best with higher waisted garments.

Maple Cardigan - part five

All the pieces have now been knitted and blocked.  I had to re knit the top of one of the sleeves as it did not match for some strange reason.

I sewed together the shoulders and knitted the neck band and then each side of the front pieces. All the cardigan needs now are the sleeves and buttons.

Maple Cardigan - part four

The sleeves knitted up much more quickly as they were only in stocking stitch.  As I went a long, I started to try and knit in some of the ends but this proved a bit bulky at times.

The first sleeve knitted.