Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A New Challenge for 2011

I've been wanting to add more jackets to my wardrobe.  I watched in envy and awe and even admiration as Gigi made 12 amazing jackets this year.  Now I've stumbled upon a folder at Stitcher's Guild where they are doing a sew-along - Make 12 Jackets in a year!  I am so up for this challenge!

This challenge even goes along with the Pinstripe Follies collection I want to sew because there are two jackets in that grouping so I can make one in January and one in February and still meet my monthly quota!  Yes, yes and more yes!

This will also give me a place to go to discuss things, like when I make a silly mistake and don't think out my lining insertions ahead of time and then have to rig them to get them to work!  Jackets are the one thing that I don't believe I construct well so it will be nice to have others sewing along and providing assistance when I get lost.

The rules are pretty loose and are really just beginning to be discussed...and they are being very flexible about what qualifies as a jacket and whether it needs to be lined or not.  I'm just happy that I will have some fellow sewists to share my jacket challenges with and get guidance from!

So these are the first couple of jackets I'm thinking about making:

Vogue 1308 (OOP)
This one is in the Pinstripe Follies Collection


Vogue 7617 (OOP)
This one is also in the Pinstripe Follies Collection


The LaFred Maia Jacket


Hot Patterns Riviera Boulevard Jacket



Another Vogue 8623


One more Simplicity 2598

The rest will be decided upon as the year progresses...but I'm excited!  And this will be the one New Year's sewing resolution I make...to construct 12 jackets during the year of 2011.

...more later!


35 comments:

  1. Very nice pattern picks. Maybe I'll join in with you when you do the Rivera Boulevard one. I tried it earlier this year to no avail. 12 in a year - wow. But I know you are up to the challenge.

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  2. Thank you for urging me to join in. I am excited about it now. Once I realized that lapels are not a requirement, I calmed down.
    :)

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  3. Jackets are not all that difficult to sew. You'll gain confidence with each project. I'm looking forward to seeing all the beautiful results that you produce. Love all your pattern choices!

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  4. I think that is a wonderful challenge. I may have to join in on this one.

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  5. Oh, this will be great to follow!

    And maybe New Year's resolutions should always be sewing related. I could live with that. Good idea!

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  6. I'm in too! I will be making coats as well as jackets. I made several coats and jackets this year and love them! They really finish an outfit.

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  7. I have enjoyed seeing GiGi's jackets this year too. You will be such an expert on jackets by the end of the year and I will look forward to seeing each of your creations. I only wish I had a need for jackets, or maybe I would join in! However, I do plan to challenge myself with at least one. I want a boyfriend style jacket badly.

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  8. I get a lot of satisfaction from sewing jackets, but 12 in a year? I don't think I need that many. You have some lovely patterns in mind.

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  9. PS. I meant to tell you that Vogue 8623 would look fabulous on you. luv it.

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  10. Great Jacket choices - I look forward to watching your progress with this new challenge.

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  11. I love love jackets and I will surely follow you on this project

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  12. Nice pattern picks! I can't wait to follow along as you make these. Maybe I'll learn something myself. I've already made the HP one. I loved it and wore it a lot, but I didn't do as good a job as I would have liked to do.

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  13. Great pattern choices, I am working on the Riveria now. Good luck.

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  14. That's a great challenge! I especially like the OOP Vogue 7616 pattern, that's really gorgeous. Good luck with your jackets! I'm so looking forward to seeing your pinstripes collection!

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  15. Best of luck with the challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing them, especially the Hot Patterns.

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  16. I'm so glad you are joining the fun! I have had an absolute ball with my Year of the Jacket and can't wait to continue next year.

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  17. Jackets scare the bejesus out of me. I need you to do this for the encouragement. Post intriquite details.

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  18. Jackets scare the bejesus out of me. I need you to do this for the encouragement. Post intriquite details.

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  19. I love the sound of that "resolution". Great goals and quite naturally you'll inspire others to follow suit! I JUST appreciate your honesty in admitting that you want to improve in the way you sew jackets and that you're not an expert at it--(I'm currently sewing a jacket and I've figured that out for myself). Sometimes it's so easy to see an "exceptional" seamstress such as yourself and assume that you can sew everything "perfectly"! Your honesty ALWAYS inspires me (smile). I probably won't sew 12--but I'll definitely join in on the fun! Wishing you the best....

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  20. That is a great idea! You were commenting in an earlier post that you love to make dresses but now you have a lot of dresses . . . Now you can have a ton of jackets to go with those dresses. Love the Maia and Hot Pattern ones.

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  21. Good luck with you sewing goal for 2011. I'm sure you will make it with bravour!

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  22. Hi Carolyn,
    I have visited your blog on several occasions and drooled over your wonderful creations. I love your pattern choices and cannot wait to see what you come up with. Thanks for sharing the SG link. I'm going to jump in. With both feet. LOL.
    Angela

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  23. Hi Carolyn,
    I too watched Gigi's amazing jackets and stumbled across the same folder at Stitcher's Guild. It intrigued me enough to lead to my first actual post at Stitcher's Guild. I wear so many jackets that I'm joining in on this challenge. Unlike you I have yet to decide on what patterns I may sew.

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  24. What a great idea! I might think about joining in, though all I ever really make are jackets!

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  25. I will be doing this but not sure via SG. I haven't been over there to see how it will work. I was thinking of doing this in 2010 but never got around to it (story of my life). Anyway there has been some great inspiration in blogland this year - of not just jackets but sewers making plans and then actually sticking to them :)

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  26. Maybe I should do this, too. I have a very old Charles Jourdan pattern with a jacket I have coveted for years. I look forward to seeing your progress as you've chosen some really interesting jackets.

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  27. You've picked some great patterns and can't wait to see the special touches you add to each.

    This sounds a bit overwhelming for a newbie like me..My resolution is to sew at least one thing a month and to have at least one TNT (each) dress and skirt pattern by the end of 2011.

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  28. Good luck! I can definitely see you working this challenge next year.

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  29. I'm in too! I needed this very thing to get me moving in my work wardrobe. Thanks for pointing me to that folder at Stitcher's Guild. I'm starting with a few Loes Hinse jackets to get the mojo working. Then, who knows where I'll end up *GRIN* Can't wait to see your finished jackets!

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  30. I was obsessing over Gigi's jacket adventures, too. My favorite was her chic bomber-style Isabel Marant knock-off.

    You picked some fabulous patterns - this will be fun to follow!

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  31. What a great challenge! I'm excited to see all of the gorgeous jackets that you'll create this year. :)

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  32. I love the Vogue 7617 jacket. I've made 3 that are similar in velour to match skirt and top combos. I'm still flummoxed as to how to attach the sleeve fabric and lining together with the machine while it's inside out, so I can just nicely hand stitch around the back neckline and have no joining seams everywhere. Maybe it can't be done. Good luck making 12 jackets, but it seems that when you decide to do something, it just gets done!

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  33. Can't wait to see Simplicity 2598. I might pick one up myself. That one just begs to be made into an Easter dress in that exact color pink.

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  34. Well, I'm definitely up for your challenge. The pattern choices are fabulous and I can't wait to see what you make! Way to go!

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  35. I've been following your blog for a while now, but never commented. Thanks so much for the info on Gigi, her amazing jackets and the SG's jacket a month challenge. I signed up with SG just for this. I'm really good at making things for the house or other people, but not for me. This year, mama gets a wardrobe: jackets plus something to wear underneath!

    For someone learning to sew, you've done amazingly well with your dresses this past year. Can't wait to see the jackets in 2011!

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