JAM #4 - Simplicity 2958 Again

I like the versatility of this jacket and I knew I was going to make it again.  Although not from this fabric, since I have another piece picked out to use with this pattern for the spring/summer season.  Anyway, this piece was shouting loudly while I was rummaging around in the fabric closet so it became JAM #4:

Originally I was going to make a dress to wear with the jacket but I didn't have the right shade of green in my fabric closet (and for some crazy reason I wouldn't buy another piece), I'd also pulled a blue linen to go with the original but then wondered if the two pieces were too bright together...nixed yellow linen for the same reason.  I guess that was for the best since my vanilla silk twill dress works so well with the jacket:

Some stats:

Fabric:
2 yards of cotton lycra blend

Notions:
10 - 7/8" vanilla buttons
scraps of fusible knit interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply

The good thing about sewing with TNT patterns is that you don't have to think about the construction process.  You lay the pattern down, cut the fabric out and sew it up.  Because the construction process has been simplified you have time to play with the design of the garment...and that's how this version has a double row of buttons down the front.

As I was putting the front facing on the jacket, I was considering button choices.  I really wanted a quiet button since the floral fabric is speaking so loudly.  After searching through the button collection, I found a soft vanilla button that gave me the look I desired.  The final touch was to add a double line of topstitching to the jacket.  I used a twin needle and stitched around the entire jacket, as well as, the sleeve hems.

Now that I'm only three jackets behind in the JAM, I will get back to the PYT dress.  I need to do some pattern alterations to my TNT dress pattern to get the look of the dress I saw.  Also the PYT was wearing it belted, I think to take up some of the space, since it seemed a little loose on her...of course you know there won't be a belt on my version! *LOL*

A few more pics of me wearing the jacket & dress:

...as always, more later

JAM #2 - Simplicity 2958

This is my second version of this jacket (if we don't include the black doubleknit wadder!) and I've changed up a few details for this one.  I really like this pattern because it has good bones...the ability to be reimagined into whatever I feel like...and I already have a third version on the drawing board in a nice silk for summer.  I love, love, love the raglan sleeves which are becoming a personal fave of mine for ease of movement, ability to fit and for the way they look on my plus size body!

Some stats:

Pattern:
Simplicity 2958

Fabric:
Italian doublefaced wool from Metro Textiles

Notions:
Bias binding made from fabric
scraps of black silk organza for interfacing
1.5 yards rayon seam binding
5 - 1" buttons
12" of 1/4" elastic

Construction:
As mentioned in the previous posts on this jacket, I've changed the jacket fronts so that they have a button front.  I've also omitted the collar in this version, too...although I really like the collar and it will probably make an appearance in a future jacket.

This jacket is unlined since the fabric is a doublefaced wool.  I could have used either the lighter side or the black side but I went with the darker side because it fits into my wardrobe.  I also thought about using flat felled seams and making the jacket reversible.  This idea stayed with me for quite awhile but when I went to construct the garment, that idea just wasn't speaking to me.  So the darker side became the predominant one.

The sleeve hems seemed wider and fuller than on this jacket...maybe it's because I made them longer and to be folded back on themselves last time.  For this version, I could have taken the sleeve seams in and slimmed them down but I wasn't feeling that.  Instead I remembered a Vogue pattern where the jacket's sleeves had an elastic casing in the hemline and I thought it would be an interesting look.  So I made a one inch casing and added the elastic to it.  I love this look and it's different from anything presently in my wardrobe.

I also didn't use any of the facings provided in the pattern envelope.  I wanted a clean finishing that wouldn't clash with the inside of the jacket.  After fishing around in my bias binding trims drawer, it hit me that I could reverse the fabric and make bias binding that would be perfect for the jacket.  Since the fabric is a little thick, it was challenging to make the bias binding.  I needed a lot of steam and a very liberal use of my clapper to get it to lay properly but it was worth the effort because I like the effect on the jacket front.

Alot of buttons were auditioned for the front of the jacket.  I wanted them to be as distinctive as the fabric yet able to hold their own.  I had these buttons in a black outer ring/white inner ring combination but they faded into the fabric where these stood out but still mimicked the pattern of the fabric that was rather kewl.  I also made the buttonholes so that they run vertically down the front of the jacket instead of horizontally.  Again, something a little different from the norm.

The jacket fronts were interfaced with scraps of black silk organza instead of fusible interfacing.  Besides the choices I made to make the jacket my own, it was an easy construction...as always, I overthought the particulars but I'm happy with the end result...especially since it works so well with garments in my wardrobe...

...with my little black dress...

...with my black wool crepe pants...

...and with my black Burda pleated front skirt...

...nevermind the other three black skirts in my wardrobe.  So this is my second Jacket of the Month..only 10 more to go to reach my goal of 12 this year! *LOL*  And even though it's wool, it's perfect for the weather here now...because even though the calendar says spring...it's still around 30 degrees F. here on the East Coast.

...as always, more later!