Weather Proof Jacket

Hoodie, originally uploaded by fmirela.

I had this fabric for more than a year. I started work on this at about the same time…just finished before an anniversary trip to Zion National Park this October.
Some would think of this one as a softshell…I think the fabric is rather stiff.

The fabric from Rocky woods mentioned in a previous post.
Gore® Soft Shell with microfleece liner – Grey
Water repellent, smooth woven face
Waterproof Gore-Tex membrane
Microfleece back
No stretch
I glued the stitches with Seam Grip to weather proof the little holes my sewing needle makes in the goretex membrane.

I used the reflective zippers and sewn zipped pockets, takes some time, but it is actually easier then it “seams”.

Finally happy with the coat and the fact that I got to see some colder weather and wear it.

Zero Waste

I always try to place the patterns differently than the pattern instructions, in order to use less fabric and maybe squeeze in another top or skirt or even a belt in there.
Remember my angels blouse with all the little cut out angles reapplied to the fabric?

But check out this wonderful design for a jacket with ZERO waste: http://issuu.com/foyacollective/docs/precarious_cut_workbook

And Oh!: http://issuu.com/foyacollective/docs/wolf_sheep_workbook

What do you do with all the scraps? I have a drawer full with scrap and I don’t quilt…at least not yet.

Jeans Jacket with Organza Embroidery

Mirela, originally uploaded by mariuspopovici.

This is my favorite jacket ever!
I have made it based on a La Mia Boutique pattern, I think it was the April issue, 2007, have to check. I like how the patterns in this Italian magazine are perfectly fitted, a lot closer the Burda patterns, this time I wanted to go for the tight fit.

I have chosen this slightly stretch espresso colored jeans fabric from fashion fabrics club, having a jacket in mind at that time, not sure which.
The ribbon is from Ben Raymond’s store in downtown Hollywood. Got it a long time ago, while old Raymond was still there, paid a good 20$ for it, but I had to have it. I was thinking of a silly peasant skirt back then. Unfortunately that little store is closing down, they still have some stuff for sale there, but you have to call ahead of time to see if the seller is there. Raymond has retired, and the owner of the Arts Academy of Hollywood bought some of “If we don;t have it, you don’t need it…” stuff. The number is 954 923 1950, in case anyone would like to call and visit.

My mother got me this La Mia Boutique magazine, I was browsing through it and the perfect project for both my dark brown fabric and my golden organza embroidery was there! Way better then my original ideas!

Since the embroidery was elegant and evening like, it is toned down by the jeans, and the other way around the jeans is lifted up, having a more elegant feel than the worker’s fabric that it is. I guess they even themselves out somehow.
I decided to skip the lining and chose to bind the seams with a silver satin ribbon.

I did the top stitching with a special top stitch thread and special needle with a larger eye.

I attached the embroidery using a gold metallic thread with another special needle, so that was really fast and the seam doesn’t show only if you know about it and you use a magnifying glass.

Hand basted on the sleeves:

These are my first bound buttonholes, against my fearful belief, they are not the difficult to make. I used Vogue sewing book for a guide, they show about 5 kinds of bound buttonholes.
They did not turn out perfect, the kind of opened up too much after hand sewing the facing…maybe next time.

Closed

Open

I’ve put a lot of work into this one. Usually I like fast projects, like those simple jersey tops, stuff that can be made in a day. The jacket took a week, working only in the evening and a weekend, but I like the outcome and have a few more jackets plans in the future.