Vogue 8795 Jacket, Complete!

All set! I finished it up today.

Much better now that it's complete, isn't it?

This jacket was a pleasure to put together, despite the exposed separating zipper. I made the jacket 2" longer due to the length of the zipper I was using. Although I added an additional 1" width to the side and arm seams, I ended up not needing most of it.

Here's a closer view of the collar and zipper. The drape is a single layer of the fabric, so that's the reverse side you're seeing, plus the selvedge edge. This photo also shows some sparkle--The fabric has silverly threads knitted in.

All in all, this was a fun project to make and I think there'll be at least one more.

Progress on the Marcy Jacket and a Class

The Vogue 8795 Marcy Tilton jacket is coming along. I've gotten as far as the collar. The zipper is steeping in a cup of hot water to eliminate any residual shrinkage, then I'll proceed with that part. Yes, I'm sewing out of order, but I can't see the guide sheet's purpose in having you assemble the entire jacket then insert the zipper. I want to do side seams after the zipper for two reasons: application will be simpler working on the flat, and I'd like to fine tune the fit.

Anyway, that's progress on the jacket. It still doesn't look like much on the dress form but I don't think it'll take long once the zipper is in

I haven't worked on it much this weekend, because I had a drafting class! Melisa had a class on drafting a skirt sloper Saturday at her store Stitchology, so that was most of the day. It was fun and interesting to start with a blank piece of paper and end up with a basic skirt pattern. And there is no better way to learn how to fit than by watching an expert work with different bodies. I am hoping to construct a "real" skirt soon, because that muslin will never see the light of day!

Another UFO Finished: TSW Ann's Cardigan

I'm not exactly sure how long I've had this one cut out; probably shortly after the first one I made last year. This version has a few variations from the pattern due to the nature of the fabric--a lacy mystery knit in white, green, lavender and navy that I acquired from Walmart some years ago.

I didn't have very much of it and the pattern is pretty busy, so the first thing I did was to eliminate the waist seam by overlapping the upper torso pieces and lower torso pieces at the seamline. Voila, that eliminated some matching. There is no shaping in the waist seam, so doing this didn't affect the fit of the garment at all.

Next, I realized I didn't have much in the way of fabric for the band, so I narrowed it and cut it lengthwise, and instead of folding at center back, I added a seam. And as a result of narrowing the band, I added 1" of  "fit insurance" in the side seams. If you take away from one place, you need to add it somewhere else, right?

I lucked out and found some matching T's at Kohl's this week so I'm good to go.

I already have the next project cut and ready to be sewn-the Vogue 8795 jacket by Marcy Tilton.

I'm using a sweater knit from Gorgeous Fabrics (yes! there's a glint of metallic),

and one of the separating zippers I bought recently at Santa Fe Fabrics.

*****

I've been playing with the blog's layout again. I think I like this one better than the last, although I have lost the "reply" feature on the comments. Stay tuned for more changes as I tweak. Hopefully Google will leave Blogger alone, because I don't want to migrate the blog and its contents. As to Reader, I am annoyed with Google but I guess I'll figure something out. Stupid Google--so much for "not being evil."