Butterick 5469 -- Coming along nicely

Right on the heels of one lined jacket is another.

Like the last jacket, this pattern and fabric were purchased last year. I need a jacket to wear with a RTW skirt from 2008. I didn't wear the skirt at all in 2009. In 2008 it was too big but I pinned it at the waist and wore it anyway. Although I haven't tried it on, it should fit fine now without the pin.

I thought the fabric was a linen blend but it has more linen qualities than blend. It wrinkles like mad. Hopefully, once the lining is added it will curtail some of the wrinkles.

As usual I had to make a 1" FBA but for the first time ever, I had to make the alteration on the front piece instead of the side. I used Fit for Real People for reference. I folded out a 1" wedge on the front lapel and rotated to a dart under the lapel to prevent the lapel from gapping.

The only problem I've had was operator error...oops...that's nothing new! Seems I may not have needed my usual wide back adjustment. I've pinned out the excess.

It will be a simple alteration because the lining has not been sewn in. Barring any other faux paus on my side I could possibly be finished with this no later than Thursday.

You know you have too much fabric when...

You know you have too much fabric when...

You're lusting after a piece of fabric but don't buy it because you know you already have too much fabric. Thank goodness you stick to you guns because when you're looking through your fabric closet you "find" the piece that you've been lusting after already in your stash!

So how do you know you have too much fabric in your stash??

McCalls 5815 -- the finale

I finally put the finishing touches on this jacket and if I must say so myself it turned out wonderfully. While I originally thought I would add pleats and buttons to the top of the pockets,  I decided to omit them. To get the pockets to drape like the pattern, I applied steam directly to the pockets while the jacket was hanging on my dressform. I used a unit called the Steam Fast. I'll upload photos of me with the jacket on in the near future. Today was not a hair and makeup day!

Pattern Description:

Missess' lined jacket: semi-fitted below waist have shawl collar variations, princess seams drapey patch pocket and shaped hemline

Pattern Sizing:

4-20 -- I cut a size 16 in the neck shoulder and armhole gradually going out to a 20. I'm glad I made this pattern because no plus-size sewers had sewn it to date.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes, I think my jacket look exactly like the pattern. Although I initially couldn't get the pockets to drape like the pattern, after using a steamer, I think the pockets are pretty close to what they should be.

Front

Back

  

Pocket close up

Were the instructions easy to follow?

The instructions were easy except took a while for me to be able to wrap my mind around how to make the tuck in the center back neck.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like jackets just below the waist and the princess seams made it easier to adjust for my DD cup size. The lapel detail is what attracted me to the pattern and was not a disappointment.

Lapel close up

Fabric Used:

A linen and polyester blend. Although this fabric raveled like mad it was very easy to work with. I used some satin from my stash for the lining.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As always I started with a 1" wide back adjustment and followed that with a 1" FBA. I  had to take about 3/4 from the neck opening to prevent the neckline from gapping. I didn't adjust the collar pieces and it didn't present any problems during consruction. I usually add fleece sleeve heads to lined jackets and did the same on this one.

Sleeve heads

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I doubt that I will sew it again but will keep it in my stash just in case. I highly recomment it to others.

Conclusion:

I intended to make this jacket last summer but never got around to it. Better late than never!

Up next is either Simplicity 2703 or Butterick 5469. I'm leaning more towards the Butterick pattern because it's lined and I'm in the mood to make lined garments!

On the weight loss front, I only lost 1lb this week! I stuck to the WeightWatchers program religiously and was somewhat disappoint that I only lost the 1lb--but 1lb is 1lb. I will say that early that day I exercised for about 1 hour and drank nearly a gallon of water! For some reason these days I cannot get enough to drink. I will continue to follow the program because it is very easy to stay on track and I really like it. I am going to focus more on losing inches than on a number on the scale.