All posts filed under: Outer Wear

My Colette Albion #2

Published by

Remember the ARRRHHHHHH moment in the first installment? I eventually pulled myself together, and several deep breathes & days later I had a plan.  Here’s some more pix of the Albion: VERDICT: This is the best casual jacket I own, but also the most expensive.  When I was 3/4 of the way through making it I ran out of thread (soooo much stitching to do – buy 2 spools if you intend to make the unlined version).  I called into Boyes in Brighouse, about 7 miles away, for a second spool.  On the way home I had a bump in my car (my fault) which ended up me paying an excess of £400 to the insurance company!! Hence the very expensive coat. It’s not put me off it though.  It’s roomy enough to wear a thick jumper underneath, but looks equally good withjust a thin top underneath. I’ve lost count of the number of  “No! You didn’t make that!?” moments that I’ve had. Not including the cost of my car, and the pattern, this jacket has …

Colette Albion #1

Published by

A few weeks ago I bought a Colette pattern – the albion jacket/coat with the intention of making it for my hubby.  As we sewers do, I spents hours some time looking on the net for ideas.  I couldn’t believe how many versions there were out there for ladies.  This caused me to think that I didn’t want my hubby thinking I was making him a jacket as a practice run for mine, so I decided to make one for myself first! I had some cotton herrinbone twill in my stash, which I bought when I was in Cornwall in August 2013.  Perfect! I bought the accompanying ebook Companion from The Coletterie to help me along, and I soon had all my pieces cut out and a narrow shoulder adjustment made.  (I don’t have narrow shoulders, but I made a one armed muslin and decided I needed to loose a good inch due to it being a man’s pattern.) I even made all my own bias trim!! I didn’t go for the continuous method. I just did it …

Mum does a runner with my New Victoria Blazer

Published by

I’ve spent most of the weekend making my 2nd Victoria Blazer from By Hand London. (Link added in case by some crazy chance you’ve not heard of those talented London Girls who make fab patterns!). As usual I was struggling to find a photographer so I called at my mums. Before I could hand her my camera iPhone she had my jacket on and was away down the garden! She gathered speed when she realised I was hot on her heals: So here’s my mum modelling MY new Victoria Blazer: I did eventually recover my blazer, but I think when I get round to making Victoria No. 3 it will be for my mum! Back to the nitty gritty…..’how did I find this pattern?’, and ‘what changes did I make?’ LOVE the pattern! Who couldn’t or wouldn’t?!?!   I bought it (only a month ago) after spending the last 8 months drooling over all the Victorias around the blogosphere I really didn’t know what to make it with. I wanted a soft denim one, a …

Plaid Victoria Blazer BHL #1

Published by

I’m desperately in need of a coffee break after a morning pattern matching my latest project – my 2nd Victoria Blazer. My first one is unfortunately not blogged as yet (soon to be), totally different to this one, and 2 sizes smaller as I made it in a ponte knit. Here’s a peak of it in the cutting out stage…. Some major decision making went into this one, choosing where to place the embellishments. ….back to today’s project…. About 2 months ago I bought this light weight wool mix (definately wool as it smelt of sheep when I washed it!) from Dewsbury market for £4 per metre. What a bargain! Turns out to be a second, I found a few holes in it today when I came to use it, but as I bought 3 metres I’ll be able to work round them. Holey moses! Not quite a bargain after all! Not sure why, but I tend to be make life difficult for myself when I start a project. My first (and only) Renfrew was …

Meet Godzilla – a.k.a. Simplicity 2150

Published by

A couple of weeks ago I stayed up late to make a start on my latest project Simplicity 2150.  I bought the black furry fabric last year and intended to use it to make the front and collar part of this Vogue 8757 jacket: I ummed and arh’ed about which other 2 fabric to use and never gotten round to making it.  I loved the black furry fabric and decided to use it to make something more straight forward that would be more useful, so went into town and bought this Simplicity 2150 pattern: I chose view D (top right).  It was one of the only patterns I could find that suggested a fur fabric and the simple style I thought would be purfect! I was between sizes so chose the larger size, tho there was no need to as this jacket has 7 inches of ease!!  This sound way too much, but when I’m wearing it it doesn’t feel so big, and it’s the only jacket I have that fits my favourite winter jumper …

Butterick 4219 – Hoodie

Published by

I’d bought this pattern a few weeks ago with the intention of making the hoodie for my son. Even tho it’s a girls pattern I didn’t think he’d mind, as long as I don’t make it in pink.  I rummaged in my stash to see if I could find anything to use as a toile (for me!) and found a remanent of salmon & black jersey, and some soft black jersey, I had to make the hood and arms in the black as I only had an 80cm length of the salmon.  Here’s cutting out the back and front….as you can see the top was always going to turn out a bit short…. Managed to just about squeeze a cropped hoodie from the fabric, even used pins in the process…..my mum will be impressed! Was a bit of a nightmare top stitching the sleeve seam , ended up with the entire sleeve around the foot of the sewing machine. If there’s an easier way can someone let me know (please!). Here’s it all finished, I …