Burda Challenge - 03/2014 #124 Bomber Jacket

Whew, I made it just under the wire. I have had this jacket done for a few days now, just haven’t had time to take pictures and write a post about it. Here is the drugged-out Burda version.

 

Here’s my version. I used a wool blend boucle for the main fabric and a dark gray/slate blue double knit for the cuffs, pockets, and neckband.

 

I’m not sure I love it. I think it’s okay, but it seems shorter than I would have expected. And the band around the body is pretty tight, which means if I lift my arms, it rides up and then doesn’t got back down again.

 

It’s funny though because there is certainly tons of fabric. I took about 2 inches of ease out of the sleeves to get the shape where I wanted it. There was also no way the knit bands were going to stretch that far. Obviously I left off the decorative flap on the back of the Burda version.

 

Doesn’t it seem really short for how w-i-d-e it is? That area on the right side where the band and the boucle meet is acting weird here. It doesn’t look like that in real life.

 

I followed Burda’s directions (gasp!) and I was able to get nice welt pockets out of them.

 

I used a ZipperStop.com zipper I already had in stash. It is navy blue and it was too long. My lovely, strong, beefy husband spent about 15 minutes figuring out how to remove the little metal teeth. It took about three different tools, but he got the little jerkfaces off the zipper.

 

There is a self-fabric facing. I should have lined it, but I didn’t. I used FOE for the raw edge of the facing.

 

See how much boucle fabric there is compared to the knit? It was hard to stretch the band that far.

 

All in all, I’m not crazy about it. I do like it though. Maybe with some time in The Closet, it will become something I like. I think it would be cute with jeans and little colored tennis shoes. Maybe it’s the fabric I don’t love, or the combination of the fabrics.

 

On the plus side, we’ve been having a blast lately. It’s been warm (30s during the day) and sunny. This day we were making hopscotch squares on the bare (!!!) asphalt in our driveway.

 

I’m busily making pajama pants for my son. We picked out some fun fabric the other day.

Spring Fever

I think I might be suffering from spring fever a bit. When I sat down at my computer, I saw an email from Fabric.com* and then I found myself drooling over really over-the-top springy prints. I don’t even usually like florals . . .

 

But really, how fun are these?

Amy Butler Love Tumble Roses Pink

 

 

Liberty Of London Dufour Jersey Knit Gleeson Orange/Blue

 

 

Amy Butler Hapi Trapeze Charcoal

 

 

Anna Maria Horner Field Study Raindrops Poppies Teal/Candy

 

 

Anna Maria Horner LouLouThi Summer Totem Grapefruit

 

 

Anna Maria Horner Hand Drawn Garden Centerpiece Evening

 

 

Anna Maria Horner Dowry Dresden Bulbs Sunset

 

*They are not my favorite company anymore. They have free shipping for everyone else, but not Alaskans. Oh no, we don’t really count. Screw you Fabric.com! They are also a sponsor, how weird is it that I’m bashing my sponsor?

Jalie 2446 and Jalie 3247–Swimsuit

I made a new swimsuit and I did my photo shoot on location. That’s my way of saying I didn’t have time to take photos of this swimsuit before I left. But, aren’t these more fun anyway? I used the bikini top from Jalie 2446. I think it’s a discontinued pattern now. I looked at Jalie.com and it doesn’t exist anymore. I used the bottoms from one of their new patterns, Jalie 3247. It’s not made for swimsuits, but it works great. I bought this swimsuit nylon at a fabric store in San Diego.

 

I don’t normally love a billion photos with different poses, but look at that scenery people. Look at it!

 

Again. I know, I know, you can barely see the swimsuit and this is a sewing blog. Whatever. Deal.

 

Here’s the back. I modified the bottoms so this is not what they would look like straight out of the envelope. I removed about an inch off the hem so they would be more swimsuit and less booty shorts. I also scooped the CF down about 2cm to make the front a little lower. The CB was lowered about 1cm. I love the coverage of them. I’m 40 people, I don’t need my ass hanging out everywhere.

 

Here’s the envelope from Jalie. I made view E with the waistband.

 

Needless to say, we had fun in Mexico.

 

 

Now, it’s back to the grind and back to work. Oh, and it snowed 22” a day or two before we got back. But, our awesome neighbor who watches the place snow blowed (blew?) our driveway. Bless that man.

 

I need to get in gear and make my March Burda Challenge item!!!

Long time, no see!

We were only gone a week, but it feels like a month! More later!

Doesn’t this look just like me?

Three more Leotards! Jalie 3241

Sorry if you’re tired of them!

I told you to prepare yourselves! I said bright and I meant it. My daughter #3 picked out this sparkle jellybean fabric (my name for the fabric) to match the pink from her other leotard. I made this a size larger so it should fit for a while.

 

This is for our cousin. She lives in another state so we took pictures of a twin wearing it instead of her. The Twin will not take it off now and has not stopped doing cartwheels. I love, love, love the fabric the cousin picked out. I was sort of scared of the black, glitter-dot fabric, but it turned out great with the solid red. I hope she likes it too.

 

I also made another one just like daughter #3’s pink leotard. That one was pretty snug so this is like the Jellybean Leotard and I made it one size larger too. I just love the x-back on this pattern. I want to make the other version of this pattern but I love the boy shorts on this style. I could totally draft them longer, but I probably won’t because it’s extra work. I may actually do it though, because I think boy shorts with a little stripe would be awesome!

 

There was much fun to this photo shoot.

 

House fun.

 

I’m not sure what I’m up to next. I need to make me some cute easy dresses for a trip and maybe another bikini!