Sandra Betzina - Today's Fit - Jacket - Vogue 8043

I absolutely love this jacket. It fits perfect. (I pretty much always make bound buttons on jackets. This time I took pictures when making them and will post as a different entry.)

Pattern Description: Semi-fitted,fully interfaced,lined jacket has princess seams, shoulder pads, welt pockets,front button closure and long two piece sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: A/32- B/34-C/36. I initially did my muslin for size C/36, but it was too big. I made the B/34.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? It looked exactly like the picture on the pattern.

Were the instructions easy to follow? It is a very straight forward, well written and laid out pattern. Sandra Betzina gives allot of tips on fitting and placement for plaids. Her instructions are very easy to follow. (There are allot of instructions on different fitting issues, it's a matter of picking what pertains to you)

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the style! I like everything about the pattern. The fit, the instructions, the fact that I didn't make "any" fit alterations and that all went together very easy.

Fabric Used: I used a black and white boucle. Black Bemberg Lining. I also interfaced the whole jacket.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made no fitting alterations to this pattern. Design changes I made: I love bound buttonholes so that's what I made instead of the normal machine stitched button holes. I also added cording around the collar. I did not totally "bag" the lining. I sewed it by machine but didn't sew the bottom as instructed. I finished the lining hem with a decorative stitch and then sewed it by hand to the jacket hem.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I will sew this again. But I think next time it will be with a plain fabric -no matching lines :) Cutting the pieces single layer, making sure everything matches, pockets/body/sleeves- takes much longer. Also more care has to be taken when sewing pieces together. I don't mind doing all this, I do truly like the end result, it was worth all the time and effort. (There maybe the odd line that doesn't totally match up :) but overall I am pleased.) I would highly recommend this pattern.




















Conclusion:I really like the fit and look of this jacket. I brought this jacket to work to show my friend and she, and all my co-workers, loved the jacket. I received allot of compliments. One of the guys from another office wants me to make one for his wife - as a Christmas gift. I was pretty pleased with the response :)



I will take pictures of the inside of the jacket and add them to this post tomorrow.


Top Pocket Detail

Do you have a Favorite Yves Saint Laurent Outfit?

This is my very favorite...Mondrian Cocktail Dress (1965)

Models present dresses inspired by painter Piet Mondrian during Yves Saint Laurent's farewell show at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris in 2002 . (Pictures are from Fashion Today.)

Legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent dies at 71

Here are a couple of great Vintage patterns from this talented Fashion Designer:

Vogue Paris Original 1569; 1960s; Yves Saint Laurent - Suit and Blouse.

Pictures from: http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Yves_Saint_Laurent

Here's more information:

http://www.canadaeast.com/search/article/312562

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080601/NEWS06/80601045

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Saint-Laurent_%28designer%29

Ann's Coat- The Great Coat Sew-Along

I kept reading everyone's post on the Coat Sew Along site and was getting very nervous that I still had not found my fabric. Everyone has such nice fabrics for their coats. So today I was going to find something.....and I did.

I was being very stubborn and wanted to buy my fabric here instead of ordering on line. Only because I wanted to feel the fabric before I bought it. So the choice was limited because where I live the winter fabrics are not out, all but one little table of about 10- light to medium weight wools -that was it.

Not exactly the wools I was looking for. So I just changed my plan from a heavy winter coat to a lighter fall- to mild winter coat. It was very hard to photogragh this fabric.

This fabric is somewhat medium weight. The clour is a dark charcoal with specs of different colours running thru it. The red is a bright red, not pink as it appears in the picture. I was actually going to be bold,(for me) and get the matching red Kasha lining, but at the last minute went for the grey tone, which matches perfectly with the grey in the fabric.

This colour is more accurate. I love the colours, the feel and the weight of this fabric. It will make a very comfortable coat.

I am still very undecided on the pattern. It will be either Butterick 5145 (View B), McCall's 5247 (ViewC) or Neue Mode 23215 (view B). I bought enough fabric for whichever one. I'm leaning towards B5145? I would change the pockets to welt pockets with a flap.

I'm also still looking thru the few BWOF magazines I have just in case something catches my attention. All in all a great day!

**Decided on Butterick 5145.