Details on Jacket Saga

Here I will share with you the self imposed challenges of the “A Subtle Twist” jacket/top.

I decided to take out some of the fullness of this top. I had made it before in a linen blend and it hung very nicely. This cotton, while soft, is not quite as “drapey”. So per Lousie’s instructions she had given on Stitchers Guild, I took out approximately 1” on each side of the front and back—totaling 4” total. I did this by simply taking a “tuck” in the front/back pattern pieces.

I was taking my time and the sewing was coming along nicely until I got to the collar. I got ready to sew the collar band to the shirt body and found the notches didn’t match. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH ONE OF LOUISE’S PATTERNS! I began to double check myself. The linen one had gone together without any collar stand problems. Hmm. Pulled out the tissue and I had cut the wrong size collar band. Hmm. Began looking for the size “M” instead of the “MD” I had cut and the “M” is nowhere to be found. Could I have lost the pattern piece since the last time I sewed this? The answer was “Apparently.”

As Tim Gunn would say, “I made it work.” I cut in down to match the bode of the shirt and proceeded. That meant re-sewing the curved ends, but so what?—it had to be done.

I proceeded on. At time to try on the jacket, I realized I had put the collar on wrong. The underside was now the top side. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I thought I was being very careful and methodical. But not so. Hmm, what to do? Walk away? Take it all apart—top stitching and all? I decided to leave it just the way it was. I decided the print was so bright and busy that most folks would never notice. It’s just a design element, right??

I still have the buttons and buttonholes to finish.

I'm off with my sewing buddy later today to the button place in Duncanville.