The Cordova Jacket

Long time no blogging. But I finally finished something and got around taking some pictures. Here is my Cordova Jacket by Sewaholic Patterns.

I didn't jump on the bandwagon when the pattern came out, because I wasn't sure if it would be a style for me. But after seeing so many versions I was sold. I still don't like Version A with the double peplum, but Version B is just my style. 

I wanted a simple jacket for fall when it gets chilly enough to wear a light jacket, but not cold enough yet for my coat. And I wanted it in a dark brown suede. I found just the right fabric on Fabric.com and it was on sale too.

And my stash provided me with just the right shade of Rayon Bemberg! I changed the pleats in the lining for gathering. It made it easier working with the rayon and I don't mind that it looks different than the outside, nobody is going to see it anyway. 

I wouldn't mind some pockets. There seems to be this trend where dresses and skirts have pockets, but jackets and coats don't. I don't understand it!

 And you might have noticed that I have a new dressform. It was a lucky find on eBay. It is a PGM Professional Dressform in size 4. I still have to pad it to my exact measurements. It doesn't have the stand with it, but it was only $89 so who am I to complain.

Pattern Description: (from Sewaholic website)

A feminine fitted jacket that creates an instant hourglass figure! This great-fitting modern jacket is perfect for work, weekend or a special night out.

Princess seams and peplum seaming form a flattering silhouette. Choose from a flirty double peplum, or keep things simple with flat peplum seaming instead. The collarless neckline allows you to wear your favourite scarves easily! Jacket is fully lined, with pleated sleeve cap detail and zip front closure.

Pattern Sizing:
0 - 16
I made a size 6. With a measurement of 34" a size 8 would be 1/2 inch too big. I decided to go down a size and it fits perfect.

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

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Just as the other Sewaholic patterns, this jacket has short, but easy to understand instructions.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I am not a fan of Version A with the double peplum. This is was kept me away from the jacket for too long. But this has nothing to do with the quality of the pattern, it's just a personal preference.

Version B is just up my alley. I love the simple style of the jacket. No collar, simple lines at hems and zipper. I wouldn't mind pockets.

Fabric Used:
Outside: Vintage Suede (Microsuede) in Espresso from Fabric.com
Lining: Rayon Bemberg

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 

I didn't pleat the lining sleeves, but set them in gathered.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I would sew it again, and absolutely recommend it!

Conclusion: 
I love my stylish suede jacket. I get a lot of compliments for it, and that feels good!

My Minoru Jacket

Finally some pictures of my Minoru Jacket. I finished it last October, and I absolutely love it!!! The outer fabric is distressed twill in clay. I didn't interline it, because it doesn't really get that cold here and I wanted a light jacket for the fall. The one thing I didn't like is that it doesn't have pockets. After looking through a whole lot of blogs I decided to attach square pockets on top.

 

 

The collar is quite high. A scarf fits nicely in there.

It was, like all the Sewaholic patterns I've sewn so far, very easy to make. I bought the zipper and lining fabric at a local fabric store. They had a sale of fabric from an older lady who collected fabric her whole life. The guys who run this store are going through her fabric stash since two years now to get it organized, and to sort out the fabric to sell. I got two bags of fabric by the pound. It was incredibly cheap, because I only bought very lightweight silky fabrics. 

The lining for the horse lover :) Isn't that the most awesome lining fabric? Ok, I might be a little biased here :)

 The two inside pockets are from the lining fabric as well. I didn't want to have the quite heavy twill hanging on the light lining. And I don't intend to stuff anything heavy in these little inside pockets, since I have the two big outside pockets.

I like Corduroy!

I am starting to sew more for the cold time of year. Here is my first fall ensemble. The Renfrew Top Version A in Navy Cotton Jersey. First time that I've sewn it with long sleeves. I absolutely love this pattern and have at least three more fabrics in stash for more. The skirt is Barcelona Layered Skirt by Amy Butler in grey corduroy.

After I finished the Lisette Passport Jacket I knew I wanted a fitting skirt to go with it. So I went to JoAnn's and bought more of the corduroy for the skirt. It was unintentionally that the top fits in color as well. 

 

Lisette Passport Jacket

This weekend I finished the Lisette Passport Jacket in grey corduroy. This project was on my list now for a while. I got around cutting out six projects two weeks ago. And finished five so far, this is one of it. I am very happy with the end result, even thou it drove me nuts a couple of times. The buttons could be placed better. I should have moved the lower three up a bit. Oh, well. I like it anyway. I bought the fabric at Joann's a couple of weeks ago.

 My serger got used quite a bit too with this jacket.

But the instructions drove me a little nuts. It wasn't mentioned to apply the fusible interfacing on the front and pretty sure I didn't. So I had to do that AFTER I already had sewn the front and side front together and had finished the seams. The result is crinkles in the fabric. The instructions to finish the seams of the pockets and the including seam was misleading. I had to finish that seam with a zigzag on my sewing machine. It should have been serged before putting it together. But as I said before, I am happy with the result regardless the couple of downturns in the construction.