Saturday, November 24, 2012

Style Arc Audrey Jacket,

Thank you for all the great comments on my coat refashion project. That blue boucle coat keeps on giving, as I used the remaining fabric for a portion of this new jacket. It is the Audrey jacket, from Australian pattern company Style Arc.

StyleArc jacket front view
When I cut up my coat to make a skirt there was not quite enough to do the whole jacket so I rummaged in my fabric stash and found this wool plaid which was a complementary weight and color palette.  Here is the technical drawing and my little sketch of color ideas. I often do this when I am going to make something that has mixed fabrics, or deciding which way to have a plaid go. Despite my less than artistic efforts it is really helpful and fun to play around with my colored pencils. 
Style Arc jacket sketch 2
You can see that I originally thought about doing 2 solid colors but it seemed like more of a mish-mash than the plaid. Threads magazine had an article in the last issue about mixed materials and showed a few plaids so that was the inspiration. 
On the pattern the collar band was about one inch wider and that seemed too tall, so after it was all sewn together (practically finished) I cut open the top seam and shortened the band by one inch, and then sewed it by hand, which worked out fine. The collar is interfaced on both the wool plaid and the satin lining to give it some structure. My lovely incredibly matching blue buttons from the original coat reappear here on this little jacket, which called for just two buttons on the band, however I had a remaining buttonhole on my coat so it appears as the bottom right one, and then the left one is sewn on to match.

StyleArc neckline buttons

Here you can see that original vertical buttonhole - but I think the 4 buttons solves that problem nicely and becomes a design element. OK, that is my story and I am sticking to it. To complete this jacket front I had to piece a tiny section, which you can see here on the right, just at the shoulder seam. Instead of bothering me I actually quite like it - it is virtually unnoticable when worn but just a little reminder to me of enjoyment in figuring out this whole project. 

StyleArc jacket buttonsStyleArc jacket pieced
A look at the back and the inside with my typical two-tone lining. Whatever is in the lining box and matches gets used up. To get the length I wanted I had to piece the bottom as a band and take in about two inches at the center back seam so the jacket is not as wide as designed. I did cut out the front pieces on the existing fronts of the coat so no facing needed.

          StyleArc jacket back viewStyleArc jacket inside
Someone mentioned that it might be a bit too matchy to wear this jacket with the skirt and I think that is right. Here is one option, I bought this jersey turtleneck which picks up the teal in the plaid. The pants are my test version of the Sewaholic Thurlow trousers and I am boo-hooing a little, as I made them from a denim tablecloth that someone gave me. As fabric goes it is a little lightweight for pants and has no stretch (oh how we [read me] have become accustomed to stretch) so I never intended to wear them. But they fit so well...I might just put them away for a pair of lightweight summertime pants. One of these days I plan to get some photos of these recent projects as worn.

Audrey jacket w pants

Today I was outside surveying the blah-ness that is my November landscape and noticed that the leaves on the apple tree are doing their own color block thing with the branches yellowing from the bottom up, and the tips are still green. How have I never seen this before?  Very pretty and soon it will just be bare branches and lots of leaves to rake. 
Happy late November sewing, Beth

Apple tree yellow leaves

11 comments:

  1. This is stunning! I love how you mixed the two different fabrications to make such an awesome jacket. That was a great Threads article, wasn't it?!

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  2. I don´t know how to say this so it sounds as real as it feels:
    I want that jacket! ;)
    Gorgeous, the colours, the textures, the buttons...It´s perfect and I admire your talent for recycling.
    Have a great weekend

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  3. Lovely jacket---from the fabrication to the buttons!!! You always look SO great in blue!

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  4. That is so much fun, Beth! Wow, that coat sure does keep on giving!

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  5. This is gorgeous. I absolutely love it!!!

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  6. I think the 4 buttons look VERY intentional! A design element!
    Also I like how you colored in the line drawings to figure out your look--awesome!!

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  7. Great Jacket. Love how you use different colors for the lining. It makes it so much more personal that way. Beautiful color too!

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  8. I love e erything about this! Great fabrichoicesand the buttons- oh so cute!!

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  9. You did such a great job remaking these pieces. And, it's fun to finally see your Thurlows. I want to see them on though!

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  10. I just love this jacket!! The mix of colours, the cute boxy little shape, the raglan sleeves. It turned out just perfectly beautiful! Yay, for using pre-loved fabric!

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  11. Beth, I have passed on to you the One Lovely Blog award, if you would like the button it is here
    http://handmadebycarolyn.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/spammy-spam-spam-spam.html

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