Plaid Matching Using Butterick 4463

I decided to try plaid matching using Butterick 4463.

The Pattern

Butterick 4463 is an older pattern that’s out of print (OOP). It’s from 2005 but I think that these days, it would be called a shacket. I have made this multiple times before and it is one of my favorites. I believe it’s available on Ebay and Etsy.

The jacket is unlined. It features two inseam pockets, front and back yokes and collar. There are a couple of lengths and a belt pattern included.

My Jacket: Plaid Matching Using Butterick 4463

I used this fabric I was gifted from Minerva for this project. It is the perfect weight fabric for something like this. It’s medium to heavy weight suiting and is terrific for an unlined jacket.

Since this jacket doesn’t have a center back seam or gathers in the back, it was a bit easier to figure out how to match this plaid. I laid out the back piece first with the fabric folded and pinned so it wouldn’t shift or move around. Then I matched up the back yoke with fabric right-side up. After that, I used the notches in the pattern pieces to do the best I could to match up everything else. Luckily, that worked out.

It’s always nice when all the effort works out and things match the way you want. But I have also learned not to stress too much about it. Nothing is going to be perfect. I would proudly wear this jacket regardless.

Because I wanted the buttons to blend in, I made covered buttons using the dark part of the plaid fabric.

Doing the buttons this way also meant that I didn’t have to worry about matching the plaid on the covered buttons.

Conclusion

Overall, this is an easy pattern and fairly quick to put together. Of course, if you choose to use a plaid fabric, the layout and cutting phase will take a bit more time and patience.

As far as this Minerva polyester viscose suiting is concerned, it is fantastic to sew. As I stated, it is the perfect weight for an unlined Fall season jacket. Here is the post I wrote for Minerva featuring this project.

Corduroy Closet Core Morgan Jeans

For my latest project, I decided to sew a pair of corduroy Closet Core Morgan jeans.

*The following post contains affiliate links.

The Fabric

For the corduroy fabric , I purchased mine online at MelanatedFabrics. Unfortunately, they are completely sold out at this time. This is some of the nicest and drapiest corduroy I have ever used. It’s super soft and a mid-wale corduroy.

Brown corduroy pants incomplete — *Work in process*

The Morgan Boyfriend Jeans

One of the reasons that I chose to use this pattern is that it is designed for non-stretch fabrics. There is no stretch in the corduroy. The fit of the jeans is more of a straight fit and not too loose or baggy.

woman wearing leaf print shirt and brown corduroy pants

And this isn’t the first time I’ve made them. Although the instructions only mention using denim, I think you can use any jean appropriate fabric. Because I had made this before, I didn’t have to worry about fitting.

woman wearing leaf print shirt and brown corduroy jeans back view

Some Sewing Tips

For these corduroy Closet Core Morgan jeans I did take into consideration some sewing tips and techniques that made things a bit easier.

Wash the fabric in cold water and dry on low heat.
Gently iron the fabric. I like the iron shoe and press cloth.
Use a walking foot. This attachment will keep the fabric from sliding.
Use a pattern layout for napped fabrics, if possible.

Since the fabric is medium weight, a size 14 universal needle works great. I also suggest lots of pins (or clips) to keep things together.

woman wearing brown corduroy Closet Core Morgan jeans front view

If you are familiar with jeans making, this will be a relatively quick project for you. Beginners will probably want to make a muslin and get the fit right before cutting into the fashion fabric.

woman smiling wearing brown corduroy jeans and black t-shirt — *My fit check during the process*

Conclusion

These jeans are soft and comfortable. Corduroy is “in” this season, so I can be stylish without even trying😂. The most difficult part was the topstitching. Because there’s a nap in the fabric, it was very hard to see. But, overall, I’m happy with the results!

woman wearing fall leaves jacket, brown corduroy jeans and wine colored shirt

Shacket Sewing Secrets

I’m sharing some shacket sewing secrets that will help you achieve terrific results! I’ll go over the best fabrics for making and, of course, I’m sharing the perfect Fall shacket I made.

The Pattern

Simplicity 9388 was released in 2021, so it’s been around for a couple of years. It continues to be a very popular pattern.

This particular sewing pattern is a unisex pattern that ranges in size from XXS-XXL. As you can see from the photograph, the shacket can be made into a short look, to a long midi-length look. There are inseam pockets as well as the front pockets with flaps.

What Is A Shacket?

For those who are unaware, a shacket is basically the combination of a shirt and a jacket. They are a Fall staple in many wardrobes these days and I think, they are here to stay!

Here’s some reasons that shackets are so popular:

they are warm and comfortable on cool days
shackets are terrific for transitioning into your Fall wardrobe
they are a great layering piece
depending on the pattern choice, they can be a beginner friendly project

My Simplicity 9388 Shacket

First, let me say, I didn’t make any adjustments or alterations to the pattern. I made View B in a medium. Unisex patterns can be a little tricky for me to fit well, so I really checked measurements and decided to go with this size.

Although the plaid on the jacket looks great, I will admit that I didn’t stress about matching this at all. I did the best I could on the front, and then just kept going. I did attempt to match the front pocket flaps.

One of the most important things for me was to make sure the fabric was straight (on the grainline).

That sentence above is one of my shacket sewing secrets! Of course, it doesn’t matter what you’re making in regards to this. If you are using any kind of plaid in particular, you need to ensure that the fabric is cut out straight. So, just take your time when you lay it out.

The fabric I used is a black and camel colored poly rayon spandex blend (woven).

Flannel and plaid of all types are popular materials for sewing shackets. The majority of shackets and shacket patterns that I am familiar with are all for woven fabric. While this is my first actual shacket, I have made other Fall layering pieces in the past. In fact, the fabric I used for this was purchased from the Angela Wolf fabric stash sale, just like the piece in the link. I already had this piece in my fabric stash, so I got to shop at home! The stash sale is open to those who are members of her Fashion Sewing Club (FSC). Here’s a link to get more info on that if you’re interested.

Another shacket sewing secret would be to keep the fabric washable.

Because these are so comfortable for outdoor activities, you’ll want to be able to care for it easily, and to me, that means washing and drying.

Styling Your Shacket If You’re Over 40

As far as how I can imagine wearing this when the weather cools down, I can definitely see wearing black or off white/ivory under this topper. The photo on the pattern envelope shows the model wearing a white sweatshirt, which is great for a casual day out (I’m thinking football game, leaf peeping-yes, that’s a thing in this part of the USA). Or, a nice cream colored sweater like this with black pants or jeans.

Conclusion

Let me know, have you ever made a shacket from this pattern or another? Leave me a comment below. I just love this very comfy, oversized (but not too oversized) look. Fall is my favorite time of year, so I am really looking forward to building a wearable wardrobe that I can really get a lot of use out of. What about you?

Here’s my latest YouTube video on this project and others… Enjoy!

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