BurdaStyle Mag Biker Jacket

When I was looking through the March issue of BurdsStyle Magazine, I knew that this was something I wanted to make. The problem was that I have never done anything from the magazine with this much detail. To say that I was concerned about whether or not I could actually get it done is an understatement.

Well, much to my surprise, this jacket was not as hard as I thought it would be. Actually, it was pretty easy! Of course I had to trace the pattern, but that’s a step I’ve done before so I was used to that process.

I had this tweed fabric I had bought a while back that I really wanted to use for this project. It looks good, but the material was hard (at least for me) to work with. Because the weave is very loose, it frays very easily. Also, there are little sequined pieces woven into the fabric which meant I had to sew slowly in order for the material to not get stuck in the feed dogs of the machine and for the needle not to be damaged. So, I learned my lesson. I would love to make this again, but with a very different fabric that will be a bit easier to handle.

But, I am definitely happy with the end results. This is my first time making a biker jacket with an asymmetric zipper and zippered sleeves. I know some of you consistently make garments from the magazine and I truly admire that. I’m trying to stretch my ability and I figure that this is a good way to do it.

So, until next time… I’ll keep sewing and sharing.

Easy, Breezy Jacket…

If you haven’t noticed, these little jacket/dusters seem to be everywhere. I have seen more than a few and was really inspired to make my own. So, below is my version of this easy, breezy jacket!

I used Simplicity pattern 1318 To make mine.

Simplicity 1318

I completely understand why people love them. They are easy to wear either around the house or out running errands. This pattern is also easy to make. I used a polyester that’s lightweight and has nice movement. It was also an experiment for me since I rarely use silky or sheer fabrics. It’s something I need to do more of. I could use the practice!

This pattern could be lengthened if you wanted to make something duster length like the photo above (both of those are from Target, by the way). And there are some variations on the pattern itself in terms of length and the front band style. This is definitely a pattern I can see myself making again.

Simplicity 1318

January Jacket Completed…Vogue 8758

I’ve been wanting to make a jacket for awhile, but hadn’t gotten around to it. So, I figured this was the perfect time to go ahead and do it. I chose this particular pattern because I thought it had interesting lines and details. As far as the fabric was concerned, I chose a polyester poplin in “wine”.

In this picture, I’m actually wearing it with the dress from the same pattern that I made back in 2013. Here is a picture of that completed dress.

The jacket is quite easy to make if you take it step-by-step. It isn’t fully lined, only the sleeves are. But I also wanted to show it with jeans to show that it can be worn more casually as well.

The pattern is out-of-print at this time, but if you’ve got this or come across it, it might be worth getting. I really like this one!