Big Decision

Hmm, I was a bit puzzled when I looked at the combination. The fabric says just that - Summer!!! and the pattern has something wintery about it. But then - why not, I think it might look interesting.

I don't think you should try to interline the thing with Thinsulate; make it for summer and make another one in the corduroy you've got. I don't know if you've worked with corduroy before, I imagine that it might be a bit tricky, but try the corduroy version first and then the summer fabric one.

Or, get an entirely different fabric for early spring to avoid the combination difficult pattern/difficult fabric and use the one from the link above for the summer version. Then you can play around with the pattern and the parts that make you think you took too big a bite (I wonder what that might be, though). Oh, and I bet Kate would remind you of making a toile first.

Or, try style D with the sleeves of A for the wintery one (longer = warmer derriere) and the short A style for summer. And perhaps you could make another one from a really wintery fabric in style E with the sleeves of your choice.

OK, just my 2 cents, got carried away a little. ;-)

U.

Random thoughts: When I study that pretty fabric you've chosen, just immediately I see a sort of stripe in it; just the way the flowers are lined up and repeat. It seems to me that it would be mighty tedious to cut a princess lines coat from it. When you are measuring for the coat, do keep in mind that you will be wearing the coat over clothes that may/may not be bulky and you'll want to give your self room to be comfortable. Just one more - I love, Love that pattern but methinks I'd make it with something easy the first time; perhaps just plain denim. If all goes well, you have a happy, useful garment. If not, at least you don't have a major money investment. Polly

Thank you both for your input. The fabric choice was for 2 reasons. The first is because I love bright colors, the second is because we can have a bright sunny day with flowers blooming and the temp be about 50F. If it's that cool I need something warm, my bones are getting creaky and want to be warm. I do have a piece of sage green twill in the sash that I could start on. It's heavier than the floral, but not real heavy. I think I'll use that for my toile and go from there. I don't need anything longer or perhaps should say I don't want anything longer, because long coats and cars are not a good mix for me. If I'm going to be out walking I dress in layers on cool and cold days and stay warm that way, I need the coat for driving place to place and getting in ans out of the car, Or going out in the evening and coming home l ate and it's chilly out. I'm not one to turn the car heat up high to get warm. I hate the feeling of car heat. Never have liked it.As far as cost for the floral goes, I got it dirt cheap at Fabric .com. The sage green was cheaper than dirt from fashion fabric club. so I don't mind working on them for a new project. As far as matching a print, I have to challenge myself all the time so I don't have brain rot. Then again one challege at a time should hold me for awhile. the corduroy I'll hold for a fall coat. It h as the weight and maybe by then I'll feel comfortable about interlining. Thanks again, I appreciate all your help. Juno

I hope it was minor surgery, and I really hope she recovers quickly and well.

OK. I've never worked with thinsulate before. So I don't know its properties. The pattern calls for interfacing the full front of the jacket. If the light thinsulate would work like interfacing, you could put it there quite easily instead of the interfacing. I just haven't worked with the stuff, so I'm kinda clueless. ;) But if you want to underline, or interline with it, I don't see why not. You might need to add a little room to the pattern for the extra layer.

What I have done in the past in place of thinsulate is use a layer of tightly shrunk flannel to underline. Did that on a jacket for DD when she was little. It was a heavy weight denim outershell. I underlined that with the flannel. Then the lining of the coat was a wild print polar fleece. :) It was a cute little hooded coat. (and it was warm enough for an Indiana winter too!) I washed the flannel several times in hot water to shrink it as far as possible. Then basted it to the denim pieces and treated them as one. It was way cheaper to do that than buy thinsulate (and that was a large issue at the time!)

Never!!!! I wouldn't let you choke on a bite like that!!! :) I have absolute faith that you can do it. The jacket really goes together very easily. Just remember to check the placement of the pocket openings. That was the only hurdle I really had. If I'd checked that more closely, I wouldn't have had to redo the pockets.

Make a muslin of it out of the green twill first. Then you will know if you have a good fit and you will have a practice one down. (and you will have a cute green twill jacket to wear too!!! Bonus!!!!!!!) Once you get into the construction of this one, you will be so relieved. I promise, it won't be nearly so intimidating once you do it. It comes out looking a whole lot more complicated than it actually is to make!!

I would put the cord a little further down the list. I don't like to topstitch on corduroy. I worry what it would look like on the front, there is a bit of an angle to that front side piece. And with the lines on the cord, and the topstitching, it has the potential to look a little "off." (if you could just see my hands and face......)

Now, as for matching your print...I don't think that will be a problem. If you need refreshing on that, go look at Beverly's paisley jacket. I'm pretty sure she included pictures of cutting it out. (And really, don't we all muttter "what would Beverly say..." while we're matching prints now??? lol She's a good influence, just don't tell anyone, she has an image to uphold y'know. lol) That angle on the front it is gentle enough that I think you will be able to match the print just fine. Like I said, topstitching that line on cord, I'm afraid it could look messy. But matching it in your print? No sweat.

Sharon

I think I'm going to have to have DH do my remeasuring, even if he keeps telling me he can't do it. That's his favorite thing when he doesn't want to do something. My friend may have to have more surgery. she has a melanoma behind her hear and it all depend on her last biopsy. I think she has enough to deal with right now. She doesn't need to worry about getting to my house to measure me. What she needs is for me to m ake he some goodies to get her through the worry.

I think I'll give the flannel idea a go on the the green twill and see how it works. I'm always open to idea's. I know that what ever I use I have to add to my pattern so the jacket is not skin tight.

I didn't think you would do that to me:)

Good to hear that.

I'll wait on the cord, knowing me some fabrics live many lives before they actually become a reality. I think the Cord may want to be something else. I guess it just has to marinate a while longer. Thanks for the adavice

You know, I'm not really worried about matching the print. I know it takes a little patience and I'm willing to be patient with the fabric.I will give Beverly's paisly a good study before I attempt to cut my print. It was suggested by someone, that they thought the print and the style of the jacket may not be compatible. The pattern was thought to be a winter style and the fabric too summery for it. The more I think abbout it the more I know they will be fine together. In this part of country, that style of jacket is worn year round. Thanks again for your encouragement. Juno

Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I did:

Don't let my children hear that!

:->

I agree.

Juno, I'm sending very good wishes to your friend. Having been through the worry and stress when my sister had melanoma surgery, I know how difficult this is for her (and for you), and you are being a very good friend.

Beverly, I will pass your good wishes along. She is like a sister to me. We have been friends for 45 years and I want her around for a long time. Life has not always been easy for her. She has lost 2 husbands. Both very fine men. I worry about her all the time. she lives alone out in the boondocks and none of her children are close by. She is a wonderful person and the best friend anyone could ever have. Juno

Thanks Beverly for the invite to additional help if I need it.First thing first. Get DH to measure me, then start on the green twill. I sure that by the time I get to the print you'll here from me. The thing I have the most concerns about right now is getting a good fit and then button holes.I have to go down and practices making about a million button holes. I'm never happy with the ones I make. I know it really is practice, practice, practice. Juno

Aaack! I just looked at that pattern again, I forgot it's DOUBLE BREASTED! You will waste a *lot* of fabric trying to get a pattern match along the center front. I think IN THIS CASE ONLY I would NOT attempt it. Maybe go for a completely

Or I would choose a different pattern for *this print*

But if you ordered *way* more fabric than the pattern calls for, you may have enough so in that case, go for it... ;-)

Yeah, lots of practice, and also be sure when you make your sample buttonholes that you practice on scraps of *exactly* the same fabric-interlining-underlining-facing sandwich that the garment will be made of.

Any chance she could move into town and/or nearer to you temporarily? Or even permanently, because as she gets older she'll probably need more assistance.

I had my sister here with me when she was going through her cancer surgery and later reconstructive surgery, it was just easier for both of us. I drove her to her appointments, and it saved a lot of time and gas not having to go to her place each time. And I was able to care for her here after each one, instead of worrying about her being alone at her place.

Do you know what stubborn is? Well that's her. She refuses help from everyone. Has to do it all herself. Won't sell, won't move. I don't need a ride to anyplace, thank you/ We have had several go rounds because she is so stubborn. But she still refuses all offers of help. From me and her children. Still she is my best friend and I do as much as I can for her that she will accept. Juno

That's very sad.

I ordered an extra yard. When I get the first one done in the green I'll lay out the pattern and see if it's going to work. I'm far more committed to the pattern than to the fabric. I'm not hard headed about things. I'll work on the button holes the way you suggested with the layaers exactly the way they'll be in the finished jacket. Juno

Just remember, in additon to matching the center fronts, you will need to match: the princess seams front and back, as well as the side seams... and the pocket welts... and the lapel facings... and the sleeve head to the fronts... and the collar CB to the yoke CB... and of course, the CB seam... You can probably ignore the sleeve tabs... :->

Just as with making a toile, it's best to "practice" with fabrics identical to (or at least very similar to) the real thing.

Look What I just found:

The are both perfect for the floral fabric. Now to find something bright for my McCalls pattern. But first the green twill Juno

Excellent!

Great idea, plain fabric will give you fewer fits, and you'll have a nice green jacket. And Sharon can talk you through it. ;->

I talked to my friend today. she had to have a little more tissue removed for another biopsy. Her daughter is here with her now and her son is coming this weekend for a few days. That makes me very happy to know that she has consented to have her children stay with her for awhile. Without fighting them. We had more snow yesterday afternoon and at least I know that she's not out there alone. That eases my mind a lot. Juno