Jacket renovation pt 1

I made this jacket maybe 20 years ago.  I wore it a lot but for the past 10 years it's been stored at the bottom of a trunk in the living room.  

The body was cut from a pig skin suede with a soft lamb for the trim, the facings are in an astrakhan type fabric and it's lined in a printed satin. 

It's not in great condition.  The jacket is moldy across the lower back and down one of the sleeves and there are deep fold marks in the suede.  The lining is yellowing in parts and some of the seams are splitting over the shoulder.   I can deal with all of that but the smell is overpowering, that horrible musty op shop smell that makes your eyes water. 

 

Dealing with the smell is the first priority so the lining is coming out and will be used as a pattern to cut the new one.  The gigantic shoulder pads went straight in the bin. 

Some serious smell reduction research is now underway...

new pattern CAMISOLE

The CAMISOLE sewing pattern is now available from my Etsy shop in Australia sizes 8-14.  It's suitable for cup sizes A - C and international customers can find a size conversion chart right here.

You'll need to know how to attach knicker elastic and make basic bra straps but luckily step by step instructions for both can be found under the HOW TO section above.  A brilliant source for knicker and bra strap elastic is bra-makers supply so many colours and they just updated their website.  The printed cotton was found at Tessuti in Melbourne and for a total contrast I also quilted it and used it to line a HOOD HAT...never throw anything away!

HOW TO add weights to a cowl neckline

Coming along in the next month or so a new pattern I'm working on called the PARTY DRESS which is designed with cowls at both the back and front.  I sometimes worry that this HOW TO information is all a bit basic but just in case you're wondering here's how you add weights to a cowl neckline.

 

1. Off to the hardware shop you go.  Locate the plumbing section and purchase some tap washers.  For this example I'm using washers with a diameter of 23mm 

 

2. Cut two pieces of fabric each 12cm long x 4.5cm wide

3. Fold in half right sides together and using your overlocker stitch the long edges together forming an open ended envelope.

4. Turn right side out, press and then insert a washer into each.

5. Push in the ends by a couple of cm's, slip stitch the opening closed and then topstitch in place on the facing edge of the cowl at the exact centre point. 

All done.  On the inside it will look something like this and when on the body will hold your cowl perfectly in place.

new pattern TANK TOP

A TANK TOP with ties.

 I cut this example from leftovers, a linen for the yoke and a printed jersey I'd been saving for the body.  The striped bias binding came from Luccello, one of maybe 50 different options sold in pre-cut lengths or by the metre.  

The TANK TOP sewing pattern is now available from my Etsy shop in Australian sizes 8 - 14.  For international customers a size conversion chart can be found right here.

As an added bonus you can also cut the back twice and make the back and front the same.  Equally as cute it would look amazing in a combination of dramatic dark colours/ textures for evening...off to do some sewing.