Sewing for Me in March - Week #3

Yesterday I shared my completed Charley Harper quilted jacket for my Friday Finish.

This project was part of the 30/30 Sewing Challenge hosted by Sarah of Berry Barn Designs.

Although I did share plenty of pictures for that post, I did not go into the details of my process, as I was hosting the TGIFF link up.

Now I would like to share a few things about what I learned from this project.

Cost:
Fabric - 4 yards (Including Discount, Taxes, and Shipping) ....................$69.15
Pattern and Zipper (Including Discount and Taxes)  ...............................$14.85
Backing & Batting from stash guestimated at approximately ...................$30.00
Thread for piecing guestimated at ............................................................$6.00
Thread for quilting (Sponsored by Superior Threads)
            Amount used gestimated at a cost of ...........................................$6.00
Total Cost:  ........................................................................................$127.00

Labour: (Complete guestimation here!)
Planning, making quilt, cutting pieces, sewing pieces about 7 straight days x 8 hrs ...... Priceless

Would I make jackets to sell expecting to make a profit?  No.  No way.

Now about that pattern.  It was my first time following a pattern.  For anything.
I had no garment making experience.

Yes, it was scary.  Yes, I was nervous.  Yes, I was afraid of screwing the whole thing up and being left with a messy pile of chopped up Charley Harpers.

There was a glossary of stitches.  Okay.
Now that I know what they are and the purpose for each.  Good to go!

The Easestitch is used at the tops of the shoulder pieces along the curves to adjust the sleeve to fit.  You are to pull on the thread ends to allow the fabric to bunch up a bit.  You would have to use some awfully strong thread to achieve this on quilted layers as used in this pattern.  I use polyester thread and it broke...  So, pinning worked better for me.  And I hate pinning.

As I went along, I got a better handle on just how the whole thing was to go together.  I gained confidence.

There were two portions of the construction that I did differently than what was laid out in the pattern.  One was for the sleeves and the other was for the zipper.

The shoulders and sides of the jacket, and the seam on the sleeves, were to be sewn up individually.  Then the sleeves were to be sewn into the arm holes of the jacket.  Picturing how it is to fit a square peg in a round hole, I did not think this would be easy.  Instead, I sewed only the shoulder seams on the jacket, not the sides.  Next I attached the curved parts of the top of the sleeves to the jacket.  And then I sewed up the side of the jacket and the seam of the sleeve all in one seam.

The zipper is contained between the outer shell and inner liner of the jacket.  Per the pattern instructions, they expected you to HAND sew the inner edge of that lining into the jacket before putting in the zipper.  Then turn in the edge of the outer shell and baste the zipper into place.  Then turn in the edge of the liner and baste it to the zipper.  What?!!!  Are you nuts!  Sew much HAND sewing!  And piddling around!

Instead I turned the outer shell and lining inside out.  Placed the zipper between those edges with the teeth facing in.  And sewed the zipper in.  Then turned it all right side out again.  Done.  Then I could later hand sew the inner edge of lining.

But first I tried it on.  And got really frustrated.  And wanted to cry.  Because even though the pattern comes with recommendations for what size to make according to your bust measurement....  This thing was WAY TOO BIG!  Let me tell you.  Having your children try to console you by saying, "You'll grow into it.", is not what you want to hear.  Those vertical stripes were not going to help this thing look sleek.  No. Way.

But I don't give up that easily.  Tenacious, I tell ya.

So, I undid the topstitching along MOST of the two back seams.  And resewed the two back seams and the side seams, including the sleeves.  And then chopped off the excess.  Shortened the sleeve length.  Hemmed them up.  And redid the topstitching along the back seams.

Much better.  No more crying in frustration.  Happy face.

Then I finished all the hand sewing for the lining.

Would I do this again?  Absolutely!

The three most important things I learned were....
It is scary fun to try new things.
I gained new skills, experience, confidence and a really fine jacket.
And I am so happy to have made something for me!

Since I had no idea how long it would take to make this project, I did not outline any other goals.  But I would definitely like to continue to participate in the last remaining week of the challenge.

I do have some leftover Charley Harper fabric pieces.  Maybe I can whip up a little something else for me?


I am linking up with everyone at Sarah's for Week 3 Progress.

Come on over and see how everyone else is doing with their goals!

P.S.  Be sure to enter my GIVEAWAY, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop, going on NOW!

Keep On Quilting On!