A Posh Wearable Muslin

Some time ago I saw an Instagram post by the lovely Celia of Fig Jam and Lime Cordial which had a picture to promote the new series of Queer Eye. I was totally taken by the leopard print jacket that Tan France was wearing and decided I HAD TO HAVE THAT JACKET!!!

The decision to be made after locating the fabric was which pattern to use. I really love my Style Arc Stacie jeans jackets but wondered if it might be time to try a different option – and I had a pattern that had been waiting patiently for a very long time. I checked with The Management to see what he thought. Try the new pattern was the outcome.

I have to confess immediately that this jacket was to be made as a wearable muslin. You know, one of those thrown together projects just to test the style and fit of a new pattern. Clearly I didn’t get that memo.

The pattern is Vogue 1293, an Anne Klein design with jacket and trousers. I can’t remember when I bought this pattern but I know I have brought it to the top of the heap multiple times before it sunk without trace again. Not this time 😁.

I really liked the details in this jacket but decided that this time it would have to do without the in seam decoration. After all this is just a wearable muslin……   . The fabric I decided to use was a creamy, putty, bleurgh coloured cotton twill that came from deep stash. I didn’t like it and kept delaying the start. What to do? So I bought dye  on a Birmingham trip with the Demented Fairy, threw everything into the washing machine as instructed and turned the fabric colour to ‘Rosewood’. Much better.

I measured the actual pattern pieces to ensure I cut the right size and got going. I didn’t take too long to discover I needed to go down a size. It would seem I need to redo my measurements after all of my gym visits and running club gossipy runs. I also decided at this point that I wanted to spend a bit more time on the finish and bound all the seams (am I forgiven now for taking so long to post?).

In between general life, and just enjoying the unexpectedly lovely summer weather, I staggered to a completion this week. Check it out (on Bessie who is still my old size).

 

 

I was strangely happy spending time hand sewing the top stitch detail round the fronts and collar, and whilst I like the concealed packet I’m not sure it was actually worth the effort involved (although I might change my mind about that). I’m very happy with the seam bindings and would take more time to actually make a good job of it next time!

Even though you can’t see this on me I can say that I was very happy with it. I decided to show The Management and remind him what it was going to be made in. He liked it. He just thought that the leopard print would look better in the Style Arc pattern. He was asked his opinion before I started but hey….

Style Arc Stacie it is then. I think it’s going to be fabulous 😍

 

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