What? A completely new pattern? Not the Tessuti Mandy again? Whatever has gotten into me?
— Well, a few years ago I found this jacket on Pinterest and really loved it.
Initially I was too chicken to try and wing a copy, but then, — great excitement –, Vogue published V9135, a Katherine Brenne pattern that was very similar. Yes, it has taken me years and a pandemic to actually get around to making it, but better late than never.
The pattern is less extreme in body width (note the width where the sleeve joins the body) and the collar is more restrained too, which is all to the good. These days I still like oversized, but much less that in my Lagenlook heyday. That particular insanity has passed.
Having stepped out of my TNT comfort zone I made a muslin first, which got the tick for shape, although the fabric I had used was a pink country print which was a bit off putting.
Confined to the house because of the dreaded lurgy, I thought I would have another go with more suitable fabric. I would have preferred plain black, but the black and silver acetate was all I had in my stash. Problematic with other prints worn underneath, I know, but with this epidemic said to go on for months I will have enough jackets to go with absolutely everything. The only problem will be that none of them will fit me before long, due to my current enormous consumption of chocolate. The Easter bunny has a lot to answer for.
So here is the jacket, unfortunately proof that large prints are much more aesthetically pleasing than small ones, but hey, this print is not too bad and it will be a long time before I can rush off to a European fabric market to get a better one.
You can tell that I am not into shoes!
After I had finished this jacket, and wished very much that it was plain black, I decided to have a go at dying my original pink muslin. I thought that the print would still be visible, only tone in tone black, but happily this isn’t the case. Even a very close look can’t find any trace of it. So now I have a plain black jacket as well as the silver on black print. I suspect the plain will get a lot more wear.
Because black swallows all the light so you can’t see much in photos, I lightened them up quite a lot, which makes them look washed out and grainy, but at least you can make out the bones of the garment. The lightening does horrible things to human faces, so these photos are cropped to the essentials.
Judy said:
Excellent bonrs! Detail shows micely in the black. Other is cute, just cpuld mo tg see the details. Collar is gresy.
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Judy said:
Sorry for tupis….text is tiny! Dors mot expand!!
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Judy said:
Even worse!! Bye
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Rivergum said:
Thanks! I think I figured out what you want to say. š
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Sandra said:
I have an ancient black Mela Purdie shower-proof jacket (which is only used for overseas trips because it’s so lightweight) – it’s similar but different and so easy to wear. Now I have a replacement – Yay!
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Rivergum said:
Yep, that would work except it doesn’t have a hood. Great for a wind breaker though.
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Sandra said:
Forgot to mention that Coco’s Loft sewed one up in white – https://cocosloft.blogspot.com/2015/09/v9135-kathryn-brenne-jacket.html
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Rivergum said:
Thanks for that, that was really interesting to read.
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SewRuthieStyle said:
A great win that the original test garment could be overdyed to the colour you wanted! Its an interesting but still wearbale style plus drawstrings are very in apparently.
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Coco said:
So pretty! I love this pattern. And I laughed at your noting your growing jacket inventory. Happening to me as well š Sewing the detail of a jacket is nicely diverting.
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Rivergum said:
Coco, I really enjoyed reading about your version and it looks great! You did a much better job at showing the sewing process than I ever do, which would be very helpful to others.
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Vancouver Barbara said:
Inspiring yet again. I have the pattern…waiting. Yesterday I watched Linda Lee of The Sewing Workshop do her post on sewing with crinkly fabrics. Sheās another inspiration and she made a big jacket that is wonderful. I was trying to imagine which of my patterns I could use to emulate her creation and now I know! Her videos are great. Love both your jackets though the details are difficult to see in the patterned one.
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Rivergum said:
Oh, glad this is useful! Quite a quick and easy pattern to sew, but if you are having any trouble I suggest you look at Coco’s blog (link above).
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Christine said:
What fabulous jackets. It will be a real treat to look forward to when you can get out to wear them.
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Rivergum said:
Yes, aren’t we all looking forward to getting back to normal!
That said, our restrictions in NSW happen to be easing just a little today, so my daughter and her family will be able to visit tomorrow. I haven’t seen my grandkids for ages and miss them lots. Really looking forward to the visit.
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mame08 said:
The black and white jacket is smashing! I’d wager that you might wear it more than you think right now, but only because I love it and would wear that a lot. Thanks for showing the two, and the line drawings.
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