SWA(SP)P 2016-Wildcards-#3: Bolero jacket

McCall’s 4450, view C, modified front.

I made quite good progress on this today, if not quite as much as I’d hoped.  I basted the underlining onto the wool pieces [I used the toile for underlining where feasible, waste not want not and all that].

I machined the shoulder and side seams, and herringbone stitched all the seam allowances down.  I learned to do this on the Craftsy ‘Couture Dress’ course, which I highly recommend.  I don’t do it on everything, but with thicker fabrics, it makes a huge difference.  This wool is quite bouncy- it takes a press really well, but is fairly bulky on the seams.

I sewed the lining together as well, assembled the sleeves, and joined the sleeves and their linings together at the cuff edge.  I thought about piping, but thought it might make them too rigid.  I understitched by hand [Kate what have you done to me?]

My non-perfectionist sewing style meant that there was a little tatty not-quite matched up bit at the top of the sleeve slit, so I did a teeny bit of codge stitching.  It was stronger, but looked like crap.  Then a lightbulb went on over my head, and out came all those gorgeous buttons that I bought at the market weeks ago.

You know how sometimes you sew a little teeny thing and it just gladdens your heart?  Well look at these beauties.  I’m so happy with the way this looks!  So’s the wife, so I now get to make another jacket for her.  I promise we won’t wear them at the same time, we don’t do mitchy-matchy!