Made by a Fabricista: A Rigel Bomber Jacket

Hello lovely peeps! I’m so happy because it’s the time of year I get to say adios to all my winter coats. As I was putting them away for the season I realized that I don’t have any light weight jackets to wear when the weather is not all that. My usual go to when the days and nights are still a little cool is my ratty zip-up hoodie. I’m gladly trading it in for a more stylish bomber jacket.

The pattern is the Rigel Bomber by Papercut Collections. This pattern was released in their Constellation collection last November. FYI: Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the seventh brightest star in the night sky. The jacket is unlined has welt pockets and raglan sleeves with two different options, plain sleeves or geometric details.

For my fabric I chose a hot pink polka dot cotton sateen that was featured in Julie’s Picks for the month of March. If you don’t have a Julie’s Picks membership and have been contemplating getting one let me be your enabler. I look forward to my flyer every month (and the box of fabric that will follow shortly after of the picks I’ve ordered). I’ve never been disappointed and will never be without my membership.

I first traced the XXS and made a quick muslin. Not thinking or even reading for that matter, I basted with a 5/8 seam allowance. The jacket was a little snug. I finally picked up the instructions and seen that a 3/8 seam allowance was included in the pattern. So I did some unpicking and basted again with the correct SA. Perfect fit! What a difference 1/4 of an inch can make! It always helps to read your instructions first too. ;) I was super happy no fit adjustments were needed. One thing I should mention to those considering making this jacket is that I’ve seen others comment on the sleeve length and how they are rather short. I have short arms and the sleeves fit perfect. Usually that’s just the opposite for me. I recommend measuring your sleeve length to be sure.

I wish I could say construction was smooth sailing for me but I kind of hit a road block when it came to the welt pockets. I had one of those moments where I read the instructions twenty times and it just was not clicking in my little ol' brain. I stepped away for awhile, got myself a little snack (ice cream it was!) and was ready to roll again. Then it kinndda clicked for me. Well not really but I muddled through it. I think next time I'll approach it a little differently than the instructions by following this video tutorial.

I wanted the inside of my jacket to look just as pretty as the outside so I lined mine in a floral rayon challis. I attached my lining so that all the seams were hidden except for the sleeve hem. No one will see my sleeve hem anyway and I used my serger so the seam looks neat. My facing is hand sewn to the lining with a slip stitch. The more I hand sew the more I find I rather like it. It relaxes me and I was able to knock it out while watching a movie.

Knit ribbing was used for the cuffs, hem and neckline. My ribbing was lightweight and though it works well for the cuffs and bottom hem I think a more stable knit would be nicer for the neckline. This knit tends to get a little floppy by day’s end. The only thing left to talk about is the zipper. A 14-inch separating zipper is needed. Boy oh boy are separating zippers easy peasy to install!!

This jacket was super fun and quick to make up. I’ve got plans for a couple more versions like this fun, bold floral print and a warmer wool version for fall in plaid.

Yes, yes Vito we can go in now for those treats….

~Shannon

Follow Shannon's blog at ShanniLoves.

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing Summery ITY

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Made By A Fabricista: Basics vs Fun Clothes

Every summer I make flowy, pretty dresses because they are so fun for me to make, wear, and they keep me cool as temperatures rise. But when the days get shorter and autumn rolls around, I’m not always confident on how best to transition my summery dresses into garments that will allow for the seasonal changes. In an effort to be more intentional about maximizing the use of my clothing, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to make for August. It’s been a hot summer in New Jersey. From what I can see, it’s been a hot summer across the US. Looking for clothing that will keep me cool, perhaps hide some sweat stains, and allow me to transition between seasons, I decided to make separates that would pair well with each other and allow me to mix and match with the rest of my wardrobe. For the top, I wanted a basic tank top, something I could layer later on. For the bottoms, I wanted flowy, summery pants that can last into brisker weather or become phenomenally cozy in front of my wint...

Made By A Fabricista: From Paris with Love!

Bonjour! I am still in bliss from my recent trip to Paris!! It was much more than I expected and I absolutely fell in love with the city. I can honestly see myself living there one day. I knew before leaving I wanted to make something to fit into the Parisian landscape because I knew it would be a special opportunity. I was inspired by one of my favorite fashion creators Juliette Foxx. Her checked gingham corset and wide leg pants were on my list to remake. For fabric I used this red and white pin stripe denim twill and deep red sateen for the pants. The pattern I used for the corset was McCall’s #M8182 with a few modifications. The fit was a little large so I took it in along the sides and shoulder seam. I then lowered the neckline since the shoulders were taken in. I used the sateen as my lining which gave a great contrast. My pants are my unreleased pattern which happens to be exact from the inspiration. I drafted these last year and have been wo...

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