Made by a Fabricista: A Non-Stuffy Suit

I've been contemplating looking for a new job, and realized that I don't really have any outfits that I would feel comfortable interviewing in. I've got a lot of semi-dressy tops and dresses, but nothing in the "suit" category. So, I've decided to focus on making a few items that would be appropriate for an interview, but not so "stuffy" that I wouldn't want to wear them for anything else. I didn't put a button on this jacket, but after taking pictures in the wind, I may need to rethink that! I had to hold the jacket down for the photo above.

For this suit ensemble, I used a Red-Violet Poly/Rayon/Lycra Stretch suiting for the jacket, a Dark Navy/Light Blue Pinstripe Wool Crepe suiting for the pants, and Pearl Polyester/Lycra ITY Knit for the top (Vogue 9006). The pinstripe wool is really nice- not a bit scratchy. It's Italian, and you can feel the quality. Here is a closer look at it:

The poly rayon lycra suiting was really nice to work with too. Unfortunately, it has sold out, but there are some really nice suitings in Fabric Mart's Suiting category. It had a nice drape, and that was good because the back of my jacket had a pleat that needed a nicely draping fabric for it to work.

I was going for an unconstructed, unlined jacket look with wide leg pants, and I found this pattern, Vogue 9176 that had both! Here's the line drawings:

I made the pattern as is, except I was disappointed that neither the pants or the jacket designs included pockets! I mean, gee whiz, how unpractical! I keep a few patterns for pocket styles in my cutting table drawer, so that I can add them if a pattern doesn't include a pocket pattern. I have templates for a kangaroo front pocket, side seam dress pockets, curved patch pockets, and side seam pants pockets. So, for this pattern, I pulled out both the curved patch pocket and side seam pants pocket templates.

Here's a photo of the cardboard template of the inside of the curved patch pocket, and the interfaced piece. I only interface to the seamline. I stitch at the seamline, and then run some basting stitches at the corners, so that I can pull it to fit the template. This makes it easier to press and get a nice curved edge.

For placing it on the jacket, I like to use Wonder Tape, instead of pins. There are several brands of a similar product, but I have found the Collins brand to be the best. Some of the others aren't very sticky.

What you do is run a strip around the inside edge, then peel off the plastic side of the tape. It can then be positioned on your project. If you try it on, and don't like where it is, it's easy to peel it off and reposition it. Then you just stitch it on. The Wonder Tape holds it in place more securely than pins, so that it won't move on you while you are sewing the pocket in place.

I made a second top out of a striped double knit, that you might have in your stash as well, as it was in the $1.99 section for a while! I just had one yard of it, and used a really simple pattern for it- Kwik Sew 3233.

I'm happy with all of these pieces. Even if I don't interview for a new job, I can definitely see wearing these to my current job at an elementary school, as they are bright and cheery, and with the added pockets- practical too!

Happy Sewing!

Ann

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