Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: My Olive Green Tamarack

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great week!

I am here to share my latest make, a Tamarack Jacket from Grainline Studio.

This pattern has been out for a while. I am so late to the party, but better late than never, right? I am super happy how my Tamarack turned out!

Are you ready? Let's go!

Fabric

Making an olive color jacket was one of the items on my wish list for a while. Unfortunately the quilted jacketing I used has sold out. When I saw this plaid flannel, I thought it would be pretty if I placed the red on the cuffs. I wanted the red to peek out when I fold over the cuffs.



Pattern Alterations

I used size 6, shortened 2" for the bodice, and shortened 1" from the sleeve. If I make it again, I would add 1" back to the sleeve. (I am 5'1") 

That way, I can fold over cuffs, but I don't lose the length of the sleeves.

Also, I would probably go with one size bigger to wear with more layers of clothes underneath.


When I made the sample jacket, I didn't like that the pocket placement. 

I felt that my hands were in awkward positions. I wasn't comfortable putting my hands in. It was probably caused by shortening an inch of the jacket raised the placement of the pockets.


I wanted my hands to be able to slide in from the side instead of from top to bottom for this jacket.

Also, I wanted the pocket lining not to be inside the jacket for this project because I wanted to showcase the plaid. 

So, I did some research for pocket options. There are so many Tamarac jackets made by creative makers all over the internet. I could spend hours looking at them!! LOL

I was almost going to go with patch pockets after I saw Helen's (Helen's closet) Tamarack.

Then I saw someone used the pocket of Jasse from Seamwork! I said, "Yeees!! This is the ones that I need! "I really liked the kangaroo style for my jacket. 


Issues That I Ran Into

I was able to fix them, but I had two minor issues that I want to share.


Issue #1

As you can see in the picture, I used some horizontal lines on the plaid for quilting. Since the flannel was lightweight and shifty, I was a bit skeptical about how the stripes match when I sew seams together.

Lucky, all the seams matched beautifully except the left front. The side seam of the left front matched with the back, but the right and left front did not match. It was crucial to be fixed because it's the front!  I was grateful that I had extra fabric to make the piece again.


I used safety pins and adhesive spray for the fabric to make quilting pieces. Now that I look back on it, I think it would have helped if I starched the flannel before cutting it. Note to myself, for a future project! LOL


Issue #2

When I was sewing bias tape around the neckline, I noticed that the bias tape seam was close to the right front corner. I thought there was enough distance not to affect making miter corner, but I was wrong! It was right on it! It was bulky and so ugly!  

So, I solved it by moving bias seams, removing a few inches of seams on the jacket, and then cut off the problem bias seams and sewing bias tape back together on bias. Don't we all love the light bulb going off in our heads and finding the solution?

If I had not made some quilts last year. I could not fit it the way I did. I would have had to undo the rest of the seams. I am so glad I knew how to close the binding. 


Well, this is my last post for Fabricsista. I am SO SO SO grateful for this opportunity. Thank you all so much for reading my blog. 

I discovered more makers and enjoyed reading their blogs.  

This year, I started something new. Between blogs as Fabricsista, I have been working hard since Spring. It is sewing-related. (of course!)

I probably need a bit more to share, but I can't wait to share it with my sewing friends!

till then,

Happy Sewing!

MEG  @meggisews


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category: JACKETING & FLANNEL.
You can also shop our selection of Grainline Studio patterns HERE.

Comments

  1. I love how the jacket looks straight forward but the details keep inviting you in. Wonderful sewing and I appreciate the great pics that have been shared.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your jacket looks great! You did an excellent job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your jacket. That is a great color. So happy you enjoyed your time as a Fabricsista.

    ReplyDelete
  4. First of, simply beautiful jacket! So professional looking! Solutions for how to avoid your issues:

    1) Quilt before you cut. Take one piece of fabric which will be large enough for all the quilted details plus some extra space just in case. Quilt. Then place the pattern pieces on the right side and ensure that all the lines meet where they absolutely must, same as you would do with a plaid or horizontal stripe fabric. This way is also faster, because you don't have to stop and break the stitch lines.

    Alternatively: make bigger seam allowances, like 1 inch or even more, to give yourself some wiggle room after quilting. You can always cut the extra fabric away afterwards.

    2) Baste the detail that absolutely must look right (or at least pin baste). Place the seam of the bias tape at an inconspicuous place closest to your most visible points. E.g., for top front corners the best place to pit the seam of the bias tape is neckline center back. Baste the trim all the way to make sure that everything looks as it is supposed to. Then stitch. I know basting takes extra time, but if you wanted it fast you'd probably just go and buy it, right? If you choose to do it with your own hands, then I figure that's because you love doing it, so why don't spend as much time as it takes on something you love :)

    Alternatively: don't baste but stitch it in 2 steps. Start with the neckline center back where you place the seam of the bias tape and go all the way to one of the side seams on the hem, stop. Then do the same in another direction, from neckline center back to the hem side seam. I find it that on the hem a side seam is a more inconspicuous place than the center back so make the trim ends meet there.

    Happy stitching!
    Natalia

    ReplyDelete
  5. Absolutely love this ❤️🧵🪡

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: A Mother’s Day Gift - Making my Daughter’s Prom Dress

Happy Friday All! As a mother and sewist, I am always planning months in advance for any special occasion dress. Due to the pandemic, my daughter missed all the activities at the end of her elementary journey and I was truly heart broken. She did not have any promotional ceremony, field trips or activities for the last few months of elementary school. I made a vow to myself that in Middle School, no matter what life throws us, I would make the perfect Junior Prom dinner dance dress even if she had to twirl in it at home. When I came across this beautiful blue lycra sequins fabric, I was thrilled. My daughter Arielle and I spoke a few months ago about the perfect Grade 8 Junior Prom dinner dance dress. She found an inspirational photo on Pinterest back in December which was a one shoulder maxi dress that sparkles and she was excited about me making her special dress. At the time she wasn’t quite sure of the shade of blue she wanted but after our trip to Jamaica during Spring break, she

Made By A Fabricista: Rayon Challis Separates for Me!

This month I decided to take a minute to sew something for myself! Knowing that I was about to move house (I'm excited to be getting a nice big sewing room!), I opted to use some tried-and-true patterns that I knew would be quick and easy to sew: Jalie Michelle and Jalie Geneviève . I've really loved seeing garments made in crinkle challis lately, so I selected a solid mustard yellow crinkle challis with a plan for either pants or a skirt ( Geneviève is a skirt, but there's also a culotte option available for it), and two sateen challis prints for a top (Michelle can be made either as a top or a dress). I considered making a reversible top with both fabric prints, but upon playing with them in real life, opted for two separate tops with a facing. Given that challis tends to be a bit shifty, it's best to starch it before you begin cutting out your project. It's also best to cut it out on a large surface with a rotary cutter so the fabric doesn't get distorted.

Made by a Fabricista: YouTube Edition | Marty - Let's Make a Spring Dress

Light Cornflower Blue/Fern Green/Imperial Red/Multi 100% Rayon Floral Print Challis 54W I don't have much to say about my project this time. Other than I can't be happier with how it turned out. I think it'll make a cute romantic dress for summer but also blend into the high-fantasy wardrobe that I want to create. It'll be fun to play with and explore. Hopefully, next time my life will be a little more put together and I'll be a little less stressed. But for now, I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I do. With all the chaos included. MARTY   |  @scrappypatterns Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly! You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category,  CHALLIS .