Saturday, April 17, 2010

Butterick 5335 - Yellow linen jacket w/ large gathered collar

Hey there! Thanks for all the comments and congratulations about our impending bundle of joy. I am overwhelmed by all of your sweet comments. Well, I wrote in my last post that I hoped to have a jacket finished by last weekend. Oops, that didn't happen. Although I did have it completed Tuesday but we have been busy busy around here. And it's been raining so getting any good photos was difficult.

However, today the dark clouds parted for a few hours and I got some snaps taken. This jacket is a little crazy for me. I'm more of a tailored-collar-and-lapels type of girl. I think I was won over by the envelope drawing of it in yellow, to tell the truth. It's not the first time I've talked myself into making something because the picture showed it in yellow.

One of my problems with this jacket is that I envisioned it coordinating with a lot of other yellow garments in my wardrobe. I've finally figured out that it wants to be the star, and just to pair it with simple other clothing, like the jeans and white top you see here. I did add some fun shoes, though. Otherwise it's too plain.

I love the built-in back belt. Per some PR reviews, I shortened the belt by 3 inches. No other alterations were made. My usual Butterick size is 12, but this jacket was made in a 10 because the measurements were so big on the pattern tissue. I should have made a muslin but... I winged it.

Here you can see it worn open with my hands in the handy front pockets. Take a look at those humongous snaps! They take forever to sew on! And I'm a pretty patient button/snap attacher.

Okay, so if I had been able to try it on and figure out how the collar was going to lay early on, it probably would have become a wadder. But there is a ton of sewing and the lining is put in before you can really see what you've got. Then I thought - Holy cow! I've made a clown jacket!!! The collar flowed from its gathering high around the neck right over my shoulders and made me look like I had no shoulder definition. Not a pretty look. After playing around with the collar for awhile, I discovered that if the drawstring is gathered somewhat and knotted at the buttonhole opening, the collar stays gathered and poofy around the neck. Now you can see that I do indeed have shoulders.

Here's a close-up of the interesting pleated sleeves. I sewed the pleats from the inside instead of basting from the outside, and left them in after the lining was attached.

This jacket has a full lining. I matched the yellow as best as possible. This linen is somewhat transparent, and any type of interesting color or pattern would have been visible from the outside.

These are the ginormous snaps. Originally I had them sewn to the collar as well, as per the pattern drawing. But they served no purpose, were very expensive, and weighted the collar down, so I removed them. If you ever use these and really want a nice look, be sure to sew them all in exactly the same. The ones on the collar had their holes pointing in all different directions before I figured out that was noticeable.


Even though I had hesitations about this jacket's deviation from my typical style, I ended up loving it. Sometimes you just have to take a risk a be a little out there, right? Keep them guessing.

The costs:

pattern - $0.99
1 7/8 yards yellow linen with a half off coupon - $14.06
1 1/2 yards yellow lining also with a coupon - $5.24
thread - $1.50 ish
4 huge snaps on sale half off - $7.50 (!!!)
little bit of interfacing - $1.00 ish

Grand total: $30.29 plus or minus

This is my jacket for April. Wonder what happened to a jacket for March? It didn't happen, that's what happened. I'll have to double up in one of the coming months to make up for it.

33 comments:

  1. This jacket is super cute...I love the spring color...Great job..

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  2. That's a really cute jacket!! You've sewn it so beautifully.

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  3. It is the star! Suits you and it is a fun jacket. Pretty cute shoes too!

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  4. Nice jacket! I wish I could wear yellow, I love that colour, but on me it makes me look like I am about to get really sick :-)

    Great combination with the jeans and shirt!

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  5. Wowzers! Your jacket is both adorable and stylish, and the pale yellow is so gorgeous and unique. I loved looking at all the details. You look great and the way you set the collar is just right.

    (I've always wondered whether pale yellow would suit my complexion - I think it's such an unusual and interesting colour in a garment)

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  6. This is so fun! And beautifully made as usual.

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  7. I love it; I'm a sucker for dramatic collars!
    That's a fabulous outfit!

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  8. I bought that pattern too. I think the drawings on the front are so cute. But when I really got a look at the pattern at home I thought I will probably never use this. It's cute on you with your tiny figure you can't even tell you're expecting yet. Maybe we'll have a cooler than normal summer this year since we have had a cooler than normal spring here in Texas this year.

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  9. That is a terrific jacket. You are just a "sunshine" kind of gal!

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  10. Great jacket! I have had this pattern for awhile, but can't decide what color/fabric to use. After seeing yours, I might work on the decision a little more.

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  11. This is a terrific jacket and as always, you did an amazing job.

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  12. I love how you have made something that isn't your usual style and the gamble has really paid off because it looks stunning! As always it is beautifully made - thanks for the great tip about sewing on the poppers with the holes exactly the same - that's exactly the sort of thing I don't think of until it's done and then have to redo it. I love the sunny colour and the collar and sleeves are gorgeous.

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  13. It's very cute and unique! I'm glad you like it. I hope morning sickness wasn't a reason for the March jacket that never was. I think I lost a good two months sewing to that last time around.

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  14. Great job and very cute! Funny... I bought a white coat similar to that from Calvin Klein last spring! It has a smaller collar, front zipper, and no back belt but otherwise it is the same style. :)

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  15. Very cute and you did a great job on it. The color is perfect for spring

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  16. Super hint about the snaps. Great spring jacket!

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  17. Thanks for the review of this pattern. I've had it in my stash for awhile now. Great suggestions on how to keep this from looking like a clown jacket.

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  18. The colour and the style of the jacket look great on you. Thanks for the tip about the snaps.

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  19. What a lovely jacket!!! It looks so cute and fun! Congratulations.

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  20. This is such a fun jacket, good for you for trying something different. I especially love it worn open so you can see the funky (and immaculately stitched) giant snaps.

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  21. There are a lot of cute details on that jacket...I like to take a few sewing / style risks...if you end up with something fabulous, like you have, it's great...if you don't, well at least there was the fun in dreaming and sewing about it. I love the ginormous snaps...need to get my hands on some.

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  22. Wow, such an awesome jacket! I love it in yellow! This one is in my to do list.

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  23. Love the collar on this jacket. It is really cute on you!!!

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  24. That is a really fun jacket! I think it looks really cute with the jeans and fun shoes, but it would also look cute with a slim-fitting navy dress underneath. I know, I know, maybe not right now, but later. ;)

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  25. I love yellow and use a lot of it.
    You look wonderful inthe jacket, and you doid a nice job.
    Pairing it with jeans is perfect.
    alas I am too short andf busty for that style, but it looks great on you!

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  26. As usual you did a great job sewing. I think I would like to see this jacket which is kinda "high drama" with a simple shealth dress. Do you think that would work?

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  27. I love this one! Yellow is such a good color for spring. The sleves are so original.

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  28. This is a gorgeous jacket - well done!

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  29. Love this jacket in the pattern and it's cute on too! I have the same problem - I love the pic or fashion drawing on the pattern and then the garment is for some reason a let down. Would love to make this one - How do you feel about it now that it's been a few weeks?

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  30. JaimeSews - I do actually like this jacket, especially since I was able to starch out the rippling on the front of the collar. Of course I haven't had an opportunity to wear it since it's now warm here and my belly is big. If you like the style, go for it! It's definitely unique. Thanks for the comment. :)

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