Read The Instructions, Do It Your Way Anyways

Who needs a formal 1950’s bolero style jacket? I do! This pattern was next in my collection. I had to choose a view, and decided to go with view C. This jacket is fully lined. Before the thought of this would intimidate me, but not anymore! Now that I’ve done a couple of lined things I felt confident going into this sew.

So first thing’s first. Whenever I sew something I have to find the right pattern pieces. If you’ve never sewn a pattern let me tell you, they are made out of a tissue paper type of paper, and are never printed in any kind of order that makes sense. They are printed however they fit, and sometimes it’s like finding a needle in a haystack…..if they haystack is made of tissue paper and delicate, that is! You need to be careful not to tear it, and double check that you have all of the needed pieces before refolding the pieces that you don’t need, and putting them away.

Here’s a picture of my struggle with this pattern.

I chose black for my jacket, thinking that black can go with anything. I bought this particular fabric on clearance, and had it waiting for the perfect project to present itself.

I like to lay patterns out on my kitchen bar top. It’s wide and slippery fabric won’t slide off.

So, it’s confession time. I hate reading the instructions! I glance at them, and the picture, and keep sewing. While glancing at the directions on this pattern, it showed the liner on the jacket at this point. I pinned it in place but thought that was odd. I had never done a liner like this before. Was it a new technique? This couldn’t be right! I wanted to do it the way I had done other liners.

I started reading the directions, and not just glancing at them. It was then that I caught the mistake in the pattern. The key, which shows liners, fabric, right sides, wrong sides, was wrong! It was showing the liner, but was supposed to be showing the wrong side of the fabric!

I unpinned the liner, and carried on the way I wanted to sew it.

Jacket front, pieced together. Look at those pocket welts! A few posts ago I didn’t know what a pocket welt was, and now they’re no big deal.

Cutting the interfacing for the front facing of the jacket.

Now to sew the liner! This makes much more sense to me! Yes, reading the directions carefully is something I need to work on, but printing them correctly would also help! *Ahem, that’s directed at you Simplicity Sewing Co.

Pinning the last bit of the liner before I finish it, and then the jacket.

Then I had another hurdle to jump on this one. I needed a place to take the after pictures at. I tried to just take the pictures in my drive way. I asked Michael, my husband, for help. Let me just skip to the end of that story and tell you that he is fired as my photographer! HA! He won’t tell you if the light is on your face in a weird position. He won’t mention if your shirt is crooked, or doing something wonky.

Here’s the best picture that he took in the driveway. I think it’s even a little blurry. Yup, he was fired.

Into the house I went. Frustrated and with no pictures. I changed clothes and tried to do it myself with a selfie. My arm isn’t long enough to get a good look at the jacket. So I gave up that day, called my sister Michelle, and enlisted her to help me the next day.

The next day we drove around looking for a spot to take my pictures at. Picturesque places are hard to come by in my small town, then I remembered the fun place that is right in our back yard. I told Michelle, let’s go try Eagle Field.

Eagle Field was built and used during WWII to train fighter pilots. It still stands and has a museum, the air strip, and a lot of other neat old buildings. It is private property now, but we drove up the the sign and gateway into the old air field. They hold events here all the time, and this summer they will have a fly in. Old planes come and land, and there is a dinner and a dance with a live 1940’s band. Yes, I will have plenty of outfits for that event, so stay tuned! Yes, I will have to use the WWII fabric for a lot of those sews!!

For now though, it would work as a great backdrop to my bolero jacket.

Michelle to the rescue with better photographer skills!

Trying to look casual while my heels were sinking in the dirt.

I love the way the jacket turned out, and paired with Capri pants I think it has a rockabilly look to it.

This little jacket could make a formal dress more finished and a casual outfit more fun!

Every sew is a lesson learned for me, some more than others. This one really hit home with me to read the directions carefully, don’t just glance and go.

I also learned to trust my own sewing instincts. If it doesn’t seem like you’re sewing it right, you’re probably not. (Even pattern makers make mistakes.)

And although Michael tried, photography isn’t his strong suit, but I give him credit for trying!

Style is also open to interpretation. You can take a formal piece and dress it up or down. While making this I was sure I was going to wear something formal to show it off, but changed my mind once it was finished.

Lastly, your sister will always tell you when your shirt is wonky, and will dust your heels off when you sink in the dirt. Thank God for her!

As for me, onto the next!