In a lot of ways this coat was like giving birth. It started out easy, it got kind of sucky at the end, but I felt heroic pushing through, and I am so pleased with the finished product I am quickly forgetting the pains of the past. And given time, I think I will want to go through it again.
A good chunk of the sucky was from the zipper. The zipper that I ripped out 4 times and sewed a finger once while putting in. A zipper that is still a bit wavy, but not so wavy that I mind it anymore.
Materials:
I found all of the materials for this “Minoru” jacket (by Sewaholic) from my local Joann’s – a 16-wale “blackberry” corduroy for the jacket and synthetic lining in a pretty print.
Changes to the pattern:
- I cut out the pattern at size 14 in the bust/shoulders and graded out to a 16 in the waist. I was pretty impressed that I didn’t have to lengthen the sleeves. I am 5’10” and my arms usually stick awkwardly out of jackets.
- I did raise the elastic waist 2 inches because I have a high natural waist.
- I added some interfacing to the collar.
- I used Amy’s side seam pockets tutorial to add external pockets. I think some flapped welt pockets would have been super adorable but I didn’t want to change too much for the first go.
The Bad:
I still think this jacket is crazy cute and total worth sewing up even with the frustrations that I had.
- There are some typos in the inches measurements (the metric is correct). The English measurement is left out a couple of times(with the metric given), and the hem length given in the last step is wrong.
(7 cm is 2.75 inches not 2 inches.)[Tasia posted about the hem. It’s 2 5/8″.] - I was really confused by the orphaned notches on the pattern, where the collar and placket connect to the jacket/jacket lining. I kept getting turned around about which way was up and what notches had something to match up to. Maybe I am just out of practice or too distracted, but it had me scratching my head.
What I figured out in the end is this:
On the placket, the short end with two notches is the top and the notched long edge attaches to the jacket front.
The top-most notch on the long edge lines up with the collar/jacket front seam and the other two are ignored. Those two notches are only used when attaching the placket to the lining.
For the collar, the single notched side is the top, and the bottom has notches for the center back and the center sleeve.
I never could figure out where the collar’s right-most bottom notch went to, maybe it lines up with the gathering markings?
The Happy:
Isn’t it convenient of the weather to forget that it is supposed to be winter so I don’t have to wait until spring to wear this jacket? Yes, it is.
past posts about this project:
This looks great – I love the color on you! I struggled with a wavy zipper too – ripping it out once was not fun. Kudos to you for doing it more than once! And now that you’ve posted about the inches being off, why I had so much extra at my hem totally makes sense…
It took me a while to figure out. I’m glad I hit up Google Calc.
It’s beautiful!! Great color, great cut… fits you wonderfully!! Well done, Jodi!! You are killing me though… I have several projects lingering and now I want to finish them despite not having any time. So thanks. Thanks a lot 🙂
You notice that I am posting pictures OUTSIDE. I have been sorely neglecting family and house care and sewing instead. 😛
It’s gorgeous and that color is amazing on you. Well done!
Looks great on you!
It looks amazing on you- totally worth the work! And what a great color…
Thank you. 🙂
Gorgeous! I love the purple on you. And, I’m sorry to hear about your troubles with the pattern and zipper. Bravo for figuring out what you needed to finish a great garment. Now to find lots of excuses to wear our Minorus, right?
Like… an excuse to leave the house? 🙂
I’m glad you were able to push through even with the zipper debacle…
speaking of sewing things that should not be sewn… I got my hair stuck in the threading device yesterday…. like REALLY stuck. it was a nightmare.
the jacket looks great! 🙂
yikes!
Oh Wowsers! I love the colour of your coat – well done it’s gorgeous!
Love your finished jacket! Is that a stripey purple lining I see? I bet it looks fantastic. It’s a great fit on you and I love the colour.
I love your jacket. Great color!
This is absolutely gorgeous!
Oh boy… you sewed a finger???? That’s one of my greatest fears when it comes to sewing. I hope you’re OK!
The positive side of sewing that finger is that you sure did end up with a cute jacket! Loooove that color!
I’m fine. 🙂 I didn’t hit a nail, nothing broke inside me. In all, it was the “best” way it could of happened. 🙂
It looks amazing on you- totally worth the work! And what a great color…love it sooo..
& thanks for flowers…
This is gorgeous– what a perfect color for you! I love the texture of the corduroy, too– it’s so soft and plush-looking! Great job!