Thursday, August 6, 2020

COVID 19 Sewing Project

Long before I ever made a quilt I sewed clothing. My mother taught me to sew starting at age 8 when I joined the local 4-H club. I was in sewing for all 10 years that I belonged to 4-H. I wish I had more time to sew clothing but fabric designing, pattern writing, and quilt making take up most of my time. However, while we were in COVID lockdown this spring I decided to do some garment making to pass along the long COVID nights.
I don't know why but I have a problem getting rid of my old jeans. I have no problem taking my other garments to goodwill but for some reason, I hang onto jeans. Consequently, I have a whole box of jeans. Since we were in lockdown and stores were closed I had to make do with what I had for fabric. After sorting through my many pairs of jeans I decided that I would make a jean jacket out of my jeans. (I know that is not much of a creative stretch...)
 

I used this vintage pattern. I find that vintage patterns fit so much better than the patterns of today. I am especially drawn to the patterns from the late sixties to the early seventies. This particular pattern is dated 1965. Some day I would like to make this dress and jacket. So Jackie looking.
I started by deconstructing the jeans that I thought would work for the various parts of the jacket.
 

I used a waistband off of one of my favorite pairs of jeans for the collar. I kept the belt loops and left them hang loose.

 
I took the hem out of one of my wider legged pair of jeans and used them for the 3/4 length sleeves. I used the little fifth pocket on one of the sleeves.
 
I used a front pocket from the same favorite jeans that I used for the collar and added it to one of the shoulders.
 

I had to "borrow" a pair of my hubby's jeans for the main back piece as none of my jeans were wide enough. (I'm sure … well pretty sure they were a pair he no longer wears.) The seam down the back of the jacket is the side seam of the jeans leg. I also used the waistband from his jeans for the bottom of my jacket, again leaving the belt loops attached and hanging loose. The side seams I topstitched using a gold jean topstitching thread.
 

The pockets of that same pair of favorite jeans were lined with fabric that had feel beautiful printed on it. I cut out one of the feel beautiful sections and sewed it to the waistband.
 

I used the belt loops from that same pair of my favorite jeans and sewed them down the front of the jacket. These jeans had a double set of belt loops. There were bigger belt loops and under them were smaller belt loops to accommodate a wide belt and a narrow belt. I never knew this about these jeans until I took them apart. I never wore a belt with them. The gold zig-zag strip down the other side of the jacket came from the inseam of the hubby's jeans.
 


I found this great pair of wide-leg jeans from Anthropologie to go with my jacket. (No I do not get a kickback from Antropologie...I wish.)

Do any of you out there do garment sewing? What are your go-to shops/websites for buying garment fabric?  I collect vintage patterns, especially from the sixties and seventies. Are there any vintage pattern collectors out there? 

Today I am the featured designer on Riley Blake Designs Instagram. Check it out  @rileyblakedesigns. I also will be having a give away on my Instagram page @gervaissandy. Go to my page and follow the instructions to be eligible to win 12 patterns from my 3 latest lines of fabric. This is a retail value of $142.50! Don't miss out on this!

I hope you have a day of doing what you love to do.

From my heart,
Sandy