New McCall's Picks

To be honest, I haven't been impressed with McCall's patterns for close to a year now. However, some of their newest patterns are really intriguing!

I really like the shape and ruffle placement of 6518- Looks so fun and flirty!

Next is this color blocked tank, 6511. I especially like it in the monochromatic tones.

I also like the shape of these blouses in 6512. Love the tie neck with the shirttail hem line!

And finally, I really like the twist on the classic wrap top with these styles in 6513.


Yep, I definitely need these four patterns! Which ones do you have to have?

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Navy Jacket

Hope you all are having some wonderful holiday time, whatever you celebrate! It was my little one's first Christmas! He enjoyed it for small (30 second) increments at a time. But we had a great time with family.

By the way- I'm a jackass and owe many of you an apology! I turned on "comment moderation" a few months ago. I was getting some comments that I didn't feel were appropriate so wanted to make sure I screen them first. The other day, I was in my comment moderation page and deleted about twenty of the last comments made before my most recent blouse project. I thought I was deleting them from an inbox sort of thing, but no- I was deleting them off of my blog all together, with no hopes of recovery! Dang-it!!!! I doubt any of you would have noticed but that is the reason there are no comments left for the last several posts.

For this jacket I used Vogue 8480. I really liked the design details and lines of this jacket. Love the shorter, slightly flared sleeve. I like the notched collar. I also like the pockets that lay in the princess seam of the jacket. The topstitching makes the jacket much more RTW looking.

I used a stretch navy poplin. I can't remember where I got it- it's been in my stash for a while.

The jacket is not lined. I think if I were to make this again, I would add a lining to hide all of the seam allowances.

I made only a few minor changes. I shortened the sleeve cap height to make it easier to set-in. I also omitted the topstitching in just a few places where I thought it looked wonky. This included along the sleeve cap- it gave the cap a wrinkly appearance so I ripped the stitching out. And I also omitted topstitching along the pocket, another place I thought it just didn't look right, at least for me.

Overall, I am happy with the end garment. My only gripe is the color. It's kind of boring to wear a navy jacket so it needs to be paired with a great blouse or some stand out bottoms. I keep picturing it in my head over a white summer dress- not that I have a white summer dress. Maybe that will have to be on my to do list...

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Floral Blouse

Simplicity 2599

This pattern has been reviewed at least 50 times on Pattern Review so I'll save you a long review. It is a "Best Pattern of 2010", and for good reason!

I initially bought this fabric at Joann's for a vintage look I was going to make. I think the floral print screams vintage, in a cute way. And then I decided that vintage sewing is just not for me. Eeek... I know I'm gonna get some flak for that last statement but let me explain! I follow a lot of your vintage inspired blogs and I think you all look amazing. I love to admire all of your vintage looks and how you pull the looks together. However, I've tried the vintage thing and I've found that it just doesn't work for me. I don't think I have the creativity that others have to incorporate the vintage looks into my wardrobe. Plus I've found that the sizing is quite different and I don't have the patience to deal with the fitting issues. That being said, I've got a modest collection of vintage patterns that I will be downsizing so keep an eye out for giveaways in the new year!

So back to this project- the print fabric cost me $9.75. It's just a polyester print from the Simply Silky collection.

This top was very easy to make, I think I spent about 3-4 hours sewing it, not including cutting it out.

As far as alteration, I cut a size 18 with a 'B' cup. I found that this pattern has quite a bit of ease though. I ended up doing 1 inch seam allowances on the side and the top is still a little big for my preference. I think next time, I will cut out the 16 or maybe even the 14 and I think I will still have plenty of room to slip this on.

I finished the inside seam allowances with bias tape, a la Amanda. She always has impeccably finished garments inside and out. I think one of my New Year's resolutions will be to take more time finishing the seam allowances- it really does make a big difference!

I really like how this blouse turned out! It's a perfect top for wearing under a jacket with the ruffles spilling out the top! I can see myself making several different versions from this pattern- I could use dressy tops that are good for layering!

~Jenny

Burda Bomber Jacket

I've been sewing! Baby boy and I have worked out a way for me to get my sewing fix in and I've been loving it. Thanks for all of the encouragement and advice! Here's how it's been working: my cutting table is on wheels so I've been rolling it over to the kitchen and getting my cutting done while the baby is up. He loves to crawl around on the floor for most of the day. Doing the cutting in the kitchen allows me to keep an eye on him and he doesn't have to be cooped up in the sewing room which doesn't go over well for long. As far as the actual sewing, I do need to wait until the baby goes to sleep for this. So I've been staying up for a couple of hours, a few times a week to sew. It's football season so it's working out well with the hubby too. He watches the games, I get my sewing in!

This is from the 10/2009 issue of Burda. It is from their "Take 1, make 4" section and is style 129. There's actually another jacket in the same section that I have fabric for. I didn't renew my Burda subscription for a couple of reasons. Although I usually like at least 3-4 things from an issue, I wasn't keeping up with sewing them. I also found that there were a lot of duplicate styles from issue to issue. There's only so many times you can see the safari theme! I may subscribe again at a later time but there's still so many styles I would like to sew from my current collection.

I used a wool blend from Hancock Fabrics and a polyester lining. It also needs ribbed knit for the collar, cuffs, and waistband. I couldn't for the life of me find a separating zipper that was long enough for the jacket! I didn't check online- perhaps there's some online sources out there. The jacket calls for a zipper up to 28 inches long depending on your size. I think the longest I found was 23". I tried to make this work because I knew I wouldn't be zipping the jacket up all the way anyway, but the shorter zipper just didn't look right. So I ripped the dang thing out and used large snaps instead. I'm pleased with the substitution- I still get the look I was going for.

The jacket is rated "intermediate difficulty, for advanced learners". I think it was a bit more challenging than they rate it. The instructions are vague, per the usual Burda, and I found myself just sitting there trying to go over in my mind the way things were supposed to go together. I was really intimidated by the welt pockets which I don't know if I've ever made before. I almost chickened out and made faux welts by just sewing the welt band in place. But with the help of some online searching and my Vogue Sewing book, I did the real thing! The rest of the jacket went together pretty smoothly.

Here's a close up of the cuffs.

My welt pockets turned out pretty well, I think!






I wore this out and about today. The temperature is cold over here! It was in the 30's today but felt even colder with the wind. Even with the wool and the lining, the jacket is still pretty lightweight so I did feel the bite of the cold today. But... it looks cute so that's all that matters, right?

Oh, and I created a Burda Style account finally! As far as I can tell it has the feel of Facebook but within the fashion and sewing community. This is my first project on there. Check it out!

~Jenny

Halloween Costume 2011

I'm still here! Unfortunately I have not been doing a whole lot of sewing and even less blogging. I have lots of ideas for this blog and want to be more involved but I am struggling to find the time for both sewing and blogging with the new baby. I know many of you have little ones at home. Any tips? How do you fit sewing into your life?

I did manage to sew this costume for Logan. I stayed up sewing after he fell asleep at night to get it done. Maybe that's how I will need to do the rest of my sewing!

I used McCalls 6105. It was actually easy to sew, just tedious with all of the little pieces. I think I spent about 8 hours on it. I made some minor changes to the construction to save time. Logan did really well with it. I thought he would refuse to wear the hood but he tolerated it for a few hours before getting fussy.

It is getting very chilly, very fast in my neck of the woods. I have two Burda jackets that I would love to work on next. Hopefully you'll be seeing those soon!

Daddy was a doctor for his group theme at work. I was a last minute angel as you can see!

~Jenny

Black Swiss Dot Dress

Vogue 8554 (Out of Print) Sorry for the blurry picture.


It's been awhile! The baby is in the stage where he cries hysterically unless you are holding him and walking around at the same time. It isn't very conducive to sewing! I'm hoping this stage won't last long!

I originally had this dress in mind for a wedding I had to attend. However, I left it to the last minute and ended up with so many fit issues and alterations that I didn't end up wearing it to the wedding after all. In the end, I'm pleased with the way it came out but once again I have learned my lesson- that I should have made a muslin. Yes, it's an additional step that takes time. On the other hand, this one probably took me an additional 2-3 hours to rip out seams and take it in. Luckily, I was able to make this dress into something wearable. If it were a wadder, I would have wasted more time and money. And this has happened to me on more than one occasion... you would think that I would have learned my lsesson. So my late-mid-year resolution is to make a muslin with fitted or tailored garments.

Pattern Description: Fitted (through bodice), lined dress with gathers, midriff, flared skirt, top stitch trim, back zipper closing and mid-knee length. A: sleeveless, B: tulip sleeves.

I made view A.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern is available in sizes 6-22, I made an 18 but ended up taking it in quite a bit. I'm still adjusting to my post-maternity body and I'm not sure if this pattern runs quite large or I'm back to my pre-baby size 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were fine... this actually goes together quickly.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the wrapped empire bodice with the midriff band. I think this is flattering on a lot of different shapes and gives some nice waistline definition. I like the fact that this is fully lined. No dislikes.

Fabric Used: I used a black cotton swiss dot from Gorgeous Fabrics. I used a black bemberg lining, also from Gorgeous Fabrics. And I ultimately ended up using an invisible zipper. This fabric was a splurge for me and I ended up paying much more that I normally do... another reason I should have done a muslin!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I eliminated the pockets and top stitching. I had cut a size 18, got the dress all sewn up and had to end up taking in 5/8" on each side! The bodice and waistband had quite a bit of ease! Unfortunately, this meant unpicking the bodice from the waistband, including the lining, taking it in, and then sewing it back up again. In the end, I'm glad I made the alteration- it is much more wearable. The girls don't quite fill out the bodice though and it ends up gaping when I sit down or bend over. So I actually wear this with a camisole underneath. As for the length, I took up an additional inch for the hem.

As for the zipper- although I almost always use invisible zippers, I went with a conventional zipper. Try as I might, I could not sew the zipper in without the seams shifting and making the dress look very homemade. I never have this problem with invisible zippers. They are always easy to install (with the correct presser foot) and create a nice, clean look. So I ended up going back to the invisible zipper.

After my zipper issues with this dress, I was thinking I will switch from back zippers to side zippers when I can. I think this would be even more RTW looking then the back zipper.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? In the end, this is a cute dress and I would recommend it to others. I probably won't sew it again, just because I don't need more than one.

Conclusion: Overall, I am happy with the dress. The swiss dot is light and summery and the shape is very flattering. I was spoiled before by being able to sew a straight 16 with any of the Big 4 pattern companies and having it fit with very few alterations. I know now that I will need to do some more fitting and therefore must make a muslin with fitted garments.

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Jersey Dress

Butterick 5174



Here's a great dress for warm weather! It is OOP unfortunately. This style does not appear to be in the current Maggy London line. Here is a similar version without the bloused waist affect:



Maggy London Print Jersey Dress from Nordstrom for $118

Pattern Description: Misses'/Misses' Petite Dress: Pullover, slightly flared dress below mid-knee, has self-fabric or contrast bodice with stay, cut-a-way armholes, front and back casing for tie at back opening and concealed elastic at waist

Pattern Sizing: This pattern is available in sizes 6-20. I made a 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, very much so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I thought the instructions were very easy to follow. Did not have any problems in this area.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like the shape of this dress. Love the neckline with the back tie. I like the cut-a-way arms. And I like the waistline.

Fabric Used: ITY jersey print from Fashion Fabrics Club. I paid $5 a yard. This dress ended up costing roughly $15.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Normally I have to shorten dresses but I didn't on this one. What's nice about the elastic waist is you can adjust the length up and down to where it is comfortable.

The neckline drawstring is way too long to sew right sides together and turn. After fussing with it for over an hour, I came up with a different solution. I cut the long tube in half. I was then able to turn each piece right side out. I then sewed the two ends together, which is the center front. The center front is concealed under the front casing so no one is the wiser.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would sew this one up again and I do recommend it to others if you can get your hands on it!

Conclusion: This was really fun to wear. I wore it to church in the morning. It was such a hot day and this dress is so light and airy, flowing away from the body that I ended up wearing it for the whole day!

~Jenny

Pattern Review NL6893 Satin Halter

Here's another one from the cut-out-but-not-sewn pile. This went together fast and easy- perfect for a project to finish in a couple of hours.

Pattern Description: This pattern is for halter tops with five different variations. I made view B, which is the one the model is wearing on the envelope. It has a front pleat and knot.

Pattern Sizing: This comes in sizes 6-16. I made the 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? This pattern is very easy and the instructions are fine. I think a beginner could easily pull this one off.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like simple, flowy tops to wear in the warm weather. I liked the shape of this halter. The front pleat makes it extra flowy.

No dislikes.

Fabric Used: Polyester satin fabric. Not sure where I got this one- it was in the stash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I lengthened the top by 1 1/2 inches. I've learned that I prefer my tops to be just a tad longer than most patterns allow. I sewed this one up after having my baby. I was afraid the 16 might be a little snug in the bust. So I only did a 1/4 inch seam on the sides. This adjustment was just right.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This is actually the second version I have made with this pattern. I probably will use this one again for another view.

Conclusion: Simple and fast top to make! I think it came out really cute!




~Jenny

Pattern Review B5335 Large Collar Jacket

I've had my eye on this pattern ever since I laid eyes on Mimi's version on Pattern Review. So cute!

Pattern Description: This is a sportswear pattern that offers the jacket, top, capris, pants, and a skirt.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern is available in sizes 8-22. I made a 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, I think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were very easy, I did not run into any difficulties making the jacket.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the large collar with the drawstring. I like the pleated sleeves. I also like the back band; however, like other reviewers, I found that I needed to shorten it quite a bit.

One dislike is the pockets. And I think I read this in another review too. The pockets are too small to be functional. I think this could easily be remedied without effecting the rest of the jacket. So if you like to bury your hands in the jacket pockets or want stash away some keys or lip gloss- make the pockets a little deeper.

Fabric Used: Cotton chambray from Joann Fabrics. I used a polyester lining from their Simply Silky collection. The jacket also required large snaps. I don't know how much I paid for everything since this was in my fabric stash but I know the whole project was under $20.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: This was in my cut but unsewn pile while I was pregnant. Therefore, it was cut in my pre-baby size of 16. I think I'm more of an 18 now but this jacket has lots of ease so I didn't find this to be a problem.

I listened to the warnings about shortening the length of the back band. As drafted, it is way to droopy in back. I initially shortened it by 3 inches. However, after trying on the jacket, it was still too saggy so I hacked off another 3 inches.

I made a few changes after reading Amanda's blog. I omitted the snaps on the collar- I agree that they are not necessary. I top stitched the sleeve pleats on the outside to keep them in place. However, I wish I would have sewn them on the inside like Amanda- this would have been a cleaner look.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might use this pattern for the capris or the knit top. I don't think I will make another jacket since it is so unique. But then again, it would be fun to do one in a bright and funky color or print.

Conclusion: Cute, light weight jacket for the warmer months. I don't think my fabric choice gave the jacket justice. It is a little too soft and drapey. For the collar to really stand out and be more poofy- I slightly stiffer fabric is needed.






~Jenny

Pattern Review: Simplicity 3503 Maxi Dress

This is actually my second go around with this pattern. I made view B back in 2009 and reviewed it here. I was hesitant to make the maxi length because of my petite stature. However, I took the plunge and am glad I did. It is one of my current favorites.





Pattern Description: Misses' knit dress in two lengths with bodice variations. I made view E.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern comes in sizes 6-22. I went back and tried on the other dress I made with this pattern and found that it fit very well, even with my post-maternity body. So I stuck with a 14. What this means- the pattern runs large.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were very easy to follow. I did not find the errors with this view as I did on the other version.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? This is a "Best of 2009" pattern for a reason. It is easy to sew up. It has great lines and is very flattering for any body type. I love the neckline on this view. I like the bodice gathering and waist definition. No dislikes.

Fabric Used: Rayon jersey. Cannot remember where I got it- was in my stash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I had to shorten the length by 5 inches. The only other thing I did was change the way the neck band was sewn down. I hand sewed the facing in place. The pattern has you edge stitch the neck band which catches the facing in place. I found that hand sewing it down created a much neater look.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, this one is a keeper!

Conclusion: Another great version from this pattern!



~Jenny

Book Review: More Fabric Savvy

I am waiting for my photographer (the hubby) to get his buns in gear to do a photo shoot. I've got lots of garments to show off. In the mean time, I thought I would do an occasional book review.

I've got quite the sewing reference collection going. I love to learn new tricks and techniques in order to improve my skills. This is one of my top go to books right now: More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide To Selecting And Sewing Fabric by Sandra Betzina. (Disclaimer: this blog is not sponsored by anyone or any company).

I love this book because it has everything you need to know about working with different types of fabric from easier fabrics like denim and linen to more difficult fabrics like sequins and velvet. Sandra Betzina describes all of the nitty gritty like prewashing, fabric layout, marking, cutting, thread and needle selection, stitch length, pressing, seam finishes, hemming, and more on each type of fabric.

There are sections at the back of the book describing how to make certain types of seams and different hem techniques. There's even a section for stain removal for different types of fabric.

I recently made a silk chiffon blouse (in the pile to be photographed). I have not done a lot of sewing with chiffon and could have just winged it. However, with the help of this book I was able to quickly read up on the special handling chiffon needs such as using a fine cotton thread instead of polyester, using a smaller needle and stitch length, using french seams, and different hem techniques.

Even if you are not a book collector like me, this one is a great reference to have on hand.

~Jenny

Pattern Review Burda 7376 Dress

Hello everyone! I've actually made a ton of things while I'm on maternity leave but had not had a chance to have photos taken. Surprisingly, I am able to get sewing done with the new baby. I squeeze in some time during his naps. I'm also working on getting back into shape- I've got about 8 more pounds to go before I'm back to pre-pregnancy weight. Sewing for my new shape has been challenging. I don't know if my hips will ever be the same! I used to be able to sew a straight 16 out of the envelope but I think I will be doing more custom sizing now with the new shape.

I found this rayon challis print at Hancock Fabrics on sale for about $6 a yard. Those who have been following me for a while know that I challenged myself to not buy any fabric until my stash was down into the single digits. An update: I am down to 13 projects from my stash. I did break down and buy two pieces of this rayon challis at Hancocks though. I fought the good fight- I had not purchased any fabrics since March, 2010!







I wore this yesterday for Mother's Day with some turquoise jewelry and black flats. I got lots of compliments from the hubby!

Pattern Description: Dress or tunic has front and back v-necks, pleated shoulders, and tie waist.

Pattern Sizing: This one is available is sizes 32-46. I made a 44.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? For the most part. The dress shown in view A leads one to believe you can wrap the tie belt around your waist twice and tie it in back. This is not the case. You would need to make the ties much longer to accomplish this.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were very easy. If I were able to sew this one straight through without any baby breaks, I could have done it in about 2 hours.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I was drawn to this pattern for the dress. I love the simple yet flattering shape with the waist definition created by the ties. Love the double v-necks too. My one dislike is the length of the ties as stated above. I would have liked them to be longer but this can easily be done for the next time.

Fabric Used: Rayon challis from Hancock Fabrics.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I wanted the ties to be a little wider than the pattern pieces allowed. So I did a 3/8" seam instead of 5/8". To make some ties that are even more fashion forward, I suggest cutting them even wider and longer. I shortened the length of the dress by 1". I also understitched the facings to keep them rolled to the inside which the pattern does not instruct you to do.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would sew this one again and I do recommend it.

Conclusion: I love this casual dress with the native print! I would like to make this one again in a more formal style- perhaps with black crepe or satin.

And here are some baby shots! He is getting so big although he's still small for his age. He has doubled his birth weight and is 10 weeks old today!





~Jenny

Our Latest Project

My baby son was born on February 28th- about 3 1/2 weeks early! Mommy, Daddy, and Baby are all doing great! He weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs, 15 oz! He has had no health concerns though and we were able to go home after two days in the hospital.

We are all getting used to the new routine of getting up throughout the night, changing diapers, and getting to know eachother.

With maternity leave, I will have the next several weeks off from work. I look forward to getting back to sewing soon!



~Jenny

Stash Update and Winter Wall Hanging

I promise this won't become a blog all about quilting! I've made several garments within the last few weeks but I'm simply too big to model them for you now! Here is a small quilt that I started in 2009 and never got done. Now that it's February I've decided on one new years resolution: to get through the unfinished pile. This pile really isn't that bad. I've got three more quilts and one jacket that are all unfinished and have been for some time. This one is called "Winter Time" from the Quick & Easy Wall Hangings for the Seasons book by Janice Loewenthal. It's not that this was difficult to finish. I just get side tracked easily sometimes and forget to come back to a certain project.



It came out pretty darn cute. And it's very fitting right now. Today the high is expected to be 18 degrees. We have not had this low of temperatures for 40 years supposedly! Luckily for me, I'm always hot right now with a bun in the oven.

I also wanted to update you on my stash progress. I made a promise to my husband back in April of last year, detailed here. I promised not to buy any more fabric until I got my stash back into the single digits again. I started with 41 pieces of fabric. I made a list of all of my planned projects with this fabric and am down to 16 pieces (Many of these you have not seen- either because I am too fat to model them right now or because they were wadders and I never bothered posting them). That's the good news. The bad news is after getting through 25 pieces of fabric, I've discovered still more fabric that I had and did not realize or did not want to admit to. After almost a year since I've made the promise, my husband has since relented and said that I can start buying fabric again (not that it was really his decision to begin with). However, I'm standing firm and keeping my promise. I know others are doing the same with thier stash as well.

~Jenny

Pattern Review: McCall's 5762 Tweed Jacket

According to the McCall's website, this one is already out of print...



Pattern Description: Misses' Lined Jackets: semi-fitted jacket with pleated front, back, and collar has collar band and yoke, sleeve variations and button closing: jackets A, B have trim.

I made view C, with elbow length, cuffed sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern is available in sizes 6-20. I made a 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, very much so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I thought the instructions were easy to follow. There are quite a few details including lots of pleats, yoke pieces, and lining to name a few. This took me 9 hours of sewing time (not including cutting) to make but this was also due in part to the fabric I used which I will explain below.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the large, pleated collar- I think it makes this jacket unique. I also like the pleating along the jacket front and back. I like the baby-doll shape as well. No dislikes.

Fabric Used: I used this tweed from Denver Fabrics. They called it a "boucle", but it is more of a tweed. I spent $12.50 on the tweed. I got a polyester satin for the lining.

The tweed became the bane of my sewing existence! I love the finished look but it was a pain in the tush to get there. To start with, it was very tough on the hands to cut out. The fabric is very prone to fraying and unraveling. By the end of this project I had little threads pulled from the raw edges all over my sewing room and tracked through the house. Although the seams are enclosed by the lining and facings, I did not trust the fabric to not unravel. So after I straight stitched the seam, I zigzagged each raw edge separately to prevent the unraveling. Certain parts of the garment such as the neck edge became very bulky with all of the layers of tweed. Needless to say, I think it will be awhile before I work with this fabric again. I need to wait until I have forgotten how much I despised it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: So I cut this out to fit my pre-pregnancy waist of 31 inches. The baby-doll shape gives it so much wearing ease- it fits my now 42 inch pregnant belly and then some. I didn't make any changes except for omitting the interfacing. I felt that the tweed was bulky and sturdy enough to hold up in the areas that usually need it.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don't think I will sew this one again because there are many other jackets I want to do. I do like how it came out though! I would recommend this one to others.

Conclusion: Great cool weather jacket and I think the tweed looks awesome in the end! *Note: I am not sure how much I would like this if I were not pregnant. The baby-doll shape gives it quite a bit of ease and it may look maternity on someone who is not pregnant. I could be wrong though- will try this on again after Baby arrives!



A view from the side:


Showing the lining:


~Jenny