Style Arc Gabby jacket(s)


So far I have made two versions of StyleArc's Gabby jacket (neither for myself!). 




The first was a Christmas gift for my Mom.  She looks good in green (like me!) so I bought some of this green plaid from Gorgeous fabrics (it was the Fabric of the Day, 40% off, so I bought a few extra yards and plan to make a skirt for myself with it!)  and a kiwi bemberg rayon lining from Mood fabrics:

The color match is actually closer than it looks in the photo


I made the size 8 with no sizing adjustments, omitted the shoulder pad and welt pockets (because of the plaid and because she wouldn't use them), and it turned out beautifully. She loved it (or claimed to - I don't have any pics of her wearing it yet).  I spent forever cutting it out to match the plaids, but it sewed up pretty quickly (especially compared to the Cordova).

I mentioned in the Cordova jacket post that my great-aunt liked my Grandma's jacket. I decided to make her one, since she's been dealing with illness and thought it might cheer her up. I decided to do the Gabby because it was both easier and the right size for her.  I bought some pink tweed from Gorgeous fabrics in a Super Saver 5-yard bundle - 5 yards for $40!  And a cream lining also from Gorgeous fabrics. It was quite pink, but she has white hair and olive skin and I thought she would look great in it. 


Here is the finished product:
Definitely wear it with a Detroit Lions tee. This may have been taken before I hemmed the sleeves...


The only change was to shorten the sleeves, as she's shorter than both me and my Mom (so below 5'4"). She liked it, and thinks I should go into business doing custom work (for church ladies). Anyway, a big fan of this pattern, can't wait to make one for myself!! Oh, and I have a Colette Ginger skirt (which would be #3 for me) cut out with some of my remaining pink yardage!





Popular posts from this blog

A Carhartt-inspired jacket : (modified) McCalls 7638

Image
We recently received a catalog in the mail that contained a selection of Carhartt jackets, among other items.  Tim liked the look of this one: a sort of classic, basic mens' work jacket: So of course he asked if I could make him one!  He has a couple of handmade coats (a faux shearling from a few years ago and a Goldstream peacoat I made in early 2018) but wanted something a little more casual for everyday - but also warm enough for Syracuse winters. I found my fabrics first: Carhartt Expedition canvas from The Rain Shed with a faux shearling lining (from my stash, originally from Mood Fabrics.) For extra warmth, I tried something new: interlining the shearling with Thinsulate! I ordered a swatch set from the Rain Shed and chose CS100. The website information claims that "the Polyolefin microfibers trap body head and keep you warm even in damp conditions because its fibers absorb less than 1% of their weight in water." OK then! I couldn't really find a
Read more

Carhartt Canvas

Image
A version of this post originally appeared on the Cali & Co blog   I was beyond excited when I saw that Ron had listed Carhartt canvas in some 20 (20!!) colors on the Cali Fabrics site.  If you aren’t familiar with the brand, Carhartt is known for high-quality, premium-yet-affordable workwear in sturdy fabrics like denim and duck (aka, canvas). You may have seen their recent feature in Threads magazine, with a tutorial for the Detroit cuff. I knew this would be fantastic quality canvas and Cali Fabrics has it at a great price and it’s 69” wide! So, the fabric: the description online is very accurate. It is a 12 oz. heavyweight but it has a softer hand than you would expect – it isn’t stiff.  I washed it in cold water and tumble dried on low – this fabric really responds to a hot steamy iron especially when it is just a bit damp.  I recommend serging or pinking the edges pre-wash because it will fray a bit. The color didn’t fade or bleed at all and was very satur
Read more

Boss Blazer - Pagoda Shoulder Jasika!

Image
Looks like it’s time for what has become my annual blog post! I thought I’d share some details of my pagoda shoulder blazer.  A little history? Pierre Cardin is the inventor of the pagoda shoulder. The name refers to the cornices of Chinese towers. Cardin created new shoulder silhouette that dipped from the collar along the shoulder line, before rising again several inches from the edge. They became popular in styles for both men and women. Pierre Cardin himself was known for wearing the bold shoulders throughout the 1980s.   Pagoda shoulders later became a signature for Alexander McQueen, particularly in his menswear, but they were more subtle than the Cardin style.   Today the pagoda shoulder may be most commonly associated with Balmain, who often uses a highly exaggerated and sculptural version of the design.   Which brings us to my jacket – the fabric is Balmain deadstock from Selvedge and Bolts, so I thought I would do something with some Balmain flair. I started with the Jasika
Read more