For easy summer sewing I used Loes Hinse’s Bolero Jacket #5106 which I had used before and liked the casual fit & ease of construction – no interfacing, no lining.
The fabric is a medium weight linen which I pre-washed several times to soften it.
Construction – I used a wide 3 thread serger stitch to trim the bottom edges of the jacket and sleeve hems – YLI Royal Crown rayon in the lower looper produced a lovely lustrous braided effect. The hems were turned up to the outside and topstitched with matching rayon embroidery thread. The same serger stitching was used to attach the centre panel/stand-up collar to the jacket body. This seam was sewn wrong sides together and then top-stitched in place, catching the centre-most edge of the pockets. The pockets were an addition – a personal preference. Their size and shape were dictated by the minimal pieces of fabric left after cutting out the jacket – a design opportunity – with the pocket flap edged with the same serger braid. The pocket openings are stabilized with linen selvedge. Because of the construction, the inside of the jacket is very finished looking, something I really like for a summer jacket which is likely to be popped on & off frequently. The button loop was made by using the same serger stitching over a narrow strip of selvedge. The too small red button was stacked on a large taupe coat button and attached with fringy lengths of knotted Royal Crown rayon for a touch of drama on an otherwise fairly plain and versatile summer jacket.
Such a pretty pop of color in this elegant jacket. Great details, too!
The serger finish sounds very special and quite intriguing. Those kind of details are so nice to see close up. It's a very nice jacket, looks like it will be very versatile.