A Sewing Pro Looks Back at Her First Tailored Jacket
The journey to making my first tailored jacket started early. Like many of you, I learned to sew in my teens. My mom asked if I would like to learn to sew, and, at 14, I just took to it. My first teachers were two of our neighbors, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Jefferson. They were there to answer my many questions. Plus, I learned even more by reading pattern guide sheets.
I think my sense of style came from my parents and grandmother, so I was immediately drawn to Vogue patterns. Back in the day, the local department stores had great fabric and pattern sections. I could sit for hours on a Saturday looking at pattern catalogs and feeling the fabrics. At age 15, I had started sewing for friends too, making prom gowns and other garments.
When it was time to go to college, I knew that I wanted to major in Textiles, Clothing and Business. The project for our junior year was to make a tailored garment. I decided to make a tailored jacket and a bias plaid skirt. I’ll share more about that skirt in another post.
Choosing the fabric
I knew that I would be visiting my brother in Atlanta, Georgia, that summer before my junior year, so I was able to find fabric for both garments at one of the premier fabric shops, The Gallery of Fabrics. The store was in Phipps Plaza, next to Lord & Taylor. It had some of the most beautiful fabrics I had ever seen. Since my purchase was for a tailored outfit, I chose a neutral beige wool for the jacket, and a subtle plaid to go with it for the skirt. I am sure I used a Vogue pattern, but I donât remember the number.
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What is very remarkable to me is that you still have this jacket and itâs in good enough condition to be used in this article.
In reading this article I can appreciate how you took the direction you did in your work and career. Itâs a beautiful insight into who you are.
Thank you so much! It was very important to me to make sure that this jacket and the skirt went everywhere I went, and was well maintained. I appreciate your kind wordsđ
I enjoyed reading your article and imagining the 14 year old who worked so carefully on this beautifully made jacket. It must have been empowering to bring such a complex article of clothing to life! Wonderful!
Hi, thanks so much! Sorry for any confusion, but I made this jacket during my junior year in collegeđ
It was the project that was assigned to us: A tailored jacket using classic Tailoring methods and a garment to wear with it. I really appreciate your kind words!
Beautiful! I recently purged my sewing closet and found a 50 year old piece of fabric that I used in college to embellish my winter coat hem. It is a very small scrap, but evoked so many memories of all the enjoyment I have had as a sewist for many years.
Itâs so nice to find the treasures of our lives! I hope you decide to keep at least a piece of itđ