Blue polyester suit with grey poly piping and lining accents. 

Just after I started the jacket, Threads published a test sewer review of the jacket and Norma Bucko is correct in that this is a very fun pattern to sew.   Although I love the final results (this is a “me” suit), next time I would use a thicker, natural fiber tweed and spend more time on fit.

Re:  lapel.  My interpretation of the pattern instructions was that the upper and lower lapels are not attached along the roll line.  The Threads pattern review did not allude to any lapel goofiness but my dry cleaner told me to ‘do-over’ .  So I stitched the lapels together in the ditch.  This anchored the lapel, but I wonder what others have done or if I misinterpreted the instructions …  

Re: roll line.  The lapel did not roll for me at the lapel seam.  (See photo detail.)  I couldn’t tell from the pattern photo or from the photo in Threads if this is what I should expect.  I don’t think so.  OK, so next time piping, but no contrast lining.  As it is, this feature gives me no heartburn as my natural state is to wear suit jackets unbuttoned … 

Re: skirt hem.  After a couple of false starts on hemming the bias-cut skirt, I had shortened the lining by too much … it happens.  To finish the lining hem and make up for the too short lining (I didn’t want to shorten the skirt), I cut bias strips of a deep purple printed sheer and left the edge of the sheer unfinished as the lining hem.  This is my pretty, inside-the-garment secret.

Re: interfacing.  Interfacing used was a black woven from my stash of indeterminate age.  Woe to me for using interfacing that was old.  The interfacing did not show any signs of distress during cutting.  The interfacing showed mild signs of deterioration during application.  The interfacing started falling apart during some construction.  By the time I got to project end … woe is me.  The jacket appearance is, as finished, not as polished as I expected.

Bottom line:  Totally fun suit to sew and a satisfying wear … the jacket will look good with jeans.

Launch Gallery