I had an idea to make another patchwork bomber jacket, this time from knits, and largely inspired by the way a lot of the left-overs from recent projects looked good together. I didn't honestly, though, think I'd wear such a thing, so I put the idea aside. Then the unexpected vet fees happened, and I revisited the idea with the possibility of auctioning the jacket toward that.
With that idea in mind, I started cutting squares. Knowing I would use a different pattern than I used for the last patchwork jacket--a different pattern with a much larger size range--I knew I'd need more patches than before. I cut up all the left over pieces from the previous projects, scrounged through the doll knits drawer for more, and still came up a bit short. From the larger yardage knits, I chose a velour that I had no ideas for...then realized that it was a cotton velour. (It was part of the friend's generous sharing of a relative's fabric stash, thanks again!) As soon as I realized it was cotton (or at least cotton-inclusive), I wanted to make it into something for me. Something...long-sleeved.
So I started by cutting the sleeves (from the "no longer anywhere near the correct size but I keep it anyway because sewing shirts from it 15 years ago really changed--for the better--something in my relationship with sewing" New Look 6217) and then very quickly realized there really wasn't enough of the cloth left to make an entire bodice.
I was still determined to make something from this.
I laid out the front side of New Look 6217 to use the armscye, then used New Look 6068 in the correct size to fill out the rest of the front...then arbitrarily cut a dramatically curving "empire" height bottom edge for that piece. I repeated the combination of patterns for the back, using the edge of the front piece to determine where to cut the relatively straight lower back edge. "Empire" is in quotes because it ended p way too high--like, above the fullest part of the bust high.
So. Having realized that I had cut what was, essentially, a yoke...from a slightly heavy purple velour...I had to pause to figure out what to use for the rest that wouldn't result in looking like a background character from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
After toying with using a woven, digging through my fabric to find something suitable, and failing, I remembered an extremely synthetic knit I've had a lot of for a long time. I made an effort to stop second-guessing myself and used that
I'm not saying it doesn't look like something from ST:TNG...
Honestly, I made it...well, I made it for a distraction, yes, but I also made it to use as a layering piece to help keep warm in winter, so it gets a pass
for now.
I did stabilize the shoulders, using the last bit of the twill tape left over from finishing the hem on the knit moto jacket.
Not a hint of seam finishing anywhere else in the whole thing, and the neckline band suffered extra from first being cut too long, applied, thinking I could live with it, then top stitched (twice!) and having the excess seam allowance trimmed away before deciding...no. I made a mess picking out those stitches and re-sewing, but at least it's a nice length that stretches and lays flat instead of flopping over like it did before.
I went with only a single line of top stitching from there on.
The improvised waist curves went together easily, even though all I did to create the curve on the skirt piece was to use the yoke piece as a guide and cut along the edge of that--no accounting for seam allowance width and how they technically should impact the size of the contoured curves.
The result does lay flat. The picture lies.
Cuffs were finished with another band of the gray floral knit and a single line of top stitching to hold the seam allowances in place, and the seam allowances trimmed after the top stitching.
It's a mess inside, but...eh.
The hem was turned up twice by eye and stitched at a half inch.
The skirt does have a center back hem, just to save a bit on fabric.
I still have a decent amount of the gray floral left. I had already, ages ago, made a pair of leggings from it, which I still have--they've been hanging in my sewing room closet for a few years, waiting for me to add a band to the top so they'll fit the shape I have now. Seeing them hanging there was what reminded me of the fabric to use for this project. I think my next project will be to finally add that band to those leggings.
Then I will ponder just how much wearing those leggings with this dress would look like I'm ready to go hang out in Quark's Bar.
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