Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The denim challenge

Sewing a biker jacket has been on my wish list for quite a while, so when Project Run and Play announced this season’s themes, I immediately knew what to make for the ‘Denim Challenge’.
And a challenge it was indeed! This jacket was definitely out of my comfort zone. The pattern is the Young Hero from Ottobre 4-2012. Used as I am to sewing simple tees and sweaters, the number of pattern pieces was overwhelming in itself: 19 pieces and 3 zippers! And reading the instructions, I was intimidated… I simply didn’t understand!
However, when going through it step by step, it turned out not to be too complicated after all.
The jacket is upcycled from three pairs of jeans, which required some creative cutting. The largest pieces -the front and back panels- were cut out of a pair of men’s jeans. It just fit. The other parts – sleeves, collar and yoke pieces- were cut out of two women’s jeans.
The lining fabric is a wonderful heathered teal blue knit that I got at the local fabric market. All topstitching was done in neon orange-pink thread.
The end result: not perfect but very OK for my first jacket. Most important is that my girl loves it (which is not always the case with the things I make for her).
After this adventure I quickly slipped back into my comfort zone and whipped up this cool sweater. The sweater is made from the same teal knit, and is embellished with denim shoulder patches and a big fat M. The edges are left raw, and will fray over time.

As pattern I traced out a well-fitting tee. When sewing up this sweater last night I thought it would end up way too big for her, but low and behold, it fits perfectly! I clearly need to update my mental image of this rapidly growing kid.

For the sidetag (as well as for the hook on the jacket), I folded a piece of twill tape and zigzagged a line with the coral thread. Simple but effective. 

I was a bit afraid that the neon coral thread would be dismissed as too pink. I already had a cover story ready to convince her (it’s the same color as the stripes on Dutch police cars, and they are cool right?), and was even ready to replace it with another color if needed. But again, she surprised me by declaring that this was her favorite sweater! Pheww!
I love it too. It's cool, but not overly boyish. And this soft blue color is perfect on her.
So, a happy girl and a satisfied mom. Now on to cleaning up the mess in my sewing room, which I abandoned way past bedtime last night!

10 comments:

  1. Your combinations of asymmetry, color, and function are great! This looks like an outfit she will choose to wear all season. As an elementary teacher, I totally approve of the love on the neckline of the jacket. Love, Momma Shaffer

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  2. Love this jacket & the shirt! Excellent projects even if you were out of your comfort zone.

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  3. Very nice! It all is fantastic. You wouldn't know, by looking at that jacket, that you were out of your comfort zone. It looks great! And I love that sweater. So fun.

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  4. Really cool jacket--I love how using multiple pairs of jeans gives it extra dimension. And the coral thread looks great with that blue color.

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    1. Thanks. I love the colors too. Just learned that coral and teal are complementary colors. That might explain why they go so well together.

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  5. Onder de indruk van zoveel moois !

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  6. Beautifull!! The jacket, the recycling you did and the shirt!!!

    Maar wat ik mij afvroeg met het shirt: Hoe heb je zo netjes de schouderstukken op het shirt gezet? Welke volgorde paste je toe zodat je de halsboord ook zo netjes kon naaien?

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    1. Dankjewel! Ik heb eerst de schoudernaden genaaid, daarna de schouderstukken erop genaaid (zoom omgestreken en dicht langs de rand vastgestikt). Daarna het sierstiksel erop (zie je bijna niet op de foto's) en als laatste het halsboord eraan gezet. Het was inderdaad een beetje lastig bij de randen van de schouderstukken (daar is immers een dubbele laag denim), maar als je niet al te dikke denim gebruikt, lukt het best.

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    2. Dank je! Ik ga het zeker deze winter ook eens proberen.

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  7. I so need to make that jacket! Love it!!

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