The Peacock Chic Collection 2008: McCall’s M5478 Jacket

Ok, the wait is over!!! Courtesy of bad lighting and the magic of exposure control and photo manipulation, I present to you the longest jacket EVER

Fabric: Red Plaid Worsted Wool/Cashmere Blend from the Scottish People
Inspiration: McCall’s M5478 Jacket, View B – Semi-fitted, lined, bias jacket with above hip-length. Has collar and lapels, princess seams, mock flaps, center back pleat and shaped hem; View B has full length sleeves and back belt with button trim, also has sleeve vent with button trim
Modifications: Mainly Tailoring modification to make it a more professional looking jacket. Tailoring style interfacings were used – Wigan, French elastic – and tailoring techniques – hand basting, tailor tacking, pad stitching the collar. Also the undercollar was separated into two pieces and cut on the bias.  The sleeve length was shortened a bit.
Enjoyment Factor: 7 – Due to the exceptionally long period of time to make this jacket
Time: 6 months!

The Good:

• The learning experience -  When I signed up for this class I thought “tailoring” was synonymous with “alterations”. These are two different animals. Tailoring is all about the high quality handwork and meticulous construction of a personalize well fitting garment. This class was truly a revelation and worth the hard work.
• It fits!! Yes, I know, I know. But it always makes me happy when IT FITS!!
• The drama – Man this jacket has some DRAAAAAMA. The collar is out of this world and the plaid makes it scream “Look at me! I am FABULOUS!” I love dramatic clothes so this fall right into the closet.
• The praise -  After all this work it was great to walk in the fashion show and have so many people genuinely oooo and ahhh over it..

• I got to share this moment with both my sewing teachers. The one in yellow is my current tailoring teacher, the one in the black and white was my beginning sewing teacher that told me about tailoring in the first place. They were both so proud. Made me feel like I was in high school again.

The Bad

• 6 months!! I am a patient woman but 6 months is quite a while. There were times when I just thought I would give up the ghost or that it would just never be done but I persevered. The fashion show really gave me the kick in the butt to get this complete and with two days to spare it was deemed complete.

• Matching those plaids was murder!  Single layer cutting all those pieces out too SSSOOOOO long.  But it was worth it when you see the chevrons along the back.  Mmmmmm….matchy matchy.

• The notions on this thing nearly drove me to the poor house. Those “must have” buttons were $50.00 in total which was just as much as the fabric. I also have a local tailor but in the buttonhole for $10.00.  In the end, they were all worth it though because I really think they add a lot to the jacket.

The Ugly:

• My front lining edge leaves much to be desired. I was told by my teacher to “just work it in” and by that time in the process I was willing to accept this answer. But my normal nature is a semi-meticulous one so had she not told me to do that I would have struggled and succeeded in making it much more perfect. Alas, I have come to my senses and will have to make that look better. Later…