This will just be a short little post about my just finished asymmetrical zip jacket, Butterick 6169.
Described as: Semi-fitted, lined jacket has shoulder pads, seam detail, welt pockets, exposed zipper, and two-piece sleeves. I want to make myself a full on moto jacket at some point, so I'm working my way up to, starting with this pattern. I made a muslin for a straight size 12, and only made two small changes: First, a swayback adjustment. It was very roomy at the small of my back, and I know it's described as semi-fitted, but I didn't like the look and I took out a few inches back there so it would fit close when I had it zipped. Second, the pocket bags are not drafted for adult human hands. They are crazy small so I drew them large enough to put my hand in them (see the picture above? Her hand can't go any farther in!) Otherwise, it was a great little jacket pattern.
I spent about a day working on this, there's not a lot of hand sewing, just the lining at the end. I used a nightshade (aka dark purple) embossed faux leather from Mood Fabrics which had a nice soft backing on it, so I omitted the interfacing:
It did not suggest topstitching the seams, and I debated it for a while....but this is a softer faux leather, and sometimes these tend to get a bit distorted with topstitching, even using a Teflon foot. So I didn't topstitch it. (You can see a bit of this distortion on one of the pockets. One is fine, one isn't, whatever).
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| Zipped, hands fully in larger pockets! |
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| There's something goofy at the right shoulder/sleeve. I basted it in, and it looked ok, but it's not. Faux leather is a bit slippery and shifty, so I'm assuming it just got a bit off. I'll live with it. |
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| Back view, with nipped in waistline |
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| The shoulders look a bit low, but they looked ok on the muslin...I didn't add shoulder pads but may go back and do so. |
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| I like the asymmetrical zip. |
Even though I have some minor fit issues I need to work out, I like this pattern and I'd make it again, eventually. The purple faux leather is fun but still kind of works as a neutral, and I think I'll wear this a lot in the fall! (I didn't do a full on pattern review because this pattern has a lot of good reviews already up, and I didn't have too much new to say other than those pockets are too damn small!)
Described as: Semi-fitted, lined jacket has shoulder pads, seam detail, welt pockets, exposed zipper, and two-piece sleeves. I want to make myself a full on moto jacket at some point, so I'm working my way up to, starting with this pattern. I made a muslin for a straight size 12, and only made two small changes: First, a swayback adjustment. It was very roomy at the small of my back, and I know it's described as semi-fitted, but I didn't like the look and I took out a few inches back there so it would fit close when I had it zipped. Second, the pocket bags are not drafted for adult human hands. They are crazy small so I drew them large enough to put my hand in them (see the picture above? Her hand can't go any farther in!) Otherwise, it was a great little jacket pattern.
It did not suggest topstitching the seams, and I debated it for a while....but this is a softer faux leather, and sometimes these tend to get a bit distorted with topstitching, even using a Teflon foot. So I didn't topstitch it. (You can see a bit of this distortion on one of the pockets. One is fine, one isn't, whatever). 
Even though I have some minor fit issues I need to work out, I like this pattern and I'd make it again, eventually. The purple faux leather is fun but still kind of works as a neutral, and I think I'll wear this a lot in the fall! (I didn't do a full on pattern review because this pattern has a lot of good reviews already up, and I didn't have too much new to say other than those pockets are too damn small!)
