Friday, June 24, 2011

From 2006 to 1933: My jacket refashion


Happy Friday everyone! I was really happy to dip my toes into refashioning this week and decided to tackle a jacket that's been in my closet for awhile but that I don't really wear that often.

It's a lovely colour and I really like the fabric (linen look) but it's not quite the right style for me.

5 hours later...et viola...My new jacket based on a 1933 pattern complete with matching neck scarf:


I thought I would try out the same techniques of refashioning that were used in the 1940's. Instead of just taking in a side seam here or chopping the sleeves there. I took apart this entire jacket. I first took out the lining, then meticulously unpicked every seam. It took about 2.5 hours to take apart the entire jacket as most of the seams were serged. Here are all the pieces:



I decided I was going to try and make it into an early 1930's jacket and use McCall 7284 as my base.  This pattern is also this week's giveaway.  Leave a comment on this post by midnight GMT tonight for a chance to enter!
I really like it!  I love the front princess seam and the shorter length.  I love the more fitted sleeves.  True to the time period, this is a really short jacket (I used View B) and goes best with high-waisted pieces like my 1941 trousers from the Simplicity repro pattern.  Luckily, I had some of the nice lightweight wool left over from the trousers to make the matching neck scarf...LOVE it!!


I kept the original jacket's front facings, buttons and buttonholes, back darts and cuffs.  I redid the neckline and shoulder caps and added the front princess seam.  I also added a snap at the bottom of the jacket since I had to cut the last button off since it was literally on the bottom seamline!

Here is the back of the jacket before the refashion...not fitting me very well:

Here is my new jacket back.  So much better:


The original jacket was lined but I decided that I didn't want to line this one.  Since it's so short and fitted and the fabric is more lightweight, I felt it didn't really need it.  I did decide to neaten up the seams on the inside by binding them all with some matching lime green binding I had in my stash.  I really like how it looks:

The one consistent pattern alteration I have to make is to lengthen sleeves.  I love my sleeves on a bit of the longer side as well and decided to reuse the beautiful cuffs from the original jacket but instead of folding them down (as in the original) to keep them straight to create a bit of a feature cuff.  I really like how it looks:

We've been having the typical start to the Scottish summer (i.e. three seasons in one day) and we managed to get poured on while taking these photos! hehehehe....Here's to singin' in the rain! :)
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42 comments

  1. This looks so much better! I love the pattern you chose. Refashioning is addictive ;-)
    PS. Love your trousers too!

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  2. Debi, I love the new jacket and the pattern. It is so classy and looks great on you.

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  3. What a transformation, it looks great :-)

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  4. A huge improvement, I love the new version of the jacket. Very cute!

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  5. The new and fitted jacket is so pretty! I too love longer cuffs, and the weather here is much the same - rain, sunshine, rain, gusts of wind...

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  6. You did a fantastic job, Debi. I'm really impressed! I love the details and how fitted it is. It looks great on you!

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  7. Wow - that's fantastic! The new jacket is so flattering on you! Isn't it fantastic what opportunities knowing how to sew can create!

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  8. EPIC! Great job! What an improvement! Suits you fabulously =-D

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  9. great job, love it in its new incarnation!

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  10. I love the idea of covering your seams with bias, it adds a really nice detail. The cuffs look great too!

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  11. Your jacket is gorgeous I much prefer it now. You have such patience to unpick all those seams but it's been worth all that work to have such a lovely jacket.

    I can't wait to hear what your news is, and you looked lovely in your dress yesterday.

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  12. Really great refashioning. It looks fantastic!!!

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  13. Wow the jacket looks amazing, well done! x

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  14. Wonderful job Debi! Way to go. I love unlined jackets. They are easier to move in. Looks great at the shorter length.

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  15. I think this is the best refashion I have seen this week, it is fantastic!!

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  16. It looks so much more flattering. You did such a great job. I love the cuffs.

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  17. What a great refashion Debi, the fit is really spot on now. Looks fab!

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  18. Beautiful refashion looks so much nicer on you.

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  19. What a great refashion! It really suits you and fits you beautifully!

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  20. Love it! That's an amazingly awesome refashion :). I adore cropped jackets with extra-long sleeves and funky cuffs at the best of times, but this is a particularly awesome example. Go you! :D

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  21. It's so lovely! I love this color on you. The binding on the inside seams is a lovely touch! I may have to try that myself :) Excellent work, dear!

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  22. Super job with the refashion - looks great!

    xx Charlotte
    Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage

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  23. I haven't tried my hand at refashioning much, so I really couldn't imagine what you might do! You went to a lot of work (more than taking in the side seams, as you said) but the end product is perfection!

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  24. Oh WOW! I love the new jacket, it's amazing how much better it is. A lot of work, but boy was it worth it! Congratulations!

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  25. What a fantastic refashion! I love your new jacket :)

    I'd talked myself out of joining the giveaway, but after seeing your jacket I can't help it. Please count me in :)

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  26. Just beautiful! The fit is spot on!

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  27. So much more flattering! Well done!

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  28. So cute! So far my fav! You are so fun, I love the way you approach the vintage/refashion challenge. Your eye is perfect for the end result!

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  29. This is so much nicer I am blown away by it and all the work you put in. I must say you do have tons of patience to accomplish this make over. I just ordered a pattern similar on Etsy it's called a Bolero and from the 40's as I love this style.

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  30. Awesome job on the refashion, it looks so much more you now! And you couldn't get any more 40s than refashioning from old clothing. One of my favourite chapters in an old (1948 I think) sewing book is taking a toddler dress and recycling it every few years until the child is about 12! Not really sure if you could manage that with the same dress, but great concept all the same!

    I also think you've just helped me reach a fashion ephiphany. I've always loved jackets and tailoring but never quite felt right wearing them, "dowdy" more like. After looking at this I realise the problem might just be length and fit, I need to try this look, I think it would make me much happier. It's the perfect compromise between classic jacket and bolero style.

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  31. This turned out really nice. I like a longer sleeve as well.

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  32. Wow! What a great way to reuse, reduce, and recycle! I am very impressed and your 30s style jacket looks wonderful on you!

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  33. An inspiration! What I really love is how you also re-did the interior.

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  34. wow and double wow! It is a wonder transformation!

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  35. A vast improvement! You look lovely!

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  36. Funnily enough I was just looking through some of my old books a couple weeks ago at the suit-refashion ideas. Love how you applied this to a jacket! The new version is so chic and fits you beautifully. Bravo!

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  37. oh brilliant! I truly love when a garment gets a new opportunity. :)

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  38. Such an improvement! It now looks fabulous and so you.

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  39. Stunning! Way to take a ho-hum jacket and turn it into a beautiful piece that looks like it will be very much at home in your wardrobe. Love it!

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  40. Debi, your sewing skills and creativity never cease to amaze me!! This looks fantastic on you. What a turnaround from something that otherwise was a bit blah!

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  41. You are such a rock star! That looks awesome. I wish I had your talent (and chutzpah) for making something that's ok into something amazing. And the fact that it only took you 5 hours - that would take me 60 million years to do and not like 1/2 as nice. Thanks for sharing your incredible work!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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