Wednesday, January 12, 2011

An Outfit for 'The' Shoes


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This is the vest/sleeveless jacket I made to wear with the wonderful Fergie shoes. It's the FSG #1960 Cardigan pattern, without the sleeves, and with the shawl collar modification in Nancy Erickson's newsletter. I think it is much more a sleeveless jacket look than a vest, and that's what I'm calling it. The color is probably truest in the first photo.
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It's a nice, beefy knit with surface interest from the black raised threads. Since it was so beefy and almost thick, and because I used no interfacing in it, it has a very soft look and feel.
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You can see that I stitched down the edges of the uppermost seam allowance after grading the allowances that lie beneath. The collar/band unit was sewn on as one, with the allowances all laying the same way, so this made a nice finish which allowed everything to fall as it should.

As noted above, I used the shawl collar pattern piece provided in the Nancy Erickson newsletter, and I think it's fine. I think I might make a less pronounced curve out to the collar from the band if I make another like this. I can't decide if it would make it too bulky where it closes, or if it would be better, but I can always try it and then change back if I don't like it.
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I had thought I'd do patch pockets on this, but I was afraid it would make the front so much heavier than the back that it would hang funny, especially if I actually put anything in the pockets. So, I left them off, and for the look of it, I'm glad I did. I like pockets though, and I wonder if in-seam pockets might work next time. I really don't need the bulk though, so we'll see. I know I could have used weight in the back hem to make it hang straight, but this isn't a structured enough or 'important' enough piece to do that, in my opinion.

The top with this is from a set I made from this same pattern (there's a charcoal cardigan jacket as well) and the skirt is part of it as well, although not from the FSG pattern. I shortened the skirt from calf-length. I think it looks good, and I love a simple 4-seam straight skirt in a knit fabric. It's so much more slimming than without the CF and CB seams. It's an elastic waist, and honestly, you don't need a pattern to make one like it.

It's really, really cold here lately, and we have a bunch of snow on the ground, but at least more isn't coming down right now. I hope the bad storms and big problems are missing all of you, too.

11 comments:

Gail said...

Great knit fabric and I like the shawl collar.

Melodye said...

Liana, you look gorgeous. You did an excellent job on the jacket, but the entire look is model worthy. Where are the fashion mags? Good job!

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

This is a stunning jacket Liana! And of course those shoes deserved their own outfit!

Sharon said...

Wow, the jacket, shoes or the whole outfit, you are looking stunning.

shams said...

YOWZA!! Beautiful jacket, droolworthy shoes! So pulled together.

vtmartha said...

The jacket and shoes are perfect for you, Liana! I believe I may have the same fabric and I'm inspired to go find it.

KayY said...

Wonderful ensemble! I do love clothes that look professional yet cozy.

Kathryn, aka fzxdoc said...

What a great look!

Ann Made Studio said...

Beautiful outfit! You look wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Rock on! Love the outfit.

SEWN said...

Gorgeous fabric and shoes! You look stunning.