Charlotte’s Birthday Jacket
Back in May this year I started making a birthday present for Jonny’s sister, Charlotte.
Charlotte plays the drums and loves rock music and I wanted to create something she’d love. I was looking into getting Scout badges made and I came across band logo patches! And what’s more rock and roll than denim?
My brother in law had given me a pile of jeans he’d brought online in a bulk auction, that he didn’t want but had cool marking on them. I immediately saw some cool jackets!
I also found a pair of solid colour denim that matched the best from a second hand shop.
I made a pattern using calico fabric so I could sew it up to check it worked in 3D. I adjusted the size of each piece according to the size of the patterned parts of the jeans. Using the whiskers stripe from the top of the jeans on the front of the jacket, where the pockets open and the stripes from the back of the knee in the elbows of the jacket.
I wanted to put a pocket on the sleeve with a zip so things like eftpos cards can be secured safely. I also didn’t want to cut the striped panel from behind the knee as it would have disturbed the pattern to put a seam down it. So I put in a welt pocket with a zip. The pocket bag is made from the same fabric as the lining.
The lower open pockets have the denim running all the way to the zip in one piece. The ribbing around the bottom, cuffs and neckline came from a 25cm piece I got from work. So to make sure I had enough to go around, the lower band has wider denim strips at the front, than I’d usually use but I think it works.
The jacket is fully lined with poly acetate lining. The pieces cut full size rather than broken down like the denim.
When it came to the back of the jacket, I’d used most of the big pieces on the jeans to get the patterned stripes in the right places. So I created a sunray type design on the back, using skinnier strips.
I added a few of the patches before we gave it to her & then we added the ones on the back after I’d checked with her they were ok lol.
Needless to say, she loved the jacket, as much as I loved making it! I hope she gets loads of wear from it. I love that it will probably get cooler and look better the more worn it gets!
