#makenine2019 and my Islander Sewing Systems “Jacket Express”!
Last week my sewing got off to a rough start! First of all a couple of Fridays ago, I couldn’t get home without taking a good run, a few times, at the first of many hills we have … without success. I abandoned my vehicle on the side of the road and as I was walking home in the snow I saw a few vehicles in the ditch, and passed a firetruck and an ambulance! After a 4 km walk in the fresh snow, a Good Samaritin gave me a ride the rest of the way. We don’t usually get snow – but never fail, as soon as you say “We didn’t get any snow this winter!” It WILL snow!
What followed next was two full days without power, then me laid up because I threw my back out, and then a couple of days of me TRYING to get to work in the snow. (whine, whine, whine!)
All in all it added up to a VERY CRANKY LINDA WHO COULDN’T SEW! I swear next summer I am going to restore my Dear Aunt’s 1948 Singer 15-88 treadle cabinet. As you can see, the machine itself is in wonderful shape now. I just need to fix up the treadle cabinet. Then we shall see if a power outage can interfere with my sewing time! Seriously!
So when my life settled down, what did I get accomplished on my really, really cool Island Sewing Systems “Jacket Express”?
First I had to figure out how to finish off the seams of the pocket bag. Yes, I know it’s on the inside, but like all jean jackets, this jacket isn’t lined and everything just hangs out. So I sewed on some single fold bias tape (RED!) and hand sewed it down on the side that faces out. Hmm … needs some pressing!
Next, my favourite part – the “Burrito”! The first time I did a “Burrito” was during Janet Pray’s Craftsy class that I bought, which included this “Jacket Express” pattern. Ever since, any time I can change a pattern to do the Burrito technique on the yolk, I certainly do it!
Janet Pray explains it waaay better than I do, but the front and back yolks are sewn on to the bodice and back pieces. Then the shoulder seams are sewn on the inside back and front yolk pieces. Then you roll your jacket up inside to the shoulder seam and sew the outside back and front yolk pieces together at the shoulders, holding your burrito filling inside! Now you pull your burrito fillings out one side and “PRESTO” like magic your jacket and yolks have a wonderful, professional finish! Press and do your topstitching! (I’ve done the burrito before here too, maybe with more description and photos?)
Then I sewed on the sleeves, which was easy because the sleeve underarm seams and the jacket side seams weren’t sewn up yet, and I topstitched those sleeve head seams.
Then to attach the cuff, Janet Pray does something she calls a cuff “Burrito”. (Again, better explained by Janet!) You sew on the inside cuffs and fold them back on to your sleeve. Pin your outside cuff on top, right sides together, sandwiching the sleeve between the two. You bunch your sleeve inside the cuff a bit so that you can pin part of the opening shut too. You don’t want to catch your sleeve in any of your pinning! Pin and sew from an inch or so where the opening for turning starts, all around the three sides, to about an inch or so again to where the opening finishes. When finished, you pull your sleeve out of the opening and it is MOSTLY sewn up. The amount of hand sewing you have left to do is minimal!
What’s left to do now? Just some more topstitching (which I love) and the Jeans Buttons and buttonholes (hopefully this time, I’ll sew them on the correct side!!!). When I was able to drive again, I bought a couple of styles of Jeans Buttons. We’ll have to decide which style looks better, won’t we? Then comes the photos. I don’t know if the snow will still be around when I am ready for photos. We accumulated 23 cm of snow in just a day or two and it is disappearing rather quickly! Here’s the “before melt” photos … next blog post there will be “after melt” photos … with my cool jean jacket!
I prefer rainy winter weather myself, that’s probably why I like living here – which do you prefer – snowy winters or rainy winters?
Happy Sewing!
STASH BUSTING WITH THIS PROJECT? Not finished yet! But I am putting a good dent in my 134.2 meters with this Jacket!
Looks like your jacket is coming along well, despite the hiccoughs with the weather. Never heard of burrito cuffs before, but sounds like a good idea for getting a fab finish. By the way, I prefer snowy winters, but that may jsut be the novelty factor – too windy and rainy here in south west UK.
Yes! I’m very close to finishing! We usually get rainy, windy winters here too – I suppose it might be easier to get around in the snow if we had a budget for proper snow removal. But then I’m not a politician, so what do I know! 😜
Getting on well in the circumstances!
I like snow as I really have no commitments now, so as long as I’m warm and fed it suits me. I appreciate that people with places to go will feel differently 😉.
Thank you! Snow is definitely very pretty! We did enjoy our time stuck at home when the power came back on. It would be nice to not be obligated to have to travel in it – perhaps someday when I retire! 😁👍
What a charming winter interlude you’ve had… which we hope you won’t have again without that treadle whirring in your sewing room and snow removal in the municipal budget. So glad to know you’re hale & hearty & sewing again! (If I were in a location used to snow I’d prefer that. Getting around in Chicago during a blizzard was fine; getting out my front door in 2″ is tricky here where everything stops dead at mention of the S word.🥴)
😂😂😂 You’ve got that right… a treadle and a snow plow are definitely needed! In the city it’s no big deal, around here it is an S word!
Lol!
My goodness you’ve had a tough week. I like snow as much as the next guy but I go bonkers when the power goes out. Especially when it’s cold outside. Makes you really appreciate our indigenous people who endured this kind of weather without complaint. Anyway, the burrito thing looks lovely (and complicated). Good on you for getting it done with all the distraction you had!
We are spoiled, aren’t we! I can’t imagine living without heat or power. Many people used to and some still do! Everything is warming up and melting now … soon I might be wearing my new jean jacket outside!
This is looking great! I will have to check out some videos on the burrito method, is it pretty much the same as when you do the magic pillowcase finish?
So Jeans Woman, advise me! Any recommendations for a buttonhole on a jeans waistband? I busted the Janome on Sunday sewing the crotch seam so now have borrowed an OLD Viking 60 10.
I used plain cotton for the facing, and mid weight fusible interfacing on the denim which I think is 13 oz. (heavy like Wranglers). Will a regular buttonhole hold up? No option for a keyhole, but I am not opposed to doing a hand buttonhole as a reinforcement if that would be better. Thoughts?
And I am going to have to find videos on the “magic pillowcase finish”! Well you might have better luck on an OLD Viking – sometimes the newer machines are weaker. Although I thought Janomes had metal insides so they were strong too! 🤔 13oz is pretty heavy. I would think your regular buttonhole would be fine. I’d be more concerned about sticking all those layers under a machine. Will you be able to trim off some of the seam allowance in the area? I don’t trim away the narrow end where the buttonhole pulls to, just the top and bottom seams of the waistband. I haven’t had buttonholes rip open but I have had trouble machine sewing them and have done them by hand. Good luck to you!
I did trim the edge out, so I think maybe I will be OK. I expected better of Girl #2’s machine. I think my Necchi can handle it, but I popped the screw in the bobbin case and of course it could not be found. Hoping that won’t be a special order, and I can use mine. Thanks for the info; this is my first time with jeans and I read a lot, but not a lot of comments on the buttonhole making!
Oh no! Terrible news about the missing screw! I think all I have read and done concentrates on the thickness of seams/buttonholes, not on the style of buttonholes or ripping. You have a good denim there.
A new casing won’t be difficult, but likely have to be ordered in, nothing is easily attainable out here in the sticks! I’m glad to hear You haven’t seen much on buttonholes either!
Haha, luckily we don’t have the choice here in Sydney! It’s getting wetter in winters though – traditionally we’re a wet summer dry winter kinda land. Sooo frustrating not being able to sew when you want to, I feel your pain. X
I always find it interesting seeing the backgrounds on the photos sewists post – sometimes sunny, sometimes not, etc. Happy sewing to you too!
You did well despite the snow and power outage. We had snow but no power outage and the best I did was make a sandwich for dinner cause I was too lazy to cook. I love the two-tone combination in the jacket. Keep your chin up and a candle close at hand…..just in case.
Thank you! I’m hear we have good weather coming our way! I am almost finished. Now I am just thinking about jeans buttons and little design details.
This is going to be a fabulous jacket. Can’t wait to see the completed project. I know what you mean about the snow. We just aren’t used to it, and it’s stressful when travelling. Hopefully that will be the end of it.
Thank you! I’m almost done! I think we are almost done with the snow too!
This jacket technique is so clever and to achieve such great results must make you feel really chuffed. I like the pretty snow photos too, no white stuff here, in fact it is unseasonally warm for February. Happy sewing x
Thank you! The snow is all melted away now. Happy sewing to you too!