Part of my #makenine 2019 Challenge is this pattern, Islander Sewing Systems Jacket Express. I have made this pattern before here. This time though, I was determined not to make the same mistake again. (Putting the buttons and buttonholes on the wrong sides – seriously!!!!)
If you would like to read and see the photos for this jacket from the beginning, start here and then here. I’m so happy to be finished and so happy with my new Jeans jacket. I only had a few steps left – Jeans buttons and buttonholes – but it seemed like forever to get a chance to sit down at my machine and sew!
First off, I asked on Instagram which Jeans button should I use?
The majority answer was the darker ones on the right! Thank you fellow sewists!
Next step was the buttonholes, six of them. I did a practice on a scrap piece of fabric and when it turned out well I continued with the four on the front and the two cuffs. I didn’t use my topstitching thread for these buttonholes – just a matching polyester thread. My Janome buttonhole foot did a fine job. I always start with the cuffs because they are always buttoned up and no one really notices them. Then as my confidence grows, I work my way up to the top buttonhole last – because that one is usually always undone. (Yes, that is a Minion bandaid. That’s how I roll!)
When I headed for my sewing table this morning, what did I see? It’s no wonder my sewing is covered with cat hair!
So after I found a new spot for Sophie to nap and brushed the cat hair off of my jacket, I took a good look at my jacket. It still needed something… not sure what… but as you can see, my inspiration photo wasn’t just a really cool jacket with really cool fabric, there had to be something more too!
So I took a visit to my Pinterest boards and rediscovered these …
That put me on a hunt through my fabric stash for some embroidery or lace. I didn’t have anything in black or red, but I did have lots of white lace (an old white “lace” tablecloth).
Cutting the flowered sections out of the tablecloth was easy. I then tried a couple of different sewing machine feet and settled for my free motion quilting foot. I was happy to have a “needle down” setting on my sewing machine so that every time I stopped sewing not only did my needle stay down, but my free motion quilting foot did too – holding the lace to my fabric. It took a little getting used to to sew with this foot. Every time the needle came up the foot came up too so that I could maneuver the fabric to sew around the outline of the flowers. I probably wasn’t using the proper technique, but I was successful in sewing on my lace flowers. And it was fun!
Next came attaching the Jeans buttons. I’ve done this before and I rather like tapping the buttons together with my little hammer. I always first practice attaching a couple of Jeans buttons on scrap fabric until I am comfortable with the process. I also always let Mr. Green Thumb know what I’m up to because if he hears hammering he always runs to see what’s being built!
Place the Jeans button post on the flat bottom holder and the button will be held on the top holder. I had to remove the little piece from the top holder as this Jeans Button style didn’t have a hole it would fit into!
Time to sandwich it all together. Jeans button holder, Jeans button post sitting on the holder and pushed through the hole made by my awl, Jeans button on top and holder placed carefully down on it.
Jeans button on and not bent! Practice done, let’s tackle the real thing!
I was outside in my sweater, sitting on the concrete steps, hammering on these Jeans buttons, and I just about froze … even though the sun was high in the clear blue sky. Luckily I only had 6 Jeans buttons to attach. I was quite surprised though, when I went out again a little while later to take photos of my new Jean Jacket, how warm my jacket kept me! It is quite heavy for denim. I could still see the odd patch of snow here and there in the garden and the pond was still frozen, but I should have been wearing sunglasses!
This pattern is definitely not for a fitted jacket, and some might want to make a size smaller, but I find it really comfortable and roomy enough to wear a sweater or hoodie underneath.
I took some inside shots too, since everything outside seemed to have a glare! Every time I see the back of the jacket I am reminded of when I constantly told our kids I have “eyes in the back of my head”. Well now I sort of do and better yet, they seem to follow your every move!
Next project? I’ve got my pattern picked out and my fabric chosen for the #sewover50 #so50visible Challenge on Instagram! Are you joining this Challenge? Deadline is March 15th!
Happy Sewing!
STASH BUSTING WITH THIS PROJECT? 3 meters. I still have enough of the print to happily make a bag or two and I still have enough of the black denim for a pair of jeans – already cut out! Now that makes 131.2 meters left in my fabric stash!
