BWOF 11/06 #132 or How I Spent My Winter Vacation

The timing was perfect. I got my new machine at the beginning of December. Christmas vacation started a few weeks later and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the sewing machine. In addition, I had the time to devote to my "semi-tailored" jacket. A new sewing machine; a new project; a nine day vacation – perfect.

I finished the bouclé jacket. I call this jacket "semi-tailored" because it doesn't have a collar and lapels or pockets. But, this is the closest I've come to tailoring in almost 20 years. I made a suit, but at that time, my skills were really not up to the task. That's all I have to say about that. In the following photo, the blouse hem is turned up, but not sewn. Also, the threads have not been clipped and the jacket has not been professionally pressed. I was eager to post the pictures.

I used "The Easy Guide to Sewing Jackets" as my reference so I didn't rely on the BWOF directions. Something strange happened as I was lengthening the jacket pieces. I think bagging the lining was not the intended treatment. The hem allowance was smaller than I anticipated and it looks a little strange. This was the first time I bagged a lining. It was really a fun treatment to do.

I chose the piping color to match the blouse (Burda 8363). I decided I couldn't possibly make piping without a special piping foot and I drove all the way to King of Prussia to get the foot. I bought the wrong foot the first time and I had to go back the next day (Christmas Eve–Yikes!) to exchange it. One of many "learning opportunities": I sewed the piping to the facing while I was under stitching the facing. Oops.

Two layers of underlined bouclé and one layer of interfacing proved to be too thick to make Bernina's famous buttonholes. So, I was forced (wink) to buy another accessory. This little gadget allowed the thick layers of fabric to move smoothly while making buttonholes. Bernina has a foot for everything!

So, as I look back on the past 9 days, I feel satisfied about all that I accomplished, both sewing and non-sewing related. I hope to duplicate the feeling when Easter Vacation arrives.