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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sewing For Me: Denim Military Style Jacket. Burda 7994

I had no idea starting a blog to post about things I make would create so many new interests for me. Like photography. Today I ordered my first DLSR camera, a Nikon 5100 . I have been reading a lot about photography lately.There is so, so much to learn! A few blogs that have creative and inspiring photography I love are Mena's photos of her projects on The Sew Weekly, Kathleens photos at Grosgrain Fabulous,  The Pioneer Woman, and Miss Mustard Seed . They also have some great articles on photography.
When I first started this blog in 2010 I was using a point and shoot camera that my teen daughter broke at the beach. Since then I have been using a Canon G12, a great everyday camera that can be adjusted manually, but just doesn't have the great lens quality of a DLSR camera. You can't get any Bokeh effects on it and I love Bokeh. Bokeh is a Japanese term for a photo were the subject is in focus but there is a nice soft blur on the background. It's so beautiful and professional looking.
Now even if I do get amazing at taking photos there still is the problem of "Who is going to take a great photo of me when I want to show off something I made?" 
My dad took this shot. I wasn't happy with most of them even though he is great photographer. Let's face it, I'm not in my twenties or even thirties anymore like most " Blogistas" out there, and I'm very self critical. Especially since I have gone up a size since weaning Gigi and eating too much over the holidays. It's not so easy to lose weight anymore and I have to practically kill myself to lose like, two pounds. But I won't take photos of my things on a dress form. I made the clothes for me and not my dress form and I love an excuse to get dolled up. Photos are kind of funny because most of the time I won't like the photo but then when I revisit the same photo a year or more later I think "Hey I looked pretty good! Why did I hate this picture?"
I probably sound like a vain idiot right now. Can I blame that on growing up in Hollywood?
I had already cut this fabric when I read about the buttons challenge at Sew Weekly. I was considering not making this version because I was afraid I would mess up my buttonholes yet again but I soldiered on
I'm quite happy with how it turned out.
I used some denim fabric I bought in downtown LA for two dollars a yard. It had a tag on it from Not Your daughters Jeans. A lot of manufacturers donate their fabric and I have found some really unique designer fabrics down there! But Not Your Daughters Jeans? Ha! My own daughter and I joke about me buying a pair of those. I did buy a pair once on sale and they somehow looked very dorky on me!

It has a seventies vibe to it and I decided to go a little crazy with the topstitching to add to that seventies feel. 
It was very hard to do the double stitched seams and I messed up a little. I probably should have used a twin needle for this.
Although I made a muslin there were several fitting issues I had to deal with that I missed in the muslin. My shoulders were a lot more narrow than the pattern and I had to cut some length off the shoulders and reattach the sleeves. I also lengthened the center front princess panel for a larger bust and then I took in the sleeves and the sides a little too.
This is my first jacket!
Even though I went to design school like a million years ago, I was a terrible student and an even worse sewer! We never did learn how to make a coat . We draped a muslin of one but that is all I remember. I spent too much time going out dancing like a lot of young girls.
I used Burda 7994 "The Steffi Coat."
The Steffi coat  is downloadable here on Burdastyle but I used the store bought version of the pattern which has the big lapeled version I made. The downloadable version on Burdastyle only has the straight buttoned up, no color variation.


I bought these buttons at a rummage sale. If you look at my blog header you will see I also used them on the corners.
Pin It Photobucket

20 comments:

  1. I love the jacket, and the buttons! You are beautiful... I have no idea what you don't like about your picture. I would be thrilled to be as slender as you.

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  2. You look so smart n chic in this jacket, very nice for a first! Those are great looking pictures

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  3. You look so smart n chic in this jacket, very nice for a first! Those are great looking pictures

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  4. You look fantastic! I love the jacket too. I am about to invest ina camera as I have only been using my phone ane and I would like a nice photo that is more clear.

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  5. yes, hollywood is all up in your head because you look kick ass, girl. seriously. and that jacket makes me drool!

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  6. Don't most of us revisit photos of ourselves later and wonder why we disliked them so much? I think it's a chromosone thing in women, lol. I love the Jacket, you did a beautiful job! Have you tried playing with a photo-editing program for your focus/unfocused look? It can be done using layers, if you go to http://oldmamadognewtricks.blogspot.com/ she may have some helpful tips on which free sites there are. I find youtube helpful for tutorials as a I a novice but falling in love fast!

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  7. The jacket looks great! I love that you used vintage buttons on it...it's a great detail.

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  8. That is a wonderful jacket on you and I am totally envious of the new camera. I have a really nice point and shoot (Canon Power-Shot SX230HS)but am dreaming of something more, bigger, better. As for being self critical, as we say in this house...Stop that! It's a habit. At 57, I am happy with my looks and content to let other women shine brighter at times. It truly is a journey of acceptance.

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  9. Fabulous jacket and the buttons are awesome. The scarf polishes the whole outfit, lovely.

    Funny you should mention it, but I do use a dress form to model the clothes I make, because they look so much better on her in photos than on me. But, like you said, maybe I don't look all that bad ;). I think I'll practice taking more photos of me and see if I can get to the point of liking them enough to post.

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  10. Great jacket, and I LOVE your buttons!

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  11. Wow after rereading this post I sound so whiny! I guess i am premenstrual! Yup, i always get this way . Hope I didn't drive anyone away.

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  12. No one will look as closely at the double stitching as you do. Jacket looks great. I also graduated from FIDM, (textile design so no sewing) and love shopping in the garment district downtown.
    Always am up for company since most of my friends don't sew.

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  13. Beautiful jacket, clever girl. I've taken a little look at Burda style. I have used Burda a lot earlier on in my sewing years.

    Thank you for sharing.

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  14. Beautiful jacket! And enjoy that new camera. It is amazing how blogging spurs a greater range of creative pursuits! Thanks so much for sharing at the Kiss & Tell party over at I Gotta Create!

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  15. I love the idea of buttons on the lapels! Cute jacket, and you look just fine! I think even bloggers in their 20s get super critical of their own pictures ;)

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  16. This jacket is wonderful! I love the cut of it, the buttons on the collar and the pockets. It's the perfect denim jacket! And thanks for writing about age, size & vanity. I'm not a slim 20-30 something blogger, either, and fitting has its challenges as I get older. But it was encouraging to read your post. Keep it up! For what it's worth, I think you look chic and elegant!

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  17. Looks great, I like the 70s topstitching.

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  18. This is a great looking jacket. I love the vintage red buttons for an accent on the lapel. Have fun with your new camera!

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  19. Justine, what a great style! It fits beautifully & looks as if it will be really useful.
    Nice!!

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  20. Beautiful jacket!You look fantastic! I love the Wholesale Denim jacket too.

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