Our Lakes Makerie meeting was full of great makes! Keep scrolling down for Debbie and Kristin’s garments-
January Garment Sewing Group
Debbie’s Garments:
I am a fan of toppers and the Metra Blazer is a TNT for me.
On this version I lined the sleeves with a stretch crepe and finished seams with a Hong Kong finish.
The front facing connects to the side panel and creates the pocket bag and gives the jacket some structure and stabilization to compensate for soft corduroy.
I find this topper versatile, an easy and quick make and a great addition to my wardrobe.
I mistakenly thought this was going to be an easy make but became a challenge mainly due to some decisions I made.
I had a limited amount of fabric to use so that made matching plaid a challenge.
The first fit adjustment I made was adding 3” of length to jacket – Not a fan of cropped jackets-and shortened the sleeves 2 inches. I also did a narrow shoulder adjustment.
The pattern is unlined. I lined the sleeves and underlined the jacket body. I wish I would have made a lining for the jacket and a back neck facing to connect the center front facings. Not having that back neck facing piece means the shoulder of the front facings is slipped stitched – Not a fan of that procedure!
I lined the pockets, repositioned them and topstitched them onto the jacket. Not sure that was the best idea.
The pattern calls for 2 buttons – I added a third.
The jacket hem is a contour facing. A nice finish to the jacket.
For fit I did my standard adjustments. Then considering this make a wearable muslin I did a lot of machine basting as much as possible to get a good fit. I feel the shirt runs large and/or is oversized-I would go down a size next time.
This is a Palmer/Pletsch pattern so there are a good construction tips such as a painless placket, front “yoke” and neck binding finish.
I like to use the burrito method for yokes – the pattern does not use that method but I did. Unfortunately once again since there is no back neck facing I have the shoulder section of the front facings needing to be slip-stitched to keep them from floating.
This is a good pattern in that it makes up quickly, it has good construction tips and variations for sleeves and hems.
Kristin’s Garments:
After an exhaustive search for a pattern that had the same neckline, I chose Vogue 1648 because of the funnel neck. Surprising how hard it is to find this particular neck style. I found another pattern “MonoPattern Oversized Coat” but it was also a funnel neck even tho the photo didn’t show it that way.
The bell sleeve is from Burda 6059-I shortened it (maybe just a bit too much) but if too long the bell becomes a blob 🙂 Hem is the casing for elastic.
The Vogue pattern has a welt pocket so I gave it a try-pretty small and weird. Went to YouTube and watched Sew Anastasia-How to Sew a Welt Pocket and made that work. Not pretty on the inside but I am happy with results.
I cut down the neck, especially at center front, pretty much eliminated the back curved hem and eliminated the back pleat.
Weirdest thing is discovering -almost at the end of construction-that the fabric has a nap and is probably directional but you really have to look!
Had to give it a try and this stripe called out to me 🙂
Added 3/4” at center fold (1.25” total) and cut apart, serged, folded and lapped. Learned how to sew buttons on with machine.
Added buttons to cuffs. Neck was tricky because of the back neck section.
Handy trick when beginning coverstitch at an edge: stitch on Solvy to get started, then on to fabric. Solvy tears away quickly and you can knot the end and hide it.
I’ve made this pattern before but needed to try again as the others turned out too big. I wanted a smooth front (as opposed to a zip and button) for wearing under the stripe turtle.
The side zip has a flap that makes it classy. I used woven interfacing for the waistband-convenient in a pre-cut width.
These pants are keepers and I love the wide wale cord for winter.
February 2026 Garment Sewing Group
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 10:30 at The Sewing Lounge, St. Paul
Thursday, Feb. 12, 10:30 at Creative Sewing, Apple Valley
Saturday, Feb. 14, 10:30 at Sew Inviting, St. Paul
Other dates for your calendar:
Sew Inviting Sale-Semi annual sale going on now!
Frocktails-April 11- “Making Through the Decades” Tickets on sale 1/11
H+H Americas Fiber and Craft Festival: April 30-May 3, Chicago area
Material Girl Sewing 