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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: MaryW
Date: 05-16-2005, 10:06 AM (1 of 32)
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I think I will try my hand at a blue jean style jacket for summer. I have some poplin and pattern 4385 from McCalls. Lots of top stitching here. I have enuf poplin for jacket and pants.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 05-16-2005, 10:49 AM (2 of 32)
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Cool Mary, Sounds like fun. I would love to make my own jean jacket. The ones in the store never fit me right. If they fit me around, the sleeves drop to my knee. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-16-2005, 11:51 AM (3 of 32)
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I killed a cheap Singer machine making my youngest daughter a jean jacket when she was about 7. Burnt the motor right out with the top stitching where the flat fell seams met. I found great buttons, just like on the real thing and paid more for them than the rest of the jacket. She wore it a couple times then forgot it in school. When she looked in the lost and found it was gone. She felt so bad -- she really loved it -- that I told her not to worry, it was no big deal and bought her a RTW. Last time she visited us she broke a depression glass wine glass and had the same look on her face. I told her no big deal, I'd just get another. Didn't have the heart to tell her it was about 70-years-old and irreplaceable. What all that has to do with your jean jacket I don't know. Are you using the Sandra Betzina pattern? If so let me know how it goes. I have that pattern and plan to use it some day. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-16-2005, 11:56 AM (4 of 32)
The jeans jackets fit me fine except the sleeves are around 1-2" too short. Depending on the brand.  Sometimes I can find one in the men's that fit right.
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User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-16-2005, 03:54 PM (5 of 32)
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Ohh that sounds nice let us know how it goes. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 05-16-2005, 04:13 PM (6 of 32)
Hey beachgirl we should swap sleeves  .
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Mother in Law
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:14 PM (7 of 32)
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Beach and Gina, My sleeves are always about 5 inches too long. I always have to cut them and then hem. Mary, send us a pic of that jacket when you are finished I need some incentives. I'm getting bored with my sewing. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:32 PM (8 of 32)
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I made jean jackets for both grandsons. They turned out really cute, but like you said lots and lots of top stitching.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-16-2005, 06:04 PM (9 of 32)
I always have to lengthen sleeves. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Skye
Date: 05-16-2005, 08:55 PM (10 of 32)
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Have fun Mary, consider using a twin needle for your top stitching. I made jean style jacket over our summer(we are just entering winter here) and as you cna see the sleeves a tad too long and a bit big over the shoulders thats's what happens when you want to play with a new toy = janome 1000 coverpro now this baby copes with those layers of fabric and finishes the seams off all in one step. my jacket burda 3956 (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sewingskye/detail?.dir=8960&.dnm=e169.jpg&.src=ph) and to really bore the socks off you a peek at the top stitchingtop stitching (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sewingskye/detail?.dir=8960&.dnm=bf71.jpg&.src=ph) I plan on using this pattern again possibly a dressier version to wear to work. |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-17-2005, 11:32 AM (11 of 32)
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Skye, your jacket is lovely. The print is so clear and the top stitching is awesome. I do have a double needle but it is the smaller one. I need one where they are spaced a bit farther apart.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-17-2005, 12:04 PM (12 of 32)
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Skye , that jacket is fantastic ! ! I just purchased the 900 coverpro.. Its still in box , I have to clear a place to set it up.. I am really excited.. Can't wait to use it..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 05-18-2005, 12:24 AM (13 of 32)
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Skye, Love the jacket. Nice stitching. Thanks Mary for getting the boards back up. I was so afraid it was my computer acting up. 
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User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: Skye
Date: 05-18-2005, 12:28 AM (14 of 32)
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Thanks for the nice comments about my jacket. Libby you will love your machine I made a jean style skirt in a stretch cord and all top stitched I am one happy camper and my 17yr old DD loves it too. Great for hemming knits. Mary I have several sized(widths) twin needles for my sewing machine - get more that one nothing more frustrating than breaking a needle in the middle of a project - ask me how I know. I also have a triple needle for my sewing machine and I had alot of fun(precoverstitch machine) using different colours threads etc for a nice easy decorative effect. Happy sewing - post a photo when you have done Mary I love looking at what others are up to |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-18-2005, 05:18 AM (15 of 32)
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The fabric you used is beautiful Skye! I am going to go today and get another double needle. I will read the pattern over carefully and see how to go about this. I don't want to be changing needles over and over but I want it to turn out nice. I have to figure out what I want for snaps or buttons too. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: esrun3
Date: 05-18-2005, 09:16 AM (16 of 32)
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Beautiful jacket Skye! I might have to try my hand at one of those. Would love to see your's when it's finished, Mary.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-19-2005, 05:09 PM (17 of 32)
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Skye your jacket is wonderful. The topstitching is wonderful too. I like the twin needle topstitching, think it is easier for me. I have never made one but had my jean jacket from college (back in the 70's) and it was well worn to say the least. I loved that jacket so maybe I need to make one now. You all are getting me inspired to sew something for myself. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-20-2005, 07:58 AM (18 of 32)
Oh good heavens Summer,  surely you jest!
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-20-2005, 11:31 AM (19 of 32)
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Well I was thinking here that if I could collect some old jeans and have enough for the pattern pieces I could make myself one. I like the lived in look lol. I am not happy with the type of demins they have at the fabric stores. I never buy the stretch demin when I buy my jeans. I stick to the old Levis I feel more comfortable in those. Oh yea and I buy mens jeans cause the waist doesn't pinch my waist which is where I have my most extra fat. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-20-2005, 04:35 PM (20 of 32)
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That's a neat idea. I would love to see how you progress with it.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MariLynnTX
Date: 05-25-2005, 11:17 AM (21 of 32)
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A couple of years ago I looked at my jean jacket and realized it was dead. So I made a new one, about the 3rd one. I found some pre-washed blue denim at the local Wal-Mart and bought several yards, enough to make some denim jeans (elastic in the waist, no back pockets), a denim skirt, and a jacket. I didn't have a pattern, just used a blouse pattern with a yoke that I had used for the first one I made. On that one I put the typical snaps, but on this one I changed the style of the yoke, and used some round (like marbles but a little smaller) wooden buttons. I treated the buttons by soaking them an hour or so in sunflower seed oil (any cooking oil would be fine). I had a whole lot of wooden beads in various colors and natural, so I cut some bias denim strips and made a bead fringe with them, stringing the beads in any order on pieces of the denim strip, tied a knot at the bottom of each and sewed them to the lower edge of the yoke and then topstitched the yoke to the jacket back. Each strip had a long bamboo cylinder bead on it as well as smaller pony beads. I double-stitched the pockets in a V also, like the front yokes and put a cluster of bead strips at all the V's. The back yoke I made straight across. I did most of the stitching with a twin needle a 1/4 inch wide and I used the same color thread as is used on jeans. The skirt also was stitched with that and the twin needle and the jeans were stitched the same around the hems of the legs. Several people wanted me to make them, but I had no more beads and they had to buy ready-made bead fringe, but it worked quite well. Besides, I would not make the bead fringe for any price; too much time!! I was working on my book and it also took a lot of time! MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-25-2005, 02:13 PM (22 of 32)
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Your jeans blouse sounds wonderful. No wonder others wanted one too.
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User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: MariLynnTX
Date: 05-25-2005, 07:25 PM (23 of 32)
Thank you, beach girl! That's what I'm going to be this long weekend. I hope the weather is not going to be bad...the weather report for Houston/Galveston is not very encouraging! I'll probably take that jean jacket along.  MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: alabamanana
Date: 05-26-2005, 08:48 AM (24 of 32)
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I wonder if anyone has made a reversible jacket? I found an easy to sew Simplicity pattern but would like to make the jacket reversible and was wondering if anyone has some know how to share.  
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User: alabamanana
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 3 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 05-26-2005, 09:47 AM (25 of 32)
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I have made reversible jackets when I was doing custom sewing. The easiest way in to have the collar the same on both sides and also the cuffs, if any. You just cut the back, fronts, sleeves and pockets out of both fabrics you are using and sew the denim one together, then the other one, leaving the sleeve edges, and the front edges and the bottom unstitched. Turn so all the seams are inside. Apply the collar as if the reverse side was a lining, apply pockets, finish the sleeves as you wish, plain or cuffed. I always do the lower edge like a facing, finished it completely before I sew the fronts and add the buttonholes and buttons or the zipper last. MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: cclebl
Date: 05-26-2005, 01:16 PM (26 of 32)
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I cleaned out my husbands closet and found a box of '60's blue jeans that didn't fit him anymore and he would never wear again even if they did. They were all bell bottoms and had lots of fancy stitching and patches on them. The jacket was great. I wore it til I wore it out.
Carolyn
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User: cclebl
Member since: 04-25-2005 Total posts: 27 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 06-03-2005, 07:39 PM (27 of 32)
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I bet you had a really cute jacket! And what fun, finding all those jeans you could re-use! I am such a packrat, I'm having a hard time picking out what I am going to keep and what I'm putting in my daughter's garage sale or giving to the Ladies of Charity, now that my moving time is getting near. Jon says they should be finished with the room and bath in a month or so. Last week five of my children plus assorted husbands and wives and 12 or 13 of my grandchildren (7 of them under 10), and me were all at the huge beach house surrounded by palms we rented down on Bolivar Peninsula (a 15-minute ferry ride across from Galveston Island) and the Gulf of Mexico was as blue as the Caribbean and relatively calm (it's usual state is rough surf) and it was warm, not toastingly hot, with a soft, pleasant breeze. We all had a great time! Some were surf-fishing, one son-in-law caught an enormous redfish, the rest of us watched the dolphins leaping around and slapping their tails on the water, and the pelicans were flying in long lines across the blue Gulf. We all shared the laundry and cooking, and fixed s'mores over a fire on the beach for dessert. It was a lot of fun! MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: NanCee
Date: 06-04-2005, 01:21 PM (28 of 32)
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Mary, have you finished your jacket? I would love to see a picture, and if you have any advice for us who may want to sew one. I have the McCalls 4385 pat. but so far I've only looked at it! Skye, your jacket is lovely, like the fabric you chose. As to your stitching, did you have to adjust the machine to handle the layers? I have a cover stitch machine but have only used it (the cover stitch ) for hems on T- shirts. |
User: NanCee
Member since: 04-15-2004 Total posts: 76 |
From: Skye
Date: 06-04-2005, 06:55 PM (29 of 32)
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Hi Nancee, I didn't do any adjustments on my machine it just went on thru' those layers- one of the reasons that I am really pleased with my new "toy". I am looking forward to seeing everyone's new jeans style jackets. I have some red cord fabric waiting in the queue to be sewn up - I have done the skirt so much to do a nd so little time Skye
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User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 06-05-2005, 07:15 PM (30 of 32)
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I never have to adjust my machine, a Pfaff 1475CD, for stitching many layers. It will stitch through 30 layers of denim with no problem. This machine was the top of the line in 1995 or thereabout, when I bought it and it has been the best machine around, never needing more than an annual cleaning and oiling. I do freemotion machine embroidery and have taught it, as well as regular sewing; I have tried out every machine around and I wouldn't trade this one for any of them. MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: Longblades
Date: 07-21-2005, 11:14 AM (31 of 32)
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Skye, your jacket is lovely and so different with the bright colours. I am intrigued with your use of the twin needle for the top stitching. Have posted a question on the general forum about it. Your jacket looks as if the front seaming is the same as a dress I just made - straight across horizontally from the front armhole, pivot at about the bust point, then straight down the front. Right? If so, how did you manage the pivot with the double needle? Because you need to have the inside needle stop stitching while the outside one continues. Either that or box in the corner at the pivot point. How did you do this? I couldn't see it in your photo link. You would also have to pivot on the collar points. I went and bought twin needles for my project and ended up not using them, LOL. Will still use for long, straight bluejean seams though. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: Skye
Date: 07-21-2005, 06:15 PM (32 of 32)
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I didn't have to pivot has the jacket had a yoke at bust level and the vertical pieces in the lower front were topstitched prior to stitching to the yoke then t/s. The collar I didn't use my c/s as didn't want the zig zag of the lower looper thread showing so I eyeballed that using my sewing machine. I have just bought some denims to make a jean style vest. Hey Mary how's your jacket going? Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
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