Well, it’s done! I am a little slow in posting this project here – trying to make some progress with other projects too! I had all the pieces for this “proper” Bellatrix Blazer, bar the lining, cut & marked on Sunday afternoon, & interfaced just before Sherlock started on Sunday evening. That’s what you saw in the previous post. So around 10:30am-ish on Monday morning, I got stuck in. A stray thought went through my head: “I wonder if I can finish this whole thing today, so Daughter No2 can wear it to school tomorrow…?” Nothing like a little challenge! 🙂
In the cutting out process I cut the facing fronts, which form the upper collar, 3mm wider along that front edge. I wanted to use a tailoring technique that helps to ensure the seam stays underneath. I did the same on the lower edges of the “peplum” pieces & the front edge. It really did help, as well as a lot of steam & flattening with my clapper! I also lengthened the shoulder seam by 2cm & the sleeve is 6cm longer. I cut the back lining piece with a 2cm pleat in the centre, this to enable movement, but otherwise kept everything else as standard. I even stayed with the bagged lining instruction!
This really is an easy pattern to make. The pockets are in-seam & the instructions are so plain & simple, a novice should be able to follow them with no problem! I found no problems, apart from the front sleevehead:armhole ratio. There is more armhole than sleeve! I must alter this on my traced pattern, but for now I managed to ease it all in & it doesn’t look like there was a problem.
We are on the lookout for a buckle or something for the front closure, we sort of decided we’d like an edge to edge closure, rather than a button. For now though, she’s happy to wear it as it is, & her friends have been suitably impressed with it! It got its first outing to school on Tuesday morning & in double French the teacher was most impressed with the fabric choice! I’ve shown the pattern & a suitable piece of fabric to Daughter No1 too, fingers crossed she likes the combination & I can make another!
In Jungle news, I spent many fruitless hours searching for my bodice block & toiles from last year, finally located them, only to realise I’d eaten too much over Christmas (and any other time in between) & needed to re-draft anyway! Grrr. So that’s what I did yesterday, & I’m intending to move along with adding the style lines & creating my puuuurfect jungle blouse.
How are your jungle plans? And have you taken advantage of the special offer at Raquel Gonzalez‘ Etsy store? You only have until this Monday to get 15%off a purchase over $50, and free shipping, so get cracking! Use the code: NewYearNewPurse when you check out.
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
Nice jacket!
I understand that problem with blocks that are unused for too long. They seem to shrink without constant attention 🙂
yup! like clothes, they seem to be prone to an attack of calories that shrink them when you’re not looking!
I want this now!! What a gorgeous jacket, I like both versions and the fabric on this, is sooo meeee!! Love your comments on the shrinking clothes and blogs, I have first hand experience too 🙂
Thanks! Shrinkage is a serious problem!! 🙂
That daughter of yours is so lovely! And the jacket shows that off even better. Hard to believe that she might have the pattern block attention deficit shrinking problem one day too, just like us mums ;-). I had a severe attack of that over the last year…
I bet she never has that issue!! Well, I guess I shouldn’t say never… For now though, the blocks I made her 2 years ago still fit so fingers crossed!
Lovely blazer! I haven’t seen too many of these made up in a print, and it’s really fun.
Thank you! Kat from Modern Vintage Cupcakes used a print, & I’ve seen a plaid version on Kollabora. It’s a great style.
I am pretty sure I need some Paris fabric for my middle daughter… she would LOVE it! The jacket looks superb!
Thanks Laurie, I must ask my friend where she got the fabric – there could be an army of Paris print Bellatrix blazers out there! 🙂
Stunning! This is getting closer and closer to the top of my que with every version I see!
And so quick Vikki!!
What a fun jacket! The fabric is great! I’ve loved seeing pieces from this pattern collection pop up recently. They are so fun!
Thanks Amy, I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else does with it! The possibilities are endless!
I LOVE this blazer pattern. It was on my Christmas wish list but I didn’t get it, so will have to go ahead and purchase it. Others have been saying the same thing, that for a blazer, it’s a rather simple easy to follow make. That works for me! The fabric you chose is spot on. It really ‘funs’ up what could be a too business like blazer.
Very cute jacket and it is beautifully made.