Mint Green Jeans Jacket

Finished the Mint Green Jeans Jacket! 

The color is SEW fresh - perfect for spring! This is a mint green cut out floral fabric with pearl beads with a border purchased at Supreme Fabrics, Chicago, IL. 

My first thought was to showcase the floral border along the collar, waistband and cuffs.The flowers were beaded and begged to be shown.  

After experimenting with the border and facings, I decided to sandwich the interfacing between the lining fabric for the Front Facing, collar, waistband, and cuffs. This would allow the interfacing to be hidden and not show through the cut out or the interior of the jacket.

Before sewing any beaded fabric, the beads need to be removed. Soon there were beads flying everywhere, rolling across the table and across the room. There was no easy way to corral the little beads; even the vacuum missed several. 

My favorite pattern weights and KAI scissors!

To keep the flowers along the edge of the curved collar, the flowers and leaves needed to be released and then retacked before sewing the collar layers together. This is quite easy using a close matching thread color and a zigzag stitch on top of the embroidery.

Yes, those are my pattern weights! 

Girl can't have too many of these!

 

After stitching the collar with 3/8" seam allowances, the seams need to be pressed open to allow the stitched edge to be pressed along the stitched seam. This gives the collar a sharp crease. To do this, be sure to use a point presser. Lucky me, I have several to choose from!

 
The construction was easy, a simple jeans jacket pattern, Butterick 5402 by Connie Crawford, using industrial sewing techniques. 

As with any jeans jacket pattern, this pattern features princess seams (easy alterations!), back yoke, belted waistband, dropped shoulders, long sleeves pleated pleated into a shirt-style cuff, and front patch pockets with flaps. 

SEW now that the jacket is construction is finished, the hunt is on to find the perfect closures. Any suggestions?!? 

Mint Jean Jacket

Spring Jean Jacket

 

 This is such beautiful fabric, big flowers with beaded centers and beads scattered throughout the leaves and stems. Supreme Fabric's, located in Chicago, has some very unique fabrics and laces perfect for this Jean Jacket by Fashion Patterns by Coni. 

 
The border edge was a challenge - to cut along the border or not. The straight edge of the Jean Jacket Waistlband and the Sleeve Cuffs begged to be cut along the border. The Border WON! 

The Collar too wanted in on the border edge yet the Collar's curve meant to cut and release the flowers to allow the fabric to curve.

 SEW - the flowers will be tacked 

during the construction.

Another challenge was the BEADS.

 

 

Lots of beads were flying everywhere yet they had to be removed before any stitching.

Other areas of concern was the facings & interfacing; and to line or not to line; and what about buttons or snaps! 

SEW - what do you think - buttons or snaps?

Stay tuned for construction . . .