Michelle Bristow, our talented Set & Costume designer for Halloween Tales has done a wee photo blog of one of the makes – a smoking jacket. To see it in action 30th Oct-1st Nov, buy a ticket!
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- I took the pattern off a single breasted blazer ready to adapt (Yes this is Christmas paper, if you buy it in the sales – much cheaper than pattern paper!) .
- As the jacket was single breasted, I had to extend out the front panels to make it double breasted and I sharpened off the corners instead of them being rounded.
- Just about to cut out the lining.
- Cutting out the lining. I then used these pieces to cut out the top fabric, then I know I’ve got exactly the same seam allowance on all pieces.
- This fabric is on the fold so for every piece you see here, there are two in top fabric and two in lining.
- Cutting out (feat. my horrible living room carpet)
- After cutting out the wadding and matching the pieces, I began quilting the lining. Quilting all the pieces took the best part of three days.
- Measuring 2 inch squares as I went along. Halfway through the quilting I felt like it was never going to end, but I’m glad I persisted as the outcome is great and it looks much more extravagant and full.
- I was naughty and didn’t take any photos at the fitting but I went with all the pieces safety pinned together, as two people have to wear this jacket it needs to fit both of them, so I didn’t stitch until I’d rearranged all my pins (yes, all of them!).
- After I had stitched the seams I trimmed the seam allowance with pinking shears so it would lay flatter and be more neat.
- Top fabric sneak preview! I then stitched the collar on, as I fitted the jacket without it.
- Top fabric sneak preview! Although inside out, the jacket was beginning to take shape at this point, as we can see how the collar and lapels will lay.
- Sleeves in, I was really happy with these because they went in perfect first time, and I’m usually a bit of a sleeve faffer (always fun when you put them in inside out but don’t notice for a while)!
- Up until this point the lining and top layer have been separate, so here is me joining them together.
- Starting to look more like a jacket here, only the hem, cuffs and decor to do.
- Working out how big to make the cuffs based on measurements and markings I made from the fitting.
- Cuffs ready to have decoration added to them.
- Sewing buttons on the front. A few more decoration details to be added, and the rest will be revealed at Halloween Tales!
Blackshaw Theatre 