I'm running out of fabric!!!!

Somehow I managed to miscalculate the amount of fabric I needed for my jacket. I blame those Project Runway patterns stupid yardage calculations on the back. Oh you want collar D? That 1/5 of a yard. Those cuffs? That'll take 1/3. And the short jacket length? It'll take exactly 29/13ths of a yard. Now figure that out while in the cutting line at the store and you'll be great!

I have everything cut but: one front facing, collar pieces (2), cuffs (4), and pockets (2+flaps). Pockets unfortunately have been given up on. There's no way. The last front facing will have to cut from lining which isn't terrible because it'll be the inner facing when buttoned.

The undercollar (bias cut, dear lord help me) will have to be cut in two pieces with a center seam that my neck will cover, but I can still manage a one piece for the uppercollar. The cuffs, which I absolutely love in the pattern, will have to drastically shortened and the facings will most probably have center seams again.

All I have let is one large piece of wool about one large cat wide and one large cat and a half long and some other randomly size scraps. Keep me in your sewing thoughts.

Project Update #3: HotPatterns Biker Babe Jacket

I've cut out the outer fabric and starting putting everything together, hooray! All the changes I've made are coming together smoothly and I'm pretty happy.

That's my angry biker babe face (and also how I feel about the collar).

The one thing that I'm really really unhappy about is the collar. I didn't make a muslin of the collar because I though, hey, its a collar, what can do wrong. Giant neck wings that extend past my shoulders is what can go wrong!!!!! Let me remind you of the picture is that is presented to the consumer of what this pattern will look like.

You see the size of that collar (easier to see in the line drawings)? It doesn't even go out past the princess seam. The real collar is 3, III, THREE times the size of that. This is why I hate Hot Patterns. I have 5 of them, I'm made three others plus this one so I think that I've had a feeling for them. While they styles are generally good and intriguing, if they aren't going to put in the time to actually make patterns that represent their visualizations or images that represent their patterns, I don't care to buy them. I don't appreciate being lied to. Also, 'close fitting' my ass. The only reason I thought that this fit earlier was because my chest is bigger than the average bear so it fit there just fine, but the waist is huge according to the measurements for anything that wants to pretend to be close fitting. Liars!

Otherwise.....
The fabric is fantastic and its going to look really really good. Just with minimal help from the pattern.

Confidential to the people who are googling "hot biker babe" and coming here: I know its happening because google tracks these things and I'm sorry, you must be very confused right now :)

Project Update #2: Hot Patterns Biker Babe Jacket

The Biker Babe Jacket is fitted and ready to be cut out! I call it Franken-pattern now.

Check out that sleeve!

I've never ever ever done this much preparatory work for a pattern, but I really want a good fit on this thing. I foresee wearing it nearly everyday and I want to be happy about it nearly everyday.

I ran into a problem yesterday while doing the final fitting. When is the garment fitted 'enough'? When does the armsycle look exactly right? Does the back and length look right? I hope that in the future, doing more of this, I'll have experience. Despite everything that my aunt taught me about sewing, I didn't learn how to fit (mainly because I didn't want to be in various stages of undress for some fitting processes), so its pretty much all self taught from the internet and all the other totally awesome bloggers out there. I gotta saw though, my Amazing Boyfriend really helps out, he wants to me to be happy and he knows a jacket that fits will make me happy.

Making the hard decisions.

Changes made to this pattern:
1. Raise the armhole by 1". Still not sure if it should go up higher or if there is too much fabric in the sleeve opening.

2. Broadened the back by 3/4" on both sides. This fits AMAZING through the back now, why have I never done this?

Tush shot.

To fit the back, first I sliced a gash about 1.5" from the armhole and then measured how wide the gash spread when I put my arms forward. All widening was done below the yoke (I think that's the correct vocab word) because the upper back fit well.

3. Lengthened the sleeves and body by 2" (damn its a short jacket!) through the waist. Or I'm long-waisted. (above pics do not show this)
4. Decreased the flair at the bottom of the body. Cause it looked stupid.

I'm going to cut this jacket out the softest, most amazing (and expensive) baby camel hair ever shaved from a baby camel. I'm assuming it was summer and the baby camel was sweltering. I got it from Gorgeous Fabrics a looooong time ago so they are expectantly out of the fabric. As a side note, can I just say was fricking amazing selection, sales, and customer service that GF has? I think if I ever met Ann I'd go fangirl on her.

Main garment fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics. The lining is also from GF and still available here.

Project Update: Hot Pattern Biker Babe Jacket

Got the muslin together for the jacket that will make everything better.

Here's the pattern to remind you!
Biker Babe Jacket

Since Hot Patterns are A.L.W.A.Y.S. too big, I was surprised that the jacket kinda fit. I've got the jacket 'zipped' here and the bust is a good fit, but then it flares out and no longer fits.

BTW, I HATE attaching sleeves. It's my least favorite sewing thing to do, that's why it sucks here, cause I DIDN'T CARE!
*evil laugh*

Extra fabric! I think I'll take off about 3-4"

Looks cute 'unzipped'!

Now let's talk about the length. I didn't add the bottom facing, didn't need any more cutting. There's a lot of pieces here! The facing adds about 1.5 inches to the bottom of the jacket so its still pretty darned short and I want to cover my belly! I'm going to add 2 inches to all the body pieces and then work from there. I'm also adding about 1.5 inches to the sleeves. I like long sleeves.

Finally, one thing to note when making muslins. If you accidentally sew back to front, it doesn't matter.

I need to paint that wall.

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