AI6YR BenFabric arrived. Bonus half a yard! 10-12% stretch based on pulling on it, so not zero percent. #sewing
Oooh, the OTHER direction has 30% stretch (in the direction of the bolt). Now, the question is which way needs to be up/down vs. left right (ie do you need more stretch the wide direction or the tall direction in a jacket?) #softshelljacket #sewing
Checked my existing jacket (which I want this one to replace), and it's the SAME stretch both ways! I accidentally bought a bigger zipper though, so now I have to figure out if I want the bulkier zipper or need to order a less bulky one. Does it matter? #sewing #softshelljacket
Plan:
1. Copy existing jacket pattern to tissue paper. Will use tracing paper...
2. Build a jacket using some scrap stretchy fabric of some sort (not the fancy stuff, not exact stretch, but hopefully close), minus zipper!
3. Check fit.
4. Adjust fit, deconstruct adjusted jacket.
5. Transfer adjusted jacket to pattern
6. Build jacket with new fancy softshell.
Tracing wheel did not work, but because the seams on the jacket I am looking to clone are raised, and it is a black jacket, just traced over it by feel with a sharpie. I will need to add seam allowance outside the edges. #softshelljacket #sewing
Getting the collar length is going to be a bit of a challenge.
And I think the bottom of the jacket probably should be a straight line... I think I flipped the wedge part. I will have to watch that.... I guess I can cut the jacket slightly long and adjust the bottom, however, as it needs to fold back over on itself.
Cut out, no arms. Do not have enough of this same material... will have to hunt for something else in the pile for the arms. #sewing #softshelljacket
Arm pattern. Suddenly, I realize a softshell jacket is just a fancy shirt with a zipper instead of buttons! #softshelljacket #sewing
Discovered rummaging around I had bought a brand new "parka zipper" which would also work on this at a garage sale, though it's 30 inches and I need 24 or 26 inches, I think. It has two zips, so you could theoretically unzip from the bottom (for ventilation?). I'd have to shorten the zipper. #softshelljacket #sewing
Someone's video on shortening a separating zipper.
How to Shorten a Separating Zipper
Uh oh.. sewing accident! This sewing project just became a woodworking/furniture restoration project. Support for one of the legs on the ($5) sewing stool just had a catastrophic failure. Easily fixed. #sewing
Fortunately, I have real wood here. It's green on the other side (kid's toy chest?) But almost perfect. #carpentry
I'd do this by hand, but I am busy to tonight so a quick chop saw effort. Better to use the drill press, but running out of time today. #carpentry #furniturerepair
The old screws are tiny. I forgot to countersink those holes. Swapped them out for bigger screws. ,#furniture
Nearest tool for this. Lol. (Crank Bros. Tool purchased on recommendation of #BikeNite). New furniture supports swapped in! Back to sewing... probably tomorrow. #sewing #furniture
Also glued and clamped some of the cardboard elsewhere. These will probably also have to be replaced. Anyway. Got the back part sewed before the chair collapsed. #sewing
Back to sewing. First time I have tried out these sewing clips. One bad thing, plastic. These will be long broken before the pins I have ever give up the ghost. #sewing
Preliminary fitting without strange triangle pieces, shoulders not yet sewn. Fits... shoulder okay. Will see how this works with wedges sewn in, then add arms. Also, collar needs to be done.. this is the prototype to check my pattern, not the end piece. #sewing #shoftshelljacket
One arm. Fabric difference though, the scrap there is Spandex and stretches more. Armpit are will need some on tbe fly adjustment, and shoulder alignment will have to be done carefully. #sewing #softshelljacket
Armpit underneath looks like a badly constructed tent, ha ha. On the final article, clear I will need to iron and then top stitch everything. Arm pattern is not quite perfect, but this is an area of traditional adjustment anyway. #sewing #softshelljacket
Okay, pretty clear I need more space to accomodate my midsection, lol. Even with stretch, I probably do need some more margin on the front panels... probably towards the rear as someone mentioned here, but maybe a bit more on the front edge to allow for folding over a seam width for the zipper. Arms work well, and length is good even with folded seam. #sewing #softshelljacket
Okay, slept on the problem. I think adding a triangle amount of material on tbe bottom piece will fix the expanded midsection issue. The only question is if the chest needs a slight bit more give too. Maybe a quarter inch, depending on how much room a zipper adds. #sewing #softshelljacket
Faraiwe@faraiwe LOL. This prototype could be converted into a unique fashion statement by itself lol
@ai6yr BTW one of the weirdest but comfiest pieces of clothing I own is an odd combo/mix of rain shell and a short cloak. It has wide sleeves, a hood, and closes by buttons front of shoulder/collar bone, one of those turned inside (told you, weird)
It looks like something out of a new Star Wars movie set. I'd wear it more often, but I don't want to look TOO MUCH like a scifi movie extra, walking around.
@faraiwe LOL. I will probably convert the prototype into something similar. It's pretty comfortable. I'll need to figure out the collar. I'm now thinking I'll swap in bits of the cloud pattern I will be using on that front section instead of the cotton I used for sizing, especially since i have 5 yards (!) now of that material, and I think it will take a lot less than that for the final piece.
@ai6yr make the collar a reversible hood.
The fastening in front must be loop n peg. Bonus for the teeth or claws of whatever tried to kill you last.
@ai6yr this has the added bonus of advertising to all n sundry that you shouldn't be fucked with. ::squints::
@ai6yr not so much a "hoodie" because that is kinda overdone to death by the Gen As,but a hood-hood, wide enough to go slightly over the shoulders,as if a shoulder guard.You flip it, instant rain cover. ta-da.
Shirley Eugest@faraiwe @ai6yr
Like this? That could be good.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-wwii-japanese-air-raid-1859431996
Like this? That could be good.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-wwii-japanese-air-raid-1859431996
@EugestShirley @faraiwe Hmm, I'm thinking that is not helpful against shrapnel. Cool to make, though!
@ai6yr @EugestShirley ...padded kevlar? 🤔
MCDuncanLab@MCDuncanLab
Thanks. I didn't understand what was offensive about it.
Thanks. I didn't understand what was offensive about it.
Yeah, it was a very odd response. Internet ppls can be weird.