Blossom Herring Tweed with Liat Silk

TuBLe47 · Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 11

I just made this jacket and the shell to go with it.
The pink jacket is made with SBDF Blossom Herring Tweed.
The shell is made with Liat Silk.

I used the Liat Silk as a decorative feature on the jacket (eyelet + loops made of Liat Silk).
I used the Butterick pattern B4610.

Lois · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

That combination is fabulous!! I love both garments. You did such a nice job.
Could you share with us, your method inserting the grommets or eyelets? How did you do those? The effect is stunning! Thanks for posting that photo. It's so much fun and inspiring to see what others are sewing with their fabrics.

TuBLe47 · Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 11

Thanks for your compliments. I saw the jacket at one of the expensive department stores. It is sold for $600/jacket + $240 for the knit tank top! I like the unique style so I went home ,and think of it all the time. Finally I took some guessing and made mine.

I cut a piece of fabric (bias cut) with the width of 3" to make a "fabric ribbon" out of it . (I don't know what to call it, so I just say "fabric ribbon" from now on).

The length of the "fabric ribbon" for the jacket lapel will be the length of the lapel plus few more inches for the loops to fit just right (not too tight between eyelets).

I fold this strip of fabric on the length of it, and sew it. Then I turn the right side out.

After that, I measure the length of the lapel of my jacket, and divide the space between the eyelets evenly : 2 eyelets closed together, and then the next eyelet a little bit far apart (for example: the 1st eyelet is at position 0", the 2nd eyelet will be at position 2", then the 3rd eyelet will be at positin 3", the 4th will be at position 5".... ) That way the ribbon shown on the right side will be longer than the ribbon that goes under. (You can use a piece of paper, measure it the same length of the lapel, then mark the positions of the eyelets on this piece of paper first, to divide the eyelet positions properly before you mark on your jacket. If not, it will be messy... when you have to re-position the eyelets.... to make the loops looked symetrically on the jacket upper collar.

Since I want to finish the decoration before I sew the facing of the jacket collar to the jacket, I need to position the eyelets in the way to allow the seam allowance and the foot of the sewing machine to go through easily. Therefore I position the eyelets about 1 1/2 " from the very cutting edge of the jacket lapel or the upper collar (5/8" for seam allowance, and nearly 7/8" for the foot of the sewing machine to slide through easily, without hitting the edge of the eyelet).

Then I loop the finished fabric ribbon through these eyelets. I hand-sew to secure the two ends of the "fabric ribbon".

The eyelets I used are: Dritz® Dritz Eyelet Refills - 1/4" 15/Pk (you can buy them at Jo-Ann Fabric shop). They are the "large eyelet" with the opening of 1/4". Please don't buy the small size, you can not loop the "fabric ribbon" through it. You need the Dritz® Eyelet Plier too - to apply the eyelets. I practiced few eyelets on a piece of fabric first before I actually punched eyelets on to my jacket.

My jacket was fully lined, and the little sleeveless top was fully lined too.

I hope my explanation is OK since my English is not very good!

Tu Le

BrendaJo · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Cape Cod

What a gorgeous jacket and how clever you are to figure out how to copy something you saw in a department store. Wear it in good health!

toy · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 9 Location: PA

this is so beatiful, I love the ribbon with the eyelets and the silk that is woven though,, fantastic