Day 5 Moto Jacket Sew-a-Long - A PDF by Jennuine Design

The last day already?! Where did the week go! I can tell you one thing, Amelia is so glad to finally get her new Moto Jacket!

Just incase you missed a post and any helpful hints here are the links from start to finish of the Moto Jacket Sew-a-Long featuring a pttern from Jennuine Design*:

• Day 1 - preparing your pattern
• Day 2 - cutting your fabric 
• Day 3 - zipper, welted pockets and more
• Day 4 - sleeves, lining, and collar

There's still time to get your pattern at a discount in the Jennuine Design* pattern shop, use the coupon code "MOTOSEWALONG" at checkout to get the pattern for only $6.00 (regular $10.00). The discount will be available until December 13th, 2015.

Here are some details about the pattern:

• Layered printing so you can print only the sizes you need and want. 
• Easy to follow step-by-step intructions with drawings in the tutorial.
• 3/8" seam allowances included.
• Sizes range from 2t - 12 years.
• Charts for fabric requirements and measurements of finished garment included.
• Extra information about blending sizes, shortening zippers and creating the garment for a boy or girl...all this is in the pattern tutorial.

If you need extra help or you just want to share your Jennuine Design creation just join their facebook group.

Until next time, xx.

*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

**I was given this pattern for the prupose of the sew long but all opinions are my own!

Day 3 Moto Jacket Sew-a-Long - A PDF by Jennuine Design

So here we are at Day 3, more than half way done! I can't believe how mine is coming together, I can't wait to see what everyone else has done with this pattern! Be sure to share you creations in the Jennuine Design Pattern Group on facebook!

I'm just going to share with you a couple of tricks I learned from my aunt who used to sew haute couture. The first trick, when the fabric permits, use interfacing on the wrong side of the main fabric for the welt opening. This prevents those corners from fraying and keeps them really crisp. I'm using denim for my jacket but for those using vinyl, or fake leather I wouldn't recommend putting those fabrics under the iron.

Be sure to mark your welt openings on the wrong side of your fabric so that you don't stain the right side of your fabric if ever your fabric pen doesn't wash away.

The next tip is about top stitching. Today after putting in the pockets we'll be starting some assembly. If you are making your jacket with a back center seam its nice to have a top stitch to show off that work. If you noticed the right side is a little bolder than the left side top stitch. I didn't pass over my stitching twice, I simply threaded my machine with two treads at the top and used bobbin thread as a single thread as I normally do. You can get thicker denim thread at the store but not a wide variety of colors are available but this method allows you to have a bigger range in color that will match perfectly to what you're stitching.

Today was not a long day of sewing...but I do recommend you take your time making sure your welted pockets are perfectly positioned, even in height and of equal distance from the side seam. You should have also put in the zipper and done all the assembly up until the sleeves.
For tomorrow, we'll be assembling the sleeves, putting the collar and assembling the lining.

Until next time, xx.

Day 1 Moto Jacket Sew-a-Long - A PDF by Jennuine Design

Welcome to Day 1 of the sew-a-long featuring the Moto Jacket by Jennuine Design! Very excited to sew this one up with you. It brings me back to the first time I sewed up a really cool jacket (ummmm quite some time ago) and when my son Sebas had grown out of it he was really sad to the point he said he didn't want to grow anymore... just to give you an idea of its cool factor (he changed his tune quickly enough when I made him a new jacket).

Ok so back to our Moto Jacket and what we need to get done today!

First, if you haven't already purchased your pattern now is the time to get it! Jennifer has created a coupon code for you to use in her pattern shop Jennuine Design*. Use the code "MOTOSEWALONG" to get the pattern for only $6.00. If you want to be able to share your creations in a group setting, don't be shy, join the Jennuine Design Pattern Group on facebook.

Today is the day we get everything ready. I like to make sure I have everything I need so I don't have to stop what I'm doing and make a run to the store. Take a look at page 3 of the tutorial for a complete list of materials and notions needed to make this project.

I like to start off by throwing the fabrics that need washing into the washer. While the fabric is being taken care of I print off my pattern and tape it together. When a pattern has a layering feature like this one (infact all Jennuine Design patterns have that feature) I like to print one size up and one size down especially when I know I have to blend sizes or I'm unsure as to what size I need to make for my little model.

Lets talk about choosing sizes. You'll find both these charts in the tutorial on pages 3 and 4. The first chart is the chest meaurement your model has, and not the final meaurement of the garment. If you want to make clothes that fit go according to the meaurement, not the size they wear in store bought clothes. To give an example, for both my girls I buy ready to wear (RTW) clothes in a size 6 or 6X, BUT that's only becaue I need the length (especially on pants), and the waist ends up being really big on them. When I make their clothes I usually make a size 5 and end up adding a couple of inches to the length so that they don't end up looking like they're wearing floods. Sometimes I have to do more than add a couple of inches to the length of the pattern to make a garment that fits; here, and here are a couple of examples of blending sizes.

The chart of finished measurements is also another fantastic tool to make sure we're making the right size. By looking at the finished length of the jacket you can tell if you need to add a couple of inches. What I like to do is meaure the finished length of the size I want to make against my model and decide if its the right length for them, AND if its the right length for the style! Remeber this jacket should not go down to the hips, this style is meant to hit just an inch or so below the natural waistline.

Somethings that you need to consider in your planning:

• Are you making this jacket for a boy or girl. Girls have jackets close right over left and boys jackets are left over right. You'll need to cut your pieces accordingly (I'll mention it again on day 2 when we cut fabrics)
• Size, do you need to blend sizes for a better fit. If you do need to blend sizes don't forget you will also need to adjust the pocket placement to make sure the opening isn't at an awkward position on your jacket and make sure its done on both right and left sides of the jacket.

Tomorrow we'll be cutting out fabrics and talking about zipper length and how to adjust it if its a bit too long for your garment. Remember its always easier to shorten a zipper than to make it longer, heeeheee.

Until next time, xx.


*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.