Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Dashing Dude

So, I finished Jeff's birthday jacket! And only seven months late too! Doesn't he look handsome in it?

As I wrote earlier, I modeled this jacket on a beloved Urban Outfitters jacket he already owns. I modified a shirt pattern (McCall's 4079) to get a jacket look.

And I lined it in a Mexican skull-print fabric, as requested.

I'm so glad this project is done. First of all, because he loves it. Secondly, so I don't have to see that sweet, pitiful, puppy-dog look in his eyes when he asks me repeatedly to finish it. And thirdly, because I made more mistakes on this project than any other, I swear. First there was the hole I cut in the middle of the sleeve with my serger. And then the mistakes just kept coming. The skull pattern on the lining front is upside-down, one of the cuff buttons is non-functioning (long story), the left side seam is felled and the right one isn't . . . oh, I could go on and on. The point is: it's a little screwy. But he adores it and doesn't mind (or notice) the flaws one bit.

And look! More video! We went up on the roof of our apartment building on Sunday to get some photos, and we played around with the new video recorder a bit as well.



P.S. Thanks for all your sweet and encouraging comments on my first video post! I very much appreciated your suggestions for future vlogs (I still can't believe that's a word). More to come!

28 comments:

  1. Oh I love the fact that it's so plain from the outside... then you get a surprise when you see the lining! Like a really cool secret. For some reason, even though I sew lots of dresses, shirts and other girly stuff, sewing anything 'manly' terrifies me!

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  2. Dashing Dude Jeff certainly looks very pleased (and dashing!), and with good reason. I'd never guess this started out as a shirt pattern, it looks so perfect as a jacket. Love the vlogs (?). The internet is always being accused of being impersonal - what a great way to show that it doesn't have to be that way. So when a tutorial on your husband's jacket?... And when your own line of patterns? I'd certainly be buying this one!

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  3. You guys are so cute! The jacket looks very nice from here, and I think it adorable that he's so excited about it. I'm enjoying your vlogs. Keep 'em coming!

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  4. The jacket looks fantastic and the model looks very proud! I'm loving this vlogging!

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  5. That is such a dashing jacket for your lovely dashing dude. I love those pockets and the lining is perfect.

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  6. What a wonderful jacket and husband! (gotta love someone who wants the skull lining!) Thanks so much for sharing with us.

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  7. Dashing indeed! And I'm sure he'll love it all the more for its mistakes ... I MEAN customizations.

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  8. Could you and your husband be any more adorable? I think not! Awesome jacket, & love the lining no matter which way it goes.

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  9. He is adorable! The jacket looks wonderful. Jeff obviously enjoys it. :-)

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  10. You are a saint. I know how hard it is to spend one's precious sewing time making MENSWEAR. Great jacket, and he looks really happy with it.

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  11. You are two are such a cute and fun couple. And, yes, Jeff looks very handsome. I love the jacket, even if the skulls are upside down; as long as Jeff doesn't mind, it's okay. He looks so thrilled.

    And those are perfect welt pockets, if you don't say so yourself. That was cute. love that you even lined the pockets with the skulls.

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  12. Well, That video makes me want to go on a double date with you and Jeff! Also, the jacket is AMAZING!
    I think Vlogs are definitely the way forward for your blog Gertie! You are one of the only people who have Vlogged, and not made me cringe once!

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  13. I thought you put the lining in so it was right side up for the wearer!

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  14. My what a dashing dude he is!!

    Love,
    Mom :-)

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  15. Debonair & Dashing Jacket... Your husband looks great in it.

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  16. That jacket and its lining are too cool for school! It makes me want to be a half-nice ladywife and make one for the Mr....

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  17. Thanks Dashing Dude (and darling sewing dudette) for sharing this with us. What fun, and a great jacket! Love the skull lining.

    I feel now I should sew something for my DH, but I even screwed up the super-simple PJ bottoms I tried to make for him a while back. I don't think I'm ready to attempt a jacket!

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  18. Well, you've inspired me to sew a coat for my fiance. I just finished a vintage pea coat for myself and the boy now wants one. I bought another vintage pattern (women's) for a double breasted pea coat style in 'his' size (36 bust/27 waist). It will take some modifications but I think I can make it work on him. Oh, and I even sent him to the fabric store to get some wool in whatever color he wanted. He came home with charcoal gray and a request for "paisley lining".

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  19. The upside down lining is not a mistake. You did it on purpose. Didn't you? Remember you made it for him and when he looks at it it's the right way up.

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  20. The upside down lining is not a mistake. You did it on purpose. Didn't you? Remember you made it for him and when he looks at it it's the right way up.

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  21. Um, just when I thought you couldn't be any cuter, you post this adorable video of you and your husband. Then, your MOM posts a comment on your blog! That just slays me.

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  22. The jacket looks great and he looks thrilled -- even better!! You did a wonderful jacket on it, little mistakes and all!

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  23. Very nice! I've sewn with cotton lining before on jackets. I love the look, but I found they didn't stay on the body or feel as nice as a slick lining. I'm wondering if that's the case for Jeff, or if the fit is loose enough there's no problem?

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  24. Ha, that's right, I sewed it upside down on purpose! Good call, everyone.

    Emma, the mom who posted is Jeff's; isn't that nice? My mom comments here regularly too, but she's very stealthy about it and wishes to remain anonymous. :)

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  25. Hi guys!

    I just wanted to think everyone for the great comments. So glad that Gertie has such a nice community of folks to talk sewing with!

    Kelly, the lining is great. Plenty of room inside, and it feels very cozy and warm. The only difference I notice is the slightly rougher texture of the cotton holds on to whatever you're wearing underneath it, so sometimes the shirt comes off with the jacket!

    Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

    -Jeff

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  26. He gets it from his dad!!!!!

    Love
    Pops

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  27. Do as my old ceramics prof used to tell us--there's no such thing as mistakes, just happy accidents. Remember, you did it on purpose! :) That's what I'm telling people about the quilts I need to quilt for Christmas. I cut the patches an inch not wide enough, and the strip that was supposed to go inbetween was an inch too short. So I got a new fabric and cut new strips--an inch longer and two inches wider than the messed-up ones. It looks great, but it was a mistake! And the other one has two different backings, because I didn't buy enough and didn't have time enough to reorder the same fabric. Instead, I bought a fairly close match, cut it in half lengthwise, and sewed it to either side so that the backing would be wide enough. It looks like I did it on purpose...

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  28. oh, it came out so nice and looks great on him! dashing, indeed!

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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