I made this up in fingertip length with short sleeves for a fantasy Chinese-inspired outfit. I used a slippery silk charmeuse for the outer layer and a dupioni for the lining, with more dupioni for the facings and purchased bias tape for the piping. It went together beautifully, although the charmeuse bagged a little bit after sewing, even after hanging for a few days. The sizing seems to run large; I normally wear a pattern size 14, made the jacket up in a medium size, and find that it’s sufficiently baggy and shapeless that I don’t like to wear it without a sash. The shapelessness is intentional, but I don’t think the bagginess is.
Rated 4 out of 5
Greta de Groat –
I decided to complicate matters by making the asymmetrical front jacket in the longer length (in 30 in wide fabric). Somehow I guessed correctly and it came out all right, but I had to mix and match the facing pieces. With the side front closing, you have to be very careful with the many pieces that go into the facing to make sure you cut them out the right direction. Follow carefully the pattern layouts and instructions and they will come out ok.
I did not include the lining as instructed, but did make a removable fleece lining (which I’m not wearing in the picture). This makes it a bit tight under the arms and around the upper chest, so for a bulky lining one should probably go up a size or otherwise adjust. The sleeves are a bit shorter than I would have liked. Had I measured beforehand it would have been easily remedied since the sleeves are made up in several parts and it would be easy to lengthen any of the pieces. Made up in a stiff fabric like the brocade I used, it does come out shaped rather like a Christmas tree, but I imagine in a softer fabric it would drape nicely.
Maura Burns –
I made this up in fingertip length with short sleeves for a fantasy Chinese-inspired outfit. I used a slippery silk charmeuse for the outer layer and a dupioni for the lining, with more dupioni for the facings and purchased bias tape for the piping. It went together beautifully, although the charmeuse bagged a little bit after sewing, even after hanging for a few days. The sizing seems to run large; I normally wear a pattern size 14, made the jacket up in a medium size, and find that it’s sufficiently baggy and shapeless that I don’t like to wear it without a sash. The shapelessness is intentional, but I don’t think the bagginess is.
Greta de Groat –
I decided to complicate matters by making the asymmetrical front jacket in the longer length (in 30 in wide fabric). Somehow I guessed correctly and it came out all right, but I had to mix and match the facing pieces. With the side front closing, you have to be very careful with the many pieces that go into the facing to make sure you cut them out the right direction. Follow carefully the pattern layouts and instructions and they will come out ok.
I did not include the lining as instructed, but did make a removable fleece lining (which I’m not wearing in the picture). This makes it a bit tight under the arms and around the upper chest, so for a bulky lining one should probably go up a size or otherwise adjust. The sleeves are a bit shorter than I would have liked. Had I measured beforehand it would have been easily remedied since the sleeves are made up in several parts and it would be easy to lengthen any of the pieces. Made up in a stiff fabric like the brocade I used, it does come out shaped rather like a Christmas tree, but I imagine in a softer fabric it would drape nicely.