Category: minoru jacket

Minoru 1: Kelly 0

~ velosews ~ Leave a comment
Anorak jackets are here to stay in my wardrobe. 

I’ve made 2 Minoru and 2 Kelly anoraks because I wanted a shower proof version of both jackets.

In the Minoru corner…
I made the Minorus 5 years ago and I wear these two jackets a lot throughout the year. 


Both Minorus are lined and so comfy. The showerproof one is a fav.

These do take a while to cut out and construct.

They do take time to collect the notions and fabrics
The minoru has no external pocket so I’ve added a zipper welt pocket to both versions.
In the Kelly corner…
This month I’ve made an interlined Kelly and a shower proof version.

Kelly takes time to cut out and construct.

Collecting the notions and fabrics takes time.
Kelly needs snaps, a zipper, drawstring, tape, ‘pulley-thingies’.
Kelly has pockets but that pocket flap details isn’t functional so I made it functions on the second Kelly.

The instructions for the Kelly are not easy to follow and I had to mark the pattern pieces so they fit my size.

The Minoru instructions are clear. 
The Kelly instructions need more work.
Where these anoraks worth the effort?
Any anorak works for me but I’d happily make the Minoru again.

MMMay Wk 2

~ velosews ~ 6 Comments

A funny thing happened to me on the way to work last week. I kept stopping along the way to work to take pics – in safe places of course. “Sir Tripod” took these photos.


Day 5: Grey ponte knit dress using Butterick 5676. I love this jungle gym as do all the kids in the neighbourhood.


Day 6: Waratah print top using New Look 6808 (to be blogged) 

Burda 7746 lined wool pants that are so handy throughout the winter months.

The tree in the background is a brilliant colour right now and I had to take this shot because it won’t be like this for too much longer.

Day 7:
This small businesses I drive by each day fascinate me. There’s a drive in cafe on this particular block.


Vintage dress with Simplicity mesh wrap.

I have a new wool wrap coming up. The fabric is gorgeous.

Day 8:
Today I took a different route and found another urban gem.

Dandelion dress with lace sleeves. I bought a RTW cardi that matched last year. I know…

After seeing this photo I knew I was looking tired…so I went and had my ‘hair done‘. 

Day 9: Blue theme

I was feeling blue with Mothers Day approaching so the bluest I could manage was the blue flowers on this top. Jalie jeans and Kwik Sew top. Wearing me made clothes keeps me happy.

Day 10: Spotted with the lovely Susan lunching and talking all things fabric. Her knowledge of the garment industry is mind blowing. You’ve seen her knicker patterns right?

Vogue 8774 green jeans
Minoru jacket
New Look 6149 raglan top (to be blogged)
Picture taken by our trusty waiter at Toastcafe.

Day 11:

Vogue 1204 purple jeans
Minoru jacket
Kwik Sew 33787 knot top that I’m made lots and lots of times.
Presidio urban purse
Mr V took this pic.
#MMM14 mornings also included activewear. Fehr Trade’s Duathlons in two lengths and PB Jam leggings.

This week’s charity bag has 9 pieces including a top that was a good idea at that time but not anymore. 

Decisions:I’m going through a design idea frenzy and my head is spinning with ideas for Tessutis Jaywalk competition. My Pinterest stripe board is overflowing with ideas. This is a tempting challenge…

#MMMay wk1

~ velosews ~ 6 Comments

Now at 307 participants, #MMMay14 is certainly underway.

This week I stuck to sorting out my ‘after work’ clothes. This week’s bag to charity has 5 pieces from my wardrobe included Day 4’s top.

Day 1: Kwik sew 2694 and eyelet pants similar to Simplicity 2503.

Day 2: Duathlon shorts for 6am bike class. The morning is now a bit chilly so I’ll be wearing my longs for outdoor sessions. That also includes cycling.

Day 3: Jalie jeans, Kwik Sew 3567 top, Minoru shower proof jacket and Presido purse. The weather got a lot cooler today and it was wet when I left in the morning.

Day 4: ‘May the force be with you’ because I’m pooped.
RTW jeans slimmed down by moi, Vogue 7610 jacket, Kwik Sew 3567 and my urban Presidio purse.

I used a panel print for the top but it looks kinda daggy and the fabric doesn’t feel nice. What in the ‘Phantom Menace’ was I thinking when I bought it. I was aiming for a Sci fi look but I came out grunge instead.

Birthday fun

~ velosews ~ 5 Comments

It’s Sharon’s birthday today and we did an early morning photo shoot in town to a few places Gabrielle has featured in the Me-Made May posts. Happy Birthday Sharon and Hi Gabrielle!
 
Jalie jeans on both days. Minoru on Day 17 and me-made tops on both days. The hat was bought in 2009 at Camden Markets, London after a wonderful canal ride. Day 18’s top is a stripe top. The construction post is here because it’s kinda Anthropologie-like. The corduroy jeans jacket Vogue 7610 was made a long time ago.
 
The city is so quiet on a Saturday morning. We didn’t have too many people staring at us but it was fun. The construction workers played up to us too.

I’m wearing a lot more warm layers CarolynS, Jenny and Penny than I did in Perth last week. 

Thank you for the jacket compliments too. Now that I know I can make jackets after so many years of sewing them, taking the time to add detailing is very rewarding.

Sew Grateful – Minoru #2

~ velosews ~ 15 Comments

This post is for Deb’s Sew Grateful week projects made using others tutorials or posts. Most of this Minoru was sewn following Tasia’s tutes and using PUL fabric. This version was my first experience using showerproof fabric. The listing of finished Minorus are on this post from over 60 sewers.

Here’s a link to my first Minoru (below). This version continues to be a well worn and much-loved  jacket.
Last week I gathered my notions for a showerproof Minoru and got started. I bought the 2 zips I needed from MyHung Parramatta – $1 each. 
On the weekend our summer weather was cool and changeable so I spent the time to sew in 5 zippers before the main construction steps. The pattern only requires 2 zips.

– Two internal zippers on the inside pockets
– Two zippers on the outside welt pockets
– One long zipper on the collar to store the hood.
The 6th zip is the 70cm front zip. I sewed that in on Tuesday night using a zipper foot.
Using run-of-the-mill sticky tape is worthwhile when sewing PUL.
The Minoru doesn’t have external pockets and the internal pockets are designed to have velcro closures. I added the external pockets because that’s what I want in a casual jacket.
I’ll have to work on inserting zippers into pockets a bit more. You can see I learnt very little from a zipper workshop I went to last year.

The lining is a polyester chiffon remnant for the body and a rayon remnant for the sleeves. That’s all I had in my stash but the colours were the same. Both are remnants from Pitt Trading.

I got excited that these pockets worked.
I’ve used the rayon as bias binding feature around the internal pockets and along the inside of zipper placket. This is a finish I enjoy wearing.
I took this shot so you can see the fine, soft gathers.
 Sewing PUL:
  • This is the first time I’ve used PUL showerproof fabric – bought from Green Beans Aust. 
  • The fabric base is a knit structure but the showerproof side is like rubber. At least that’s how it reacted to the iron XD
  • PUL is very easy to sew – just don’t pull it to hard when you’re sewing it.
  • When you sew with it, creases appear but don’t be fooled by the fabric.
  • And lower the feed dogs on your machine 1 notch so you can control the fabric flowing through the machine.
  • You might think sewing PUL is overwhelming. It’s doable.

Rain proofing:
For details on how to make your rainproof jacket more rainproof and profession, go to, Caroline of Little Package. She did this guest useful post during the Minoru Sewaholic Sewalong last year. Caroline really knows her stuff. she’s smart, practical and adventurous.
And Carolyn of Handmade by Carolyn has also perfected rain proofing jackets.

Glad rags- Butterick 5608

~ velosews ~ 11 Comments

This fabric was a Pitt Trading silk remnant. It’s very smooth, light weight and soft so the tiger that left its spots on this fabric has great taste in textiles. Again this was a designer remnant.

I loved the feel of this remnant and it’s been great to wear while trekking though the Jungle January heat. This style has enough structure at the neckline without sticking to you. The soft gathers on the sleeves are the other favourite feature (View D). I did a second version with the table runner fabric but it’s now a wadder. The round neckline seemed higher and tighter and the sleeves kept pulling so I think the trick with this top is to use a fine fabric.

There are darts at the back but this is a basic pull-over top. Truly – it’s a pull-on top.

Below you’ll see why I called this post is called glad rags.
DH and I went to the shire and met up with some friends at their local RSL, where you put on your glad rags for ‘tea’. If you go to the Engadine RSL only ask for the large serve if you haven’t eaten for a week. Oh, and I got to wear my Minoru. I have all the notions to make another Minoru jacket soon.
 
Carolyn, HTH means happy to help. I should have mentioned this when I posted it. It could mean a few other things. Does it?
Redsilvia, I have another knit dress that I can borrow the collar from for another version of Burda 7828. That’s what happens when you have an overflowing pattern library:)

M5525 – da hood

~ velosews ~ 5 Comments
The Minoru jacket had a hood in the collar so I’ve taken the hood pattern to use it on this trench. Why not read the sewalong instructions that Tasia has done? I’ve lined this version with red binding.
The red lining was used to prepare the welt / zip opening. Tasia has a more impressive and professional version on preparing a zipper opening on her blog.
Here’s the outside collar band look, before applying it to the collar and shoulder. 
Guess what? The collar band isn’t wide enough to house the hood. And the hood covers the back shoulder detailing. I don’t like the hood on this trench, so the hood got the flick.

I will use this hood again, but with a wider collar band. I’m happy that I applied the hood to the collar and really happy that it’s not on this trench coat. It just doesn’t work with a hood but it could work for you.

Trench coat inspiration
TJ of The Perfect Nose is always way ahead when it comes to researching most things in life like trench coat styles. When I was stuck in a glove rut, she sent me a gloves Thread article right when I needed a nudge along. Well she’s done it again for anyone who’s contemplating trench styles that aren’t from the big 4 sewing pattern companies.
We tweeted last week about McCalls 5525 being too big for her. That’s where the big 4 sewing patterns let some of us down who are busting to sew, but need a pattern that generally fits with a few adjustments.  TJ has listed Patrone, Burda and Knipmode versions you’ll drool over.
Renata is in the middle of making a Burda trench but she’s rethinking a few construction issues.
That’s why I’ve been trawling to other trench options and finishing. And I have a habit of checking out what’s available online, again for detailing ideas.

Now that I’ve been making a trench, I’ve enjoyed doing more research into indie pattern coats.

Roobeedoo has an addiction to Deer and Doe patterns and they have a lovely transeasonal jacket. The Poppy jacket. This is very tempting because of the fit and design lines.

This pattern is rated intermediate however, the style is so feminine it’s very tempting to want to try. I can’t read French so I love using Google translate on their website.
I do like the Lady Grey too by Colette patterns.


These are the trenchcoat posts:
Trenchcoat sewing
Jalie 2680: city coat trench
McCalls 5525: single breast trench
McCalls 5525: a hood in the collar
McCalls 5525: pockets
McCalls 5525: shoulder detailing
McCalls 5525: bound buttonholes
McCalls 5525: belt carriers
McCalls 5525: finished