Vogue 1439 - White Blazer

I have sang my praises for summertime before on the blog but I am going to do it again.  Flowers, being outside, vacations, swimming, and white garments are a few of the things I love about summer.  One thing about white, it goes with anything and many times dresses up a garment, right?

Well, vacations, too, and I have two this summer - woo hoo!

After seeing, Erica's navy Vogue 1439, I knew the pattern I wanted to use . 

 This Anne Klein pattern, Vogue 1439, has such nice lines and features,....

Semi-fitted, lined jacket has inverted collar, shoulder pads, seam detail, welt pockets, and two-piece sleeves with vent, button and buttonhole trim

My white twill is from Style Maker Fabrics' Montauk Twill to be specific.  I like this fabric for the jacket, it has some weight and body and sews up perfectly.  

I went with a size 14, one size up from my usual, the fabric is a stiffer twill, so that was one of my considerations.  Erica, also had a point on her blog post, a size bigger for layering.  I followed her advice on that one, too.

Now to my welt pocket, which these two have to be my best ones  ever.   I have been reading many tutorials on welt pockets, just to help my understanding.  For these welt pockets, I really just followed the pattern instructions and had these results.  Thank you Vogue patterns.  My one tip, I threaded my machine in soft pink thread for reinforcing the corners of my welt.  The pink gave me a stitching line which was easy to see and to follow.

The Vogue instructions had another great tip, concerning the pressing of the sleeve hem, "To press, hold iron over the hem. Steam, never resting the iron on the fabric.  Pat lightly with pounder or ruler."

I was very impressed with this part of the instructions, good to know and good to be reminded. Also, the pattern has you interface the entire front, liked that and I added interfacing to all the hems. 

There is going to be picture overload on this blog post.  This white blazer didn't show the details the best in the photos, too much sun and then too little sun.

The lining is from Mood Fabrics' white polyester charmeuse and can you see my new labels in the collar?  From The Dutch Label Shop and I will have a blog post about them soon.

I like the jacket closed with the hook and eye but I like it opened, too.  I just love the collar and the way the collar frames the neckline.   You are probably getting the point and saying to yourself, "I think Lori really loves this jacket!"

My only change for next time, just sew on the buttons and not worry about sewing the buttonholes.  This was a bit tricky, as it is the last step for the entire jacket, fold back the vent and stitching that last buttonhole is tight.  

This jacket took several hours to complete but was worth it.  I really think it was all the handstitching that was time consuming.  Lining, shoulder pads, hook and eye, buttons, you get the idea.

Just a few more pictures 

For the final picture, my smug look, yes I love my jacket and I am proud to say "I made it myself!"

Remodel update.  I feel we are in the homestretch - hardwood is down in every room except one and he will finish this week.  The tiler has started but has two bathrooms(one bathroom's floor is done) and the basement floor and two showers to do.  Kitchen cabinets next week and then trim and interior doors after all the flooring is in.  Can I shout hurray!  My sewing cabinets will be a few more weeks,  cabinet maker is overloaded with work.  Which is good for him and he does such beautiful work, I don't mind waiting.