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Readers,

I took the month of January off from blogging. Well, I did sneak a little peek at blogs.....I did some sewing and finally finished my entry for The Jacket Challenge due by February 5th here in Saint Paul, at the local independent fabric store. My understanding is the same contest is held at several locations throughout the country.

BWOF 2-2008 -117 The Famous Runway Trenchcoat.

Let me start with the 2 most important lessons learned:

1. If you have not taken a class with a professional-DO SO. This exposure has encouraged me to take risks AND has given me excellent insights.

2. If you have never entered a contest- DO SO. This was my 3rd garment in the last 2 weeks that I finally thought was "perfect' enough to qualify. A contest raises the bar, and your expectations of your sewing mysteriously elevate from "good enough" to "it has to be perfect, I need to really behave with this one".......

Fabric Silk Dupioni in Midnight. It is darker than navy and although I do not wear navy-this color hypnotized me in the store. It is even more lovely in real life. I could become a navy convert.

Size 19p. The style is for petites-yay!

Construction

• BWOF said -No lining -I struggled with this idea and religiously viewed all pattern reviews of this trench. I finally let go, when most of them did not have lining and the trench looked fine.

• I finished the seams with a "clean seam finish". Turn down the seams and sew. I did not want ANY bulk at the seams or any lining to conflict with the application of the waist ruching.

• 10 rows of topstitching on the cuffs and although the pattern required 20 at the hem,I stopped at 16. I am 5 foot 2 1/2, all I was starting to see was top stitching.......

• Clean seam finish where the cuff and sleeve meet.

• Only 6 rows of ruching- 8 rows had me ruched right up to the bust point-not a good look for me. Or anyone I would think. The ruching was very easy-directions really made sense.

• The cuffs and hem are constructed with a layer of batting between the facing and the fabric. It gives both the hem and the cuffs lovely definition. Hard on the sewing needles. Have plenty on hand.

• I did not add top stitching to the collar and lapels even though I really like the look and had intended to do it originally. It was a lot of top stitching on my frame, and I was happy to make changes as I went along.

• I only added 4 snaps at the waist, I won't be buttoning this one up to the neck.

Conclusion

• Everything they say about this pattern is true. It looks great, the construction details made sense and it is lovely. Check ruching location, it really had some placement issues, for me anyway.

• Make a muslin ladies. You know the drill. Just for the fit-not for the topstitching.

• THANK YOU to all who reviewed it before I started. I really did rely on their expert advice and journey. At one point I was over my computer with a magnifying glass trying to check all intricate details of pictures of the trench on Pattern Review.

• I LOVE IT. I will complete a last look over and then drop it off to the contest before the 5th!