In fall, I made Lillian the Annabelle Jacket by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop. My plan was to make it large enough that it would also fit her this spring, but that didn’t work out. I think I made it in a 3T, so I’m not really sure what I was thinking!
I absolutely love the way that it turned out. I love the fabric (both corduroy from Hobby Lobby with a quilting cotton lining) and think it’s an adorable pattern. I just wish she would have been able to wear it more. We had a short fall, so I think she only wore this maybe 3 times. Sad! Especially since we are having a boy, so he certainly won’t be wearing it.
Now a little about the actual pattern and process of making the jacket. The pattern was well written, but definitely wasn’t the easiest thing to make. The ruffle around the neck was a little difficult to attach, but only because you have to make sure that the unfinished edge does not show. I had to rip some of it out and reattach it.
I do not like hand sewing, so I actually top stitched all the way around the sleeves and the jacket. For the jacket part it was around the bottom, the opening, and then on the jacket part of the neck not the ruffle. I figured the buttons on the sleeves would never be used, so I just sewed them on instead of doing button holes. The buttons on the opening section needed buttonholes though. I did not do the best job with them. I just really struggle to get my buttonholes lined up! If anyone has any tips, please share.
You can really see in this pic that the sleeves are way too short. Also, the jacket kind of sticks out at her waist because it’s too short, otherwise it would lay better. I wish I had more of this fabric so I could make her another one. Unfortunately, it was a seasonal fabric so I’m out of luck. I guess I have to find even cuter fabric.
I’m not sure if you noticed, but I added a button on the right side of the blog. It’s a link to Christine’s Sewing Machine Reviews blog series. She blogs and makes/sells her own bag patterns over at ChrisW Designs. I haven’t made any of her bags yet, but keep eyeing a few. I think I’m intimidated because they are intermediate bags. I should really just try them out!
Anyway, the series is obviously reviews on sewing machines, but it’s from “normal” people like myself. So no one is paid to review their sewing machine, they actually get nothing to review it, other than the exposure from Christine’s blog. So it’s true reviews…what we love, like, dislike, hate about our machines. My review on my Bernina 330 was posted at the end of May, so be sure to see how my feelings have changed (or haven’t) from when I first got my machine.
Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop so I get compensated for any orders placed through the links in this post.
One Response
April Baylor you have some skills, i wish i could sew like this for my girl as well.