PATTERN REVIEW

Each month in our pattern review column, readers share their unique style with a gorgeous garment make!

Lucie Jones

@love_lucie lovelucie.org

Tello Jacket by Pauline Alice Patterns paulinealice.com

Meet Milk canvas in mustard minerva.com

Name: Instagram handle: Website: Pattern used: Fabric: Fabric Stockist: FABRIC CHOICE

I knew I wanted a traditional canvas for this traditional make. This luxurious Meet Milk canvas is made from 100% TENCEL Lyocell which gives it the softest touch and more drape than you would meet in a cotton canvas. It’s certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® (product class 2) so a lot of thought has gone into its production! It does have a tendency to fray quite easily due to its fairly loose weave so before pre-washing it I would recommend zigzagging or overlocking the edges to prevent fraying.

I was concerned about the fabric stretching out, so I stay stitched around the edge of all the garments pieces just within the seam allowance, immediately after cutting out.

TIMINGS

I only have time to sew in short stints, grabbing 30 minutes here and there, so the entire process took me around two weeks from start to finish, but I don’t get to sew every day. I chose to do lots of edge stitching using an edge stitching thread, which definitely added to the time to make this garment but that was one of the things that drew me to it.

PATTERN SIZING

The pattern sizing was spot on for a neat fit with just a light weight top underneath. I would size up if you were after an oversized look or wanted to wear it with layers. As usual with me, I took an inch off the sleeve length

and took 1cm off the shoulder width where it meets the top of the sleeve head to have the top of the sleeve sit nicely on the tip of my shoulder where it should.

PATTERN HACKING

It would be very easy to crop this jacket or even make it longer. The instructions also provide instructions for lining it too. I chose not to do that as I wanted a light weight garment. I did bind all my seam allowances with home-made bias tape – something I had not done before but would definitely recommend taking time to do this if you want a neatly finished jacket on the inside.

TOP TIPS

Take your time with the top stitching. I often machine stitched a basting line from the rear of the garment before top stitching on top. I'd also recommend that you use interfacing to stabilise the collar, jacket facing, and zip location – this will make them easier to sew

Pauline Alice are offering Simply Sewing readers a fantastic 20% off of Lucie's pattern choice, the Tello Jacket. If you've enjoyed this Pattern Review and want to sew your own, you can get 20% off the Tello Jacket pattern using the code SIMPLYSEWINGTELLO at the checkout (paulinealice.com). Hurry! The discount code is only valid until 11th May 2023.

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and add some structure to those areas.

And finally, I made a cardboard template around which to fold my patch pockets to get them as perfect looking as possible.

ABOUT THE SEWIST

I work full time in highway construction, so sewing provides me with a creative outlet. My Instagram and blog enable me to connect with people that I would never get to meet in my normal day to day life. If you look back through the years on my blog, you’ll see my very first garment. It takes time to develop your skill and I’m in awe of other sewists that go from zero to sewing hero in a year or so!

Lucie used Pauline Alice’s Tello Jacket pattern, which is available as a PDF pattern in EU sizes 34-48 (UK sizes 6-20). Available from paulinealice.com