
Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous – Part Two
A jeans jacket is a go-to wardrobe basic. They’re casual, comfortable, and essential. Today’s guest took that wardrobe staple and gave it options—many options. Welcome back Lorraine Torrence, fashion sewing expert, who takes our fashion sewing to the next level on Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous Part Two.
On this Sewing With Nancy episode, you’ll see how innovative sewing can be, using a denim jacket style as a base. To show style changes, Lorraine and Nancy used a classic jacket called the Jambalaya Jacket. Anytime there is a panel to fill, use that space to show your style! See how easy it is in part one of this series, Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous. If you missed part one, Lorraine and Nancy modified and personalized her Town & Country Tunic. Watch part one here.
Catch up on Sewing With Nancy episodes by watching online or pick up Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous DVD and Two Patterns from Nancy’s Notions.
Global Influence
If you’re spending time and talent to make a jacket, why not personalize it. Lorraine’s version of a jeans jacket is the perfect palette to showcase unique fabric combos. Lorraine’s first version of the Jambalaya Jacket combines African and Guatemalan fabrics. It’s a jacket with global influence.
Strike a Cord
You might think of cording as a mundane accent, added along an edge or insert in a buttonhole. Cording can be anything but routine when you add Lorraine’s free form, meandering stitching to fill a space. Not only does this type of stitching add interest, there’s an added benefit of creating texture. We call this technique—Strike a Cord! Watch how this jacket is created on Sewing With Nancy.
Unlikely Partners
Jeans Jackets and denim are a dynamic duo. But what about the iconic jacket style made with organza! On today’s featured episode, sheer fabric and this structured pattern at first thought seemed unlikely partners. In reality, they make a testimony to the power of sewing where creativity is only limited by your imagination.
Carefree Couching
Small lengths of decorative thread and random stitching create the unique centerpiece sections of Lorraine’s next technique. No need to measure or worry about being accurate, this carefree type of couching—topstitching a heavy thread on fabric—is an ideal way to add an accent without a great deal of planning. See how easy it is to use a Free Motion Couching Foot on your machine as we demonstrate the technique in today’s episode of Sewing With Nancy.
Watch Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous (Part One and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.
For a chance to win the Fashion Sewing: Plain to Fabulous DVD and Two Patterns from Nancy’s Notions, please leave a comment sharing which jacket/tunic style is your favorite.
Happy Sewing!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
Jade
I love the jacket made with organza, it adds class without warmth, something I could use living in Arizona and since I’ve never worked with organza, that would be a new challenge!
Mary Green
I like the tunic idea, and since I’m a quilter, I’d like to piece a panel to insert in front.
Peggy Bibb
Hard to choose which one I like best. They are all great. Would love to make one of these jackets with old jeans! This is definitely a real keeper pattern!
Brenda Nance
I love the jacket! I made a jacket like view 4 when I was in high school. A very long time ago. View 2 is great but I also like 3 and 4. I would just have to make them all. I also have a granddaughter that would love this jacket too.
Liz
I love all these options with the longer jacket for me and the shorter one for my daughter and granddaughter. Great ideas for combining fabrics and embellishments too.
Helen O
I like the longer jacket and would use some fabric I bought in China to make it.
Susan Spiers
Love the Carefree Couching view of the jacket, so cute!
Julie Kill
I like the tunics, But the JACKETS! They really suit my sense of style! My favorite is the black jacket pictured on the pattern envelope, but the idea of making a jacket out of a lighter fabric (organza jacket) … the versatility of thinking outside the box, that’s the best! The best thing about Nancy and her team is that they consistently promote thinking about sewing in an “outside the box”, innovative way, which sparks Creativity and a sense of confidence… which will have you say to yourself, ‘I Can Do That”. With Nancy’s help, YOU CAN!
Sheila Kester
Who knew you could do so much with one jacket pattern. There are so many options that it boggles my mind. I absolutely love the tunic. Tunics are so comfortable and hide a lot of my sins.
Carolyn T
I like the idea of organza for the Unlikely Partners jacket and think the cording technique in today’s video to be a second possibility for personalizing it!
Marylou Wahl
I love them all and would have a hard time choosing but think I would make a jacket from either denim or corduroy.
bethd.
I love the town and country tunic. I would make a couple of these.
Clovis
I like all the jacket but, Global Influence is my favorite.
Shirley Wright
As I wear a lot of jackets all of them would work in my wardrobe in most fabric.
Rosie
This is so hard, trying to pick just one pattern. I enjoy them all. I love the look and novelty of making a jacket of organza. It’s lovely.
Dawn Shaarda
I love the jacket pattern and i could be used so may different ways!
Suzan
I love the view 2 jacket with the angled front seams. It would be so slenderizing. I’ve got some floral print denim and I’m picturing it with some wonderful piping techniques. I would also like to try this in a knit jacket for traveling.
Brenda Terrell
Oh my gosh! What a great jacket pattern, so versatile. I would love to sew all the possibilities this pattern gives you. I could insert panels of white cotton eyelet lace in the front…I can picture it now. So many options.
Linda
Jean jackets are a staple of my wardrobe and I love the versatility that this pattern shows. I especially like the idea of making it out of organza or another very dressy fabric. What a great pattern!
Mary Ann Stauffacher
I love the longer jacket with the angled front panels. I just might use some orphan quilt blocks in the panels! Love it!
Lorraine Alves
I like the Jambalaya Jacket because it can be made with meaningful fabric as the inserts. Perhaps with fabric purchased on a special vacation or with fabric that holds wonderful memories of a person or a time in my life. The tunic pattern crosses the seasons depending on the material used and as a result the tunic is totally versatile.
Bonnye
I like the organza jacket. It would be perfect for those special evenings when you need a light cover up.
Carole G
I would love to make a version of the Grainline jacket, as it is versatile here in AK made from several kinds of fabric for our varying climate. It’s just enough different from other jacket patterns to appeal to me. I have several of her patterns for longer, more elegant jackets but would love to have this one.
Jane Washington-White
The carefree couching is my favorite because I like the combination of colors.
Linda H
So many cute styles, it is hard to choose which one I would like to make first. I like the jacket made with organza. What a unique idea.
Elisa K.
I really like the look of the carefree couching jacket. I would, however, be more likely to make and wear the tunic. I know I have some nice fabrics in my “ahem” collection that would be fun to use.
Bonnie
What a fantastic pattern! It is so attractive and versatile. My favorite is the Carefree Couching Jacket. The unique couching is an eye-catching embellishment that makes the jacket a one-of-a-kind design.
Sunni
Like the tunic with shrunken silk panel and like the interesting organza jeans jacket. I really have to choose? It’s a difficult situation. I’ll have to get fabric for both. Thank you!
Karen King
The jacket with the heavy couching is my favorite! It looks a bit Western and I like that!
Valerie Antosh
Carefree Couching is my favorite but I like them all and would use the pattern to make each of the versions multiple times. I have some recycle jean material that would be perfect for this. The Unlikely Partners would be great for a fun addition.
Beverly
I like the sheer jacket as it would be good for evening or casual wear.
Anne Z
I love the unlikely partners. It is so unique and has so many possibilities.