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Feb 26, 2013

Fourth time's the charm: Another Men's Jacket Muslin!



Don't hate me, readers -- or worse -- unlike me on Facebook.

There was one more vintage jacket pattern I was interested in muslining, Simplicity 8808, a teen tracksuit pattern from 1975.  I have always liked this pattern, which has been sitting in my stash for three years, unopened.  It comes in three boy's sizes -- 14, 16, and 18.  I made the 18, which is roughly equivalent to a 34" chest, though with ease and all, it fits my 36" chest just fine.





I like it more than yesterday's Stretch and Sew pattern -- it's trimmer, has smaller facings (don't want to waste fabric) and just looks cuter somehow, perhaps partially due to the fabric I used, an old Ralph Lauren cotton sheet remnant with a "preppy teddy bear" print.  I added a storm flap (Thanks for the term, Jen!) -- that extra flap that covers the zipper on the left front -- and a zipper facing on the right front, just like a men's fly would have, to reinforce (and cover the exposed edge of) the front zipper.  I ditched the hood idea -- too raincoaty.

You may have noticed that this Simplicity 8808 is a stretch knit pattern but no worries: it works fine with a woven.  (The stretch fabric called for is only minimally stretchy, like a heavy ponte knit.  I still have room to move.)



Pretend the boxers are a swimsuit -- perfect for poolside, no?



In a bold print, the raglan sleeve seams don't really come across, alas. 

So am I ready to get rolling with my fashion fabric?  Well, almost.  There's still one more idea I'm toying with: the zippered Zegna jacket with the two breast pockets below right.



It's remarkably similar to Simplicity 8823, which I just happen to have in my stash.  Just change the collar and add a zipper.



A number of you have asked what I do with my many muslins.  Readers, I keep them -- or most of them, anyway, stuffed into a storage box; I do refer to them from time to time. 

What do you do with your old muslins?  Since I make mine up almost entirely out of second hand thrift store and flea market sheets, I'm already giving a second life to old fabric, so don't lose any sleep over them.  I suppose I could stuff pillows with them if I ever stuffed pillows, which I don't.  Any better ideas? 

Have a great day, everybody!

27 comments:

  1. The jacket looks great on you! Can't wait to see the next jacket you make. I try to reuse the few muslin pieces I have if I can. I also buy sheets and fabric fro thrift stores when trying a new pattern. Right now, I'm collecting bits and pieces of fabric to use in a patchwork blanket for my mom. It includes modern to vintage fabric.

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  2. very cool...

    I follow your blog silently quite some time...

    and I am impressed by the stuff you sew...

    to bad my hubby doesn't like my sewing... but yours is just perfect...

    warmest regards from Germany

    Andrea

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  3. If it works in the muslin (often old sheets, too!), I'll keep it and wear it. Otherwise, it tends to get shoved into some box or another with a vague intention to re-use the fabric somehow. I'm not sure if any of my muslins have made it quite that far, though. Someday.

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  4. I think the raglan does come across in the shoulders (esp. compared to previous muslins). And how I admire that you've done four (4!) of them. I'm supposed to be working on a dress today and I can't bring myself to make one. Even though I know things would be so much better. Sigh.

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  5. Peter, as much as I loved the idea of the waist lenght jacket, I must admit that the longer lenght shirt-jacket is so much more chic! I would wear that in a heartbeat.......it reminds me so much of Halston's super-chic signature look! Thanks for the idea, because now I'm definitely going to do that shirt jacket style!!

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    Replies
    1. It's just that with shorts it looks like you're not wearing pants.

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    2. I agree, you don't want to look like a Cake song.

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  6. I store my muslins with the patterns. That way, if I want to make that one again, I have the muslin already started and can check the fit first thing. Works good for patterns I make over and over, but not so great for one time use patterns. Like you, mine are old sheets and poly fabric I inherited from the less picky. Be well. Lane

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  7. Peter,

    The jackets have all been fantastic, and informative. I like how you are able to raise "a pattern from the dead" into "a pattern that's ahead".

    Now, about those muslins...

    I crazy quilt, and it's technically what you won't do, but it may be something you'll enjoy doing with old muslins.

    There are no wrong answers in crazy quilting, they make usable throws/duvets/unstuffed quilts, and go together far quicker than you can imagine (huge pieces with few seams). You could even donate them to a shelter (giving that fabric yet another purpose, and life).

    Why store what you'll never wear? The daily ditch may first pass over your feed dogs on the way out the door.

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  8. I toss 'em unless I think I may need them for reference purposes later. No room in this NYC apartment for teddy bear jackets!

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  9. 1) I just made a muslin for a jacket that I made (for the Pattern Review RTW Contest!) and I couldn't figure out what to do with it. I shoved it in the closet, out of my sight, out of my mind.
    2) I think this jacket is my favorite. It does have the best fit of all.
    3) YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS INTO A WEARABLE MUSLIN. I kid you not.

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  10. i just finished 8823 for ruggy. beware the ginormous front pockets.

    digging this look, yo.

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  11. I am not loving this. I don't like the fullness and lack of detail. If this is only to be worn by the pool, then maybe. But, how many times during the summer do you end up at the pool?

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  12. You've got lots of good choices! I think I might be partial to the fit of the Burda, although maybe it's just that the teddy bears distract from the fit of this one. Raglan sleeves also seem a bit more casual to me, so maybe that is another consideration for the look you are going for.

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  13. You must be chaneling Giligan in the picture wth the red hat and boxers. I had to take a second look to be sure it was you and not Giligan! I thought the original plan was to make a jacket with pocket details on the front.

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  14. I see Hunter S. Thompson look going on with that last look. It might be the hat? Can't wait to see the final product. I'm voting for the last pattern. Second life for muslins, interfacing for flannel pajamas and such.

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  15. Yay!!! I have been waiting for three years for you to make this pattern! I am so glad to see it resurface :) I think the muslin looks great!

    As far as muslins, I keep them for no good reason. Now I have a big stack of them. I assume I will use them again?

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    Replies
    1. I thought of you when I made this pattern, Maggie!

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  16. I recycle them...where I live you can put them in a plastic bag labeled FABRIC and put it in the paper bin. They apparently make pencils out of cotton.

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  17. I try to recycle mine, if it's not something that's potentially wearable for around the house. By recycling, I mean I scavenge them to make more muslins! It definitely cuts down on the waste.

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  18. Is that a 70s pattern? Usually those ones are cut for a slimmer build, like the Ivy League patterns of the late 50s/early 60s.

    I try to reuse my muslins for other things, like testing buttonholes or whatever. Mostly no if they're smallish or if they're for the girls.

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  19. All of my dead muslins, off-cuts & even thread clippings go in a bin bag together; when it's full it gets a big label saying "rags" attached. Then I take it to my local charity shop (thrift store equivalent). They get paid for rags by weight - it's what they do with all the unusable donations.
    Result - they get a bit more money towards their charity & I don't add to the landfill.

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  20. Somehow it makes me feel better to know that other people don't know what to do with their muslins either. I make mine out of discard fabric at little or no cost and toss 'em when I'm done. They would not make good pillow stuffing--too lumpy. (I have filled soft toys with scraps of polyester fleece and old nylons.) I have not heard of an organization in my area that recycles fabric, but I would definitely save bags of scraps if there were, as it rips something out of me every time I throw away even tiny pieces.

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  21. I don't do muslins; not many, anyway. When I find a pattern that fits (via a muslin), I'll use it again and again, transforming it to different styles. I have a basic bodice pattern, and if I want to make a jacket, I'll just add enough ease, a two-piece sleeve, select a collar type, and do it up - no muslin!
    -mici.

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  22. I throw mine out. i use scraps to muslin and every panel might be from a different piece of fabric. So they aren't pretty. But they don't have to be.

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  23. I don't see this as a muslin ... totally wearable!

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  24. I am obsessed with this jacket.... and this blog! You are a national treasure!
    http://jonatparsons.wordpress.com

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