Finishing the Jacket, Starting the Matching Shorts

Readers, when I recommend a product on this blog it's because I genuinely use it and like it.  So when I say that Collins two-sided Wonder Tape made my life a whole lot easier these last two days, I mean it.   Are you familiar with it?



I bought a new roll on Monday because my old roll seemed to have dried out and lost its stickiness.  I think they've improved this tape since the last time I purchased it.  If I remember correctly, it had a paper coating on both sides, or maybe not.  Anyway, the new stuff has an exposed sticky side -- the outside -- so it's best to keep the tape in the reusable plastic package it comes in so it doesn't adhere to anything in your notion drawer.

I used the Wonder Tape to attach my jacket zipper (to both outer fabric and facings) and to hold down the waistband of my matching shorts before topstitching.  It's not cheap -- I paid $4.79 for my roll -- but it's definitely a handy thing to have around, especially when you're working with fabrics that don't ease.  It's also a great way to prevent wavy zippers.


 

You stick the tape, sticky side down, on your zipper edge, and then pull off the paper to expose the second sticky side, and adhere your fabric where you need it.  Then you can stitch (from either side) without worrying about shifting.  It works great.  If you're interested in exactly how I attached the zipper, I can go into details later on.  Thank you MPB reader Jne4sl for your zipper attachment instructions -- I followed them! 

I placed fabric on tape from the right side, stitched from the wrong side, and did the same with the facing.  I still need to topstitch both layers down to prevent them from potentially getting caught in my zipper.

Here's the zipper, as it looks from the inside.

The open jacket before inserting lining (lining is attached at zipper front only).

Today I started work on the shorts.  I didn't have enough fabric to cut the full width of the two back pieces so I had to slice a bit off the pattern piece and then cut the remainder from another scrap and stitch them together (remembering to add a seam allowance to both edges).  See that extra seam below the curve?  It won't be noticeable with the shorts on.  I feel lucky that I was able to squeeze an entire second garment out of two yards of fabric!



Here's a work-in-progress shot; I think you get the idea. They're shorter than Bermudas but longer than Daisy Dukes.  It's a length that looks right on me.  I made the pockets out of my yellow nylon lining so they're extra sturdy.  All that remains to do on these is to hem them.







Remember how I said this outfit was supposed to be completed and posted on the Mood Network site on Saturday?  Well, I was wrong: it's Friday.  So tomorrow's the day I add all the necessary finishing touches to both jacket and shorts, and then sometime tomorrow or Friday morning take photos outside.  Cross your fingers for mild weather.

It's great to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  This project has challenged me a lot, which is a good thing in retrospect but not so much fun while you're in the thick of it.

I hope your projects are going well and don't forget the Wonder Tape -- you never know when it might come in handy.

Have a great day, everybody!