The Flatiron Jacket

No way! Two posts in two days. I'm on a roll now.

Today I'm reviewing the newest pattern I own - the Flatiron Jacket from the Sewing Workshop. It's also my first finish of the year.

OK - gotta be truthful. I like it. A lot. But I don't love it. But I will wear it a lot. I know that.

It's cozy  jacket without any real fit, except maybe through the hips. The fit there is only an issue if you add closures and line up the side seams vertically and force it to fully close at the center front line. This would create an overlap of maybe 10 inches!

I doubt that anyone will ever wear it this way. I won't.

It is described as a dropped shoulder line but I would call it almost a true kimono sleeve. The sleeve cap is almost flat and the shoulder seam hits me below mid-pectoral.

My fabric is interesting, I think. I bought it as a cut piece from Linda Lee's store stash some years ago during Sew Kansas. It is a medium weight cotton Ikat. One side looks and feels like flannel. The other side is quite flat and a little crisp. That side looks hand-woven.

I chose the flannel side as the outside so that it will be less likely to catch on my high hip fluff. Never a good look.

Gotta love those huge patch pockets!

It's got that signature Y seam at the shoulder, similar to the San Diego jacket. The front piece includes the collar. Seaming it and then attaching it properly to the back neckline requires that I pay attention.

I guess it's really more of a right angle seam, but I think of it as a Y seam.

I have to sew that seam in 3 pieces to avoid a tuck at the Y's. I start with the back neckline and tie off each end of the seam by hand so I can control for the point in the Y. Then I sew the front seams right up to the Y. Again I tie it off by hand in case I catch a little tuck. I can work it back out and then tie it exactly where I want it. I hope that makes sense.

Attaching the back facing also requires paying attention. I went to sleep the first time and sewed it on incorrectly. I had to rip carefully so that I did not stress the Y seam. A nail biter.

The rest was very simple. I finished the side seams by hand. That took a while but I find it meditative. And of course the sashiko is always zen.

So try it - you'll like it!