Guest Blogger Pattern Review: Butterick 5332

And now for Ann's second contribution. I don't know about you but this little number makes me desperate for spring.

Pattern Description:
Butterick 5332 – Jacket A

Pattern Sizing:
8-10-12-14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
As much as my jacket can look like a drawing…yes! My collar ended up a bit wider, but it’s because I didn’t pull the top part of the jacket over as much as they do in the picture (I thought the seams lined up better if I didn’t pull it as far over as they say to).

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I struggled with this jacket like I’ve never struggled with a pattern before. The seam-ripper was my best friend. I think what threw me is that multiple instructions combined into one step, which when read properly should be easy to figure out, but for some reason I kept skipping over steps…then realized that I had unfinished sections in odd places. Probably my fault, but it was HARDLY fast or easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I disliked that they called it fast & easy. There were lots of steps, and lots of curves that required meticulous sewing. Even though I’m more on the beginner side, I do think I’m a good sewer, and this was a really tough jacket.

Fabric Used:
Oh gosh…I can’t remember exactly what it is… It’s a thick cotton, almost like a light canvas. The pattern said lightweight denim could be used too, which I looked for but didn’t find a color/weight I particularly liked.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
The back of the jacked seemed unusually wide, so I took it in about ½ inch on each side to make it less “billowy”. It helped with the fit a lot. I stupidly used a heavy interfacing (rather than a light-weight interfacing) for the collar…but that has nothing to do with the pattern, just another sewing lesson for me.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes and Yes! I really like this jacket! Very summery in nature. The style is wide and boxy, so be prepared that it won’t show off one’s shape, but is perfectly comfortable.

Conclusion:
This was such a frustrating jacket to finish after removing seam after seam…and sometimes removing the same seam twice. I almost just left it for the pile of unfinished sewing projects, but I loved the color I chose, and was hoping that in the end it would be worth all the stress, and it was. It’s comfortable and perfect for work or weekend. As soon as the weather is perfect for white capris…I’ll have this jacket on immediately.

Adorable, right? I admire Ann's tenacity in finishing what seems to have been a tricky garment. My track record for the last few months hasn't been so inspiring in that department... :)

Guest Blogger Pattern Review: Kwik Sew 3529

Cue the trumpets and cymbal crash! We've got a pattern review on the blog for the first time in months! And, all thanks goes to our guest blogger Ann, who was kind enough to write up not one, but two pattern reviews while on the road to Jersey. This is friendship, people. So let's get to the goods. I'll post one today and one tomorrow.

Pattern Description:
· Kwik Sew 3529, empire waist jacket

(pattern image from kwiksew.com)

Pattern Sizing:
· XS-S-M-L-XL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

· Yes, it looked very similar. The lapel on the one I made looked a bit larger than the one on the pattern picture, but overall the shape mimicked the picture very well.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
· Although I’ve been a beginner sewer for 15 years, I tend to take on difficult patterns. This pattern was much easier than expected (once I finally brushed up on the basics of pattern-reading…and reached out to Catherine on more than one occasion with “what does this mean again?” type questions).

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
With not too much to compare it to at this point in my less-than-expansive sewing career, the pattern was fine, nothing stands out one way or the other. With more patterns under my belt I’ll probably have a better perspective.

Fabric Used:
The pattern called for a non-stretch fabric, but I found a deep purple cotton with a bit of stretch in it that I really liked so I decided to try it. Because the jacket is so tailored, there is no need for a stretch fabric, but as I discovered it doesn’t affect the shape. A darker color (or thicker fabric) is necessary because there is no lining for this jacket (which surprised me, but made the construction easier for me).

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
The only think I altered was the position of the empire waist. Even in the picture on the pattern it looks almost too low for where the gathering is. The gathering ended up being 3 inches below my bust line, which was very strange positioning for such dramatic gathers that should be directly under the bust. I took the jacket apart and moved the empire waist seam up about an inch…which still wasn’t enough, but it looks better. I should mention that I am very short-waisted, so I thought this could be the problem, but this shouldn’t affect where the empire waist fits under the bust.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I’m not sure I’ll sew it again because the shape didn’t fit my body as well as I would have liked, and I wasn’t totally sure how to fix the problems. The top half was very wide, but the bottom was snug. The gathering in the back also ended up being really bulky…which probably affected the fit in the front. It’s a great looking jacket for work, so I’d suggest it, but with the caveat that the empire waist location should be measured before sewing (I don’t think the pattern had an area where you could shorten the waist…but it might have).

Conclusion:
Overall I was pleased with this jacket, mostly because it’s the first (finished) thing I’ve sewn in probably 8+ years, and it didn’t turn out to be as lopsided as I thought it might given my rusty skills. It’s a good shape for me, and I hope I do end up wearing it!

Doesn't it look great on her? It will be a perfect spring wardrobe item once that season finally arrives. Please leave a comment if you have any questions for Ann and I'm sure she'd be happy to answer them!