
Gillian made this brilliant and bright chartreuse yellow boiled wool jacket using the Tessuti patterns Lyon Jacket Pattern, she’s done a fabulous job, will you just look at those covered poppers!

Gillian made this brilliant and bright chartreuse yellow boiled wool jacket using the Tessuti patterns Lyon Jacket Pattern, she’s done a fabulous job, will you just look at those covered poppers!
Carol only learned to sew this year and is having a lot of fun coming back to a hobby she help her mum with 40+ years ago. This faux shearling teddy bear fleece is light as a feather and great for this simple burda jacket.
Jenny used our ex-designer jumbo cord to make up the Deer and Doe Opium Coat and it is fabulous. Due to the thickness of the cord Jenny swapped the origami welt pockets for regular welt pockets -we all agree these look just as good in this funky wide wale corduroy.
I must say, I do like Jenny’s organisation on her pattern envelopes – I can only dream of such efficiency!
Annie made up this fabulous wool mix brown bouclé bobble jersey using New Look 6636 pattern, being made in a heavy jersey it is both warm, comfortable and super stylish – ticking ALL the boxes of a No1 make.
The jersey knit is a mix of wool, cotton and viscose, it doesn’t have a great deal of stretch to it so works very well for this style of untailored blazer, it also means the button holes and pockets go on without stretching out (they are interfaced), and the whole thing just oozes effortless style.
Dawn (_thedawnaurora) finally got to wear her tailored jacket that she made in a Zoom sew-along during the first lockdown in 2020
Dawn says: Mum and I both made the jasika blazer using the speed tailoring tutorial from closet core patterns. Having never done this method before I was super impressed! It’s got a beautiful gold lining, but guess what..? I didn’t get a photo of that 🙄🤷🏼♀️
This gorgeous brocade I bought from Stone Fabrics and had just enough left over to make a matching skirt. A bit too short for my liking, but it’s the longest I could get it with what I had left!
🖤🌟🖤🌟🖤
It’s a fabulous make (and the skirt isn’t too short!) -dawn did a fabulous job, this pattern is a great pattern to be used with all manner of medium weight fabrics. We love this ❤️
Wendy had never made a jacket before – with the expert help of Make@140 in Plymouth she worked this beautiful shocking pink kid mohair and wool blend worsted suiting into the Jasika Blazer by Closet Core Patterns. We love it so much!
A blazer needs various interfacings to make it lie correctly, this pattern is great for detailing what you need and where, it utilises a speed tailoring method (using iron-on interfacings) which makes it super accessible for adventurous novices and creates impressive results.
This jacket uses weft interfacing along with hair canvas and 1/2″ thick tailored shoulder pads. Just to truly pop the colours Wendy chose to line this jacket in a fabulous pink and orange viscose satin lining
Wendy was super pleased with the help we gave her to choose the right fabrics and notions for this project, We are always here to help you get the right materials for your project, when you are out of your depth with a pattern just talk to us and we will always help.
Absolutely brilliant trench coat made by Vineta using our wool and cotton mix Gaberdine 11778 (also available in camel 11777). This fabric was originally labelled as dry clean but Vineta test washed it and proved it was washable (with minimal shrinkage) so …💃🕺👏
The pattern is the Grasser Trench Coat No 155 – I’ve not come across these patterns before but am impressed with the amount of detail you get in the info, and Vineta said whilst there were some iffy translations the instructions were very, very thorough.
She slimmed it down a bit but it would be fine if you like a more gathered look, she did no other adjustments. The sleeves went in a dream – only a tiny amount of sleeve cap ease so no puckers or collapsing sleeve heads. Yes! 🥳
These patterns come with four different height options so whether you are Amazonian tall or elfin proportions there will be a pattern for you.
Lesley came all the way south from the Scottish Borders to buy this beautiful & FUNKY Italian tufted linen (I’m sure she had other things to do down here in sunny Devon too!) -bought way back in the early 2000’s this fabulous jacket has survived various wardrobe culls primarily because the timeless loose draped cut (Vogue Marcy Tilton 8088) means it always fits and… that fabric! 😍 😍 😍
Gary is self taught and uses the garments in his wardrobe to learn from along with a wealth of old sheets and charity shop discards to practice on. This wool tweed jacket was made for his daughter and Gary needs to be congratulated on a fantastic job. Lined in paisley jacket and coat lining. Will you just look at those beautiful welted pockets?!
Bess used up her last precious remnant of her favourite robot print french terry jersey on this Jalie Patterns Charlie Bomber jacket for her niece, it is amazing how little main fabric you need for a bomber jacket as the cuffing, pocket contrasts, sleeves and lining are all other remnants. This pattern may just be the ultimate in stash busting!
Bess used printed french terry sweatshirting jersey and a variety of other sweatshirtings and ribbing to make this Jolie Patterns Charlie Bomber Jacket.. It was a success and Amelie declared she was never going to take it off (YES!)
The pattern has really clear instructions and goes from teeny tiny toddler size all the way up to adults, it’s highly recommended
Bomber jackets are excellent stash busters as all the pieces are quite small (especially for the kids!) and you can mix and match, bomber jackets are an easy fit so good to make “in secret” without the need to try on.
There was a bit of drama with the making of this one as Bess needed to shorten the zip – usually a simple process of pulling off the teeth at the top and sewing over to stop the puller falling off -except she pulled off the puller before she had it secured and then spent as long trying to get it back on as she did making the entire jacket. 🙄
Kitcat here wearing the sequinned bomber jacket @bessworks made for her (she’s very pleased 😀).
This is the Charlie bomber from Jalie patterns – The pattern has really clear instructions and goes from teeny tiny toddler size all the way up to adults, it’s highly recommended 🥰.
Bomber jackets are also excellent stash busters as all the pieces are quite small (especially for the kids!) and you can mix and match, bomber jackets are an easy fit so good to make “in secret” without the need to try on.
This multicolour sequined version used only 45cm of the sequin fabric- handy because it is £55/m 😭! – it’s a great way of getting a jacket out of a special fabric that you don’t have /want to buy much of.
Jacoba used this fun cactus print laminated cotton to make her Vogue V8884 double breasted raincoat and lined it in a joyous yellow Venezia – it almost makes you look forward to the rain when you have a lovely happy raincoat like this!
Pure wool British made tweed is an absolute joy to work with but nevertheless the skills involved to create this fabulous man’s jacket and waistcoat is exemplary, Gary launched into this project with no training nor teacher (other than his ‘Sewing for Men’ Simplicity how-to book from the 70’s – gifted from a neighbour (it cost 40p!)) and my oh my he did a good job. The pattern is self drafted / robbed from existing/ cobbled together as all great sewists can do. The jacket and waistcoat are both lined in a lovely deep burgundy satin lining. It’s all just soooo good.
And he made a baker boy hat too!
The best thing about grey is how it makes colours POP and so adding neon colours to grey is a recipe for some serious popping. Lucy made this bomber jacket for her husband and finished it with our neon cuffing and it just delightful.
Black Denim jacket fabulousness made here by Sue in France, the denim is a 9.5oz washed Cotton – heavy enough for a jacket but not too heavy so as to cause tears whilst topstitching on a domestic sewing machine. As the jacket is unlined all the seams on the inside are beautifully finished with Bias Binding.
The Pattern is the Sienna Jacket by Close Core Patterns (used to be Closet Case Patterns)
I keep looking at this jacket thinking shall I? Shan’t I? Do I really need a new jacket. Yes. I absolutely do! I do need a new jacket!
Our customers are such bad influences on me!
Claire used the Maker’s Atelier The Blazer pattern for this perfect pink jacket in clover pink stonewash linen. Such a lovely colour on her and exquisitely made ❤️
Annie made this lovely knitted jacket using blush pink cotton mix jumper knit, the pattern was See and Sew B6120 (out of print) – due to the nature of the knit she left the darts out (unnecessary), used snap fasteners and added a collar (perfect 👌).
Irene sent us this pic of her fabulous bamboo mix cloqué jacket. This fabric is super stretchy so to construct this jacket shows off Irene’s superb sewing skills. It’s brilliant.
The very lovely and clever Daphne made this super jacket out of designer leopard tufted wool mix – this is a pretty heavy coating weight so there are skillz here to manipulate and tailor it into this jacket. Fabtastic
Tina (Sewimpatient) made this brilliant @alinadesignco Hampton jean jacket using silver grey stretch denim and we LOVE it so much. Tina has a brilliant eye for detail and her makes are so well executed. Fabulousness.
She says: I managed to get my Hampton Jean Jacket sewn up and just wanted to say thanks so much for the fabric recommendation as it turned out to be the perfect choice. It’s super soft and the fact that it has some stretch didn’t cause any problems. If you need a jean jacket it’s a great pattern to have.
This is Christine here wearing the brilliant Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns made using proofed limestone Linen that will repel the rain in a moderate shower and breathe nicely when it doesn’t rain. Perfect.
Linda made this fab unlined linen jacket with bound seams so beautifully you could wear it inside out. We love ❤️
Linda says: I have been amusing myself in my ‘social distancing’ by teaching myself Hong-Kong binding. The jacket is made from some gold linen I bought from you last year. The pattern is Harriet by Style Arc.
Paula has been such a long-standing loyal customer we can recite her telephone number backwards and yet this is the first image she has sent us (She’s shy!). Well it’s never too late to send us photos for the catwalk – no one can say we lack patience! Here we have a super soft oyster beige ultrasuede made into a long jacket – which in true dressmaker fashion she decided it was a bit boring so added fringing ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Jane made this super luxurious snow leopard faux fur jacket for Bess with fabulous copper ball buttons and lined in red stripe coat lining. The faux fur is very stable so no need for interfacing (and extra bulk), we do recommend using a face mask when cutting out though!
Bess made the pattern from her block for these trousers, but it is very similar to the Marcy Tilton for Vogue V8499 trousers. She added extra width below the hip and then darted them back in at the bottom. The fabric is a wool, linen and silk blend worsted suiting that is a delight to sew with (even when matching checks!) and is not at all itchy to wear so was made unlined. -With the thought it *might* be itchy Bess used a contrast cotton cartoon print on the inside of the waistband.
The Jacket is a leopard print TPU clear plastic that Bess sewed with bias binding so as not to be unstuck by the fabric not feeding properly through the machine (you can stop this happening also by using a teflon foot, or sewing with strips of tissue which are then torn off). The pattern is the Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns (simplified a little). Bess made it for a festival (it looks brilliant at night with lights inside), but actually it’s fab to wear on the many rainy days we suffer in Devon. She didn’t bond the seams or do any special waterproofing, but finds it hold up exceptionally well- even to a downpour on a Welsh mountain!
Valerie made this stunning Coco jacket using Vogue 7975 pattern with some navy cardigan jacket tweed and finished off beautifully with ivory pearl tweed trim.
Jayne self drafted this Coco She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named pattern to make up in a Linton Tweed. Due to the unstable nature of the tweed it is mounted onto a black brushed cotton and then lined as normal. There is a separating zipper running down the front and two matching short zips on the sleeves.
Mounting a fabric sounds difficult but it is more time consuming rather than difficult- and less time consuming than trying to fix errors from an unstable fabric moving! You can mount onto all kinds of fabrics depending what weight and drape you need. Because this jacket needs a bit of structure a brushed cotton works well, you would normally use cotton domette but because the colour shows through Jayne went with the brushed cotton. If you just want to stabilise without adding any weight we recommend you use silk organza.
The wonderful Margaret wearing her super classic navy blazer made using some very posh italian designer worsted wool ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Bess wanted a lightweight but warm jacket so used grey herringbone cotton poly and elastane -it’s a medium weight, the sort that would make lightweight chino type trousers, then she quilted silk crepe de chine (in the brightest coral colour possible) to wool wadding. The results are a super snuggly jacket that feels like you are putting on a duvet (if you ever wondered what the definition of hygge is, this jacket is it)
Whilst the outer fabric is not waterproof it is a tight enough weave to not get wet through in a brief shower.
The pattern is the Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns, the instructions and drafting is simply brilliant. Bess shortened it and hacked the collar and hood pieces to enable both (the hood folds away into the collar)
Tina made this fabulous Como Cardi by Style Arc Patterns using the chunky but stable wool-mix jumper knit, she loved it so much she made two others (different colours) straight away (madness!)
We love ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Jane made this amazing military style jacket from two different brocades and a piqué textured jacket weight wool. The pattern is Vogue 7975 with some major/minor adaptations to make it more military looking (the pattern is classic Chanel style jacket). It is lined in fabulous electric blue silk seersucker satin.
The lovely Bernie from French France made this amazing silk mix brocade up in a fitted skirt suit for a family wedding, both the patterns are tried and tested, they originally came out of the Burda sewing magazines- the dress from March 2001 and the jacket from sometime in 2012. Isn’t she fabulous? Here we have proof that style never goes out of fashion 🙂
The hat was made for her using a scrap of the brocade in a local hat shop in Pézenas. Perfection 🙂
This is the beautiful and talented Anna who made her wonderful self drafted jacket using a heavy worsted twill weave suiting . Cavalry twill is a superb fabric to use as jackets, the tight dense weave is good at repelling wind and rain, and the weight is perfect to allow for precise tailoring.
We don’t often have hides of suede or leather but occasionally we get a job lot from a designer and on this occasion Jane thought it her civic duty to make Lulu a jacket out of it. There was a certain amount of swearing going on – Suede does not like to be pinned or tacked or have any of the preparation treatments that Jane would do to normal fabric, and when it came to sewing her machine said no thanks with the fancy needles and she ended up sewing it with regular needles (go figure). Of course she didn’t make life easy for herself by choosing such a complicated pattern (Vogue tres difficile!) . But we got there in the end! Thankfully Lulu loves it and wears it whenever possible else she would be disowned as a daughter right now. It is lined in Venezia (which is a dream to sew!)
The lovely Anne here in full glory doing the Mother of the Bride thing wearing this statement tulip print poly twill taffeta dress and classic wool crepe bolero jacket.
Anne had help matching the tulips at a sewing class in Bath (the pattern is Vogue 8997). The wool crepe in the bright pink for the jacket was lovely to work with and drapes well (the pattern is Burda 8997).
Emma sent us this pic of her brilliant jacket and trousers combo using an ex designer tweedy wool flannel check for the jacket with leather accents, and worsted wool for the trousers. She cuts the patterns herself (our customers are clever aren’t they?)
This luxurious Purple faux fur jacket was made by Pauline using Butterick 6328 pattern, which is illustrated here as overshirts but as you can see works very well in faux fur.
The pattern is unlined but Pauline wanted lovely yellow satin inside so she drafted a lining pattern by the following method.
The neatest and best way to make a lining pattern from an unlined pattern with a facing is to do the following:
Illustration: Piece A = front facing. Piece B = front
First: Trace piece B and cut out.
1. Lay facing (A) over your traced piece (B) matching centre front and shoulder points (red dots). Mark your cutting line onto piece B that will be 2 x seam allowances inside the facing piece (red dotted line), this is usually 3cm (2 x 1.5cm). A tracing wheel or measurement gauge is useful for this job but a simple ruler will work.
2. Cut off the top of piece B beyond the dotted line. This is your new lining piece.
3 Stitch lining B to facing A using the same seam allowance as you used for the alteration.
The same principle goes for whichever piece you want to make a lining for -you need to lay the facing piece on and take off that piece less 2 x seam allowances. It’s a good idea to add a pleat of extra fabric (about 3”) to the back of a coat or jacket, and all linings should be cut fractionally bigger than the outer fabric to add ease.
Anna from I ❤️ Sewing made this funky little fully lined spotty raincoat from laminated cotton and finished it off with snap fasteners
Bess on top of the South Devon Cliffs wearing her fabulous pink tweed jacket that was made by Jane a couple of Birthday’s ago and still going strong.
The lining is chartreuse satin lining on the sleeves and multicolour chevron printed cotton (quilting weight) for the body. The collar and facings are red jumbo corduroy because Bess didn’t want the tweed against her skin.
The design is an old burda fur jacket pattern -somewhat altered! Fur coat patterns are dead easy because they tend to have very boxy simple cuts.
This is basically a remake of a pink denim jacket Bess made earlier – but suitable for the winter. Even the buttons are the same.
Red Blue and White check Linton Tweed made up in Burda 7041 (sadly discontinued but there are similar). It is quilted in 2″ lines to silk organza for stability and then lined in spotty silk satin. There is black satin piping round the collar and down the front and a heavy chain fixed to the inside hem to help the coat drape (it is particularly heavy so creates a real swing). It fastens edge to edge with a rouleau loops and metal half round buttons.
Bess finished making this coat nearly a year from starting due to some ‘issues’ so it’s a miracle it was ever finished as Bess does not do ‘issues’. Bess makes coats in a day, maybe over 3 days if there are complicated bits to do and she has other things going on. The problem with UFOs (unfinished objects) is once it goes in the pile it rarely escapes. To rectify this Bess hung it on the door and was not allowed to remove it – even though this meant the door couldn’t be closed. The problem that caused such a delay is No1. she used a cheaper silk organza that was heavier than normal which made it substantially heavier than she intended (unfixable). The 2nd thing was she cut the lining too short at the centre back (rectified by piecing in a bit of braid so it didn’t pull up the coat). 3rd, and rather majorly despite her checks matching perfectly at every seam when she tried to hem it it was going up in a spiral and being one check off at the front (rectified by hemming it straight and never looking at the hem thereafter).
Julie made up this fabulous Amy Butler print laminated cotton raincoat using Burda 7047. We love the spotty cotton lining and the drawstring waist which gives it just enough shape. Sewing laminated cotton can be a bit of a challenge, if you find it sticking to your feed dogs and not feeding through the sewing machine properly tear off strips of tissue paper and sandwich the fabric between the strips, it will then tear off when you are done.
Julie made this blue big spotty button up Mac using quick drying proofed microfibre some years ago – and still her go-to coat for a rainy walk to work.
Jane made this Denim jacket and matching skirt with stretch pink denim for Kitcat. It is trimmed in black lace (because Kitcat is 9 going on 19). The skirt is a great little pattern from Burda (9480) – the back was made slightly wider so elastic could be put in. The Jacket was an utter nightmare – BEWARE OF INDIE PATTERNS DOWNLOADED FROM THE INTERNET! She eventually got there though! And Kitcat is very pleased.
Topstitched with two poly sew all threads run through the same eye of the needle (a trick that is far easier and reliable than using topstitching thread, we have found). The coloured jeans buttons are riveted in.
The belt was made by Harlequin (you send them the fabric and hey presto!)
Bree was pleased as punch with this jacket she made in record time entirely on her sewing machine (no cheating with an overlocker), it is a blue cotton sweatshirting with multicolour flecks, she used McCall’s pattern 6844. FABULOUS!
Mrs Stutt at the shop showing off her superb designer textured wool jacket made up in a simple boxy cardigan jacket style. Lined in Venezia and trimmed with leather binding.
Rowena being a very glam Mother of the Groom in her black and magenta abstract print silk satin flared dress and matching dupion silk fitted jacket. She was a busy bee as she also made her hat and bag plus grooms men’s cravats and hankies. Also her daughter in law’s lace gown (which she beaded!) her veil and headdress.
Blimey! Now she is off to do some gardening.
Julie cheering up the drab winter at the shop in her fuchsia pink boiled wool coat. The edges are bound with fold-over binding. This coat is unlined, the boiled wool has plenty of body to it so it holds its shape nicely.
Kitcat and Miaow (having been told to smile)* wearing cotton velvet fitted jacket, yellow dogtooth fitted jacket, acetate crushed velvet plus-fours and a dogtooth check waistcoat, all made by Jane (the granny) for a trip to Chatsworth House for their Wind in the Willows themed Christmas decorations.
Despite over two years between them their size difference is negligible so these outfits are interchangeable.
They both like wearing them around the office, too.
*I shall save these ‘smiling’ pics for their 18th birthdays. That’ll learn ’em.
Kitcat all wrapped up in her faux fur Burda 9501 jacket. It is lined with aubergine satin coat lining (oh-so grown up!).
She’s a bit fed up with us cuddling her now, but that jacket is sooo snuggly!
Anastasia modelling her fabulous fitted jacket made using Burdastyle magazine pattern 112b (from 3/2015). This fabric is jacket weight wool mix with cashmere soft tweed that looks super in such a well fitting little jacket.
Lined in printed polyester satin :
This jacket was made last May and Anastasia has worn it a LOT through Scotland’s not-so hot summer!
Debbie modelling her shrug made using navy corded lace with scalloped edges. She was very pleased with it as it really updated a dress she had had for a long time. She drafted the pattern using a short sleeved shrug she already had as a pattern. Debbie had to do a bit of juggling with the scallops and hand stitching so that they would go around the curves but was glad with the finished effect. It turned out a little tight across the back and around the armholes but wasn’t a problem when it was worn for a posh event as was still able to dance in it!
Jane and Elwen made this sooo sweeet fur coat using Burda 9501 pattern, They lined it in bunny rabbit print quilting cotton and used toning toggle buttons. There is no interfacing -not even on the button holes which Jane insists is fine and they didn’t need it. She can break the rules because she has been sewing for about a thousand years.
Sarah made up Vogue 9035 jacket pattern in this funky plasticised lightweight linen. She has used the reverse of the fabric for the cuffs and the hem panel on the back. Very clever!
Tracey (in French France) made this fabulous boxy cardigan jacket using the wool and cotton Laurent Garigue bouclé knit. She quilted it by hand (as per tradition) to black Venezia lining and used lead weighted piping on the hem to make it hang nicely.
Lulu wearing her Desigual inspired coat made by Jane using an assortment of brocade suitings, odd buttons and various trims. She used an old Vogue pattern (V2005) which has been made up a number of times for Lulu in various fabrics and always works. It is lined in vivid chartreuse green satin lining with a fine line of turquoise satin piping.
I suppose if you were a hoarder you could make this coat out of your stash, but we were playing with all the fabulous brocades that had just arrived at the shop (If you can’t pick one pick them all). She did manage to use up an assortment of trims that were appliquéd in various designs over the coat. Jane used a mismatch of various Vintage buttons, doubling them up when we couldn’t get exactly the right thing.
This is Jacoba wearing her woven Italian Designer jacket, she said, “I am very pleased with it even if it is a little wide on the shoulders. I used Vogue 8933 but changed how the collar fastened at the end. It was too high for me in the original style despite my long neck so I just let the fabric go where it wanted to fold over- it seems to work and I have had huge compliments from all :-). I love the huge wooden poppers. It does lend itself to being worn solely with black – bright even by my standards!!”
This Italian Designer is a woven fabric with more stability than the knitted, it lends itself well to this type of jacket where you have no fiddly pockets, or such like.
Find more Italian Designer fabrics HERE
Ann-Marie here modelling her fabulous red Linton Tweed jacket, in keeping with the traditionally made cardigan jacket she quilted the fabric onto some silk lining, this not only stabilises the tweed but also strengthens the whole jacket. A cardigan jacket should be soft and cardigan like, with no heavy interfacing, there is a fair amount of hand stitching (a swear word in some circles) that needs to be done, but the results of the hard effort is amazing.
You can find lots more cardigan jacket type tweeds HERE
Pink Denim #4993 jacket with odd buttons and superhero printed quilting weight cotton lining made by Bess.
Bess was a bit concerned about the level of ‘pink’ in this denim so chose to tone it down (her words) with a non-girly lining and a mixture of buttons in the hope that it makes it more versatile (she works on the basis that ONE of those buttons will match a colour in her outfit.
The pattern is an ancient Burda fur coat pattern -somewhat altered !