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Hey everyone! Welcome back to the final day of the School Days Jacket Sew-Along. Huge thanks to all of you who've been following along this week. It's been such a joy to guide you through this project, and now it’s time for Amanda to wrap things up. So, over to you, Amanda!
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Hi there! This is Amanda from LilypadMontana, back again for the last part of the School Days Jacket Sew-Along. By now, you should have a fantastic, almost-complete coat or rain jacket. Let’s finish it off beautifully today! We’ll be wrapping up the jacket and sewing the optional insulated vest.
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**Finishing the Jacket**
First up, we need to hem the bottom edge of the jacket. Make sure to pin the hem carefully, keeping the lining out of the way. It’s important to ensure everything is neat and tidy before you start stitching.
Once the hem is pinned, it’s time to topstitch. Follow the instructions and begin at the neck facing, pivoting smoothly around the hemline. Keep going until you return to the other neck facing. This step not only gives your jacket a polished look but also secures the lining in place.
For added stability, consider edgestitching the neckline. Stitching from the lining side helps prevent any puckering or bunching around the neck area. It’s a small detail, but it makes a huge difference in the finished product.
Next, blind-stitch or slipstitch the bottom edge of the lining to the outer jacket along the topstitching line. This creates a clean, professional finish inside the jacket. You might also want to tack down the corners of the lining and the loose bits of the facing for a neater appearance.
Finally, remove your basting stitches from the center back of the lining and attach your snaps or buttons if you're using them. This step ensures your jacket stays securely closed.
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**Optional Insulated Vest**
Even though the insulated vest is optional, I highly recommend giving it a try. Not only does it add warmth, but it also allows you to mix and match fabrics to complement your jacket. Trust me, you won’t regret making it!
To create the vest, you can either buy pre-quilted fabric or quilt your own. When quilting your own, use a walking foot and avoid stretchy fabrics. Woven fabrics like quilting cottons, double-gauze, and flannel work best. They provide just the right amount of insulation without being too heavy.
Start by layering your fabrics with the batting in between. Ensure everything is smooth and wrinkle-free. Cut out your pattern pieces, leaving extra room for the fold. Once your quilt sandwich is ready, pin it thoroughly and quilt it according to your preference—whether that’s free-motion designs, straight lines, or something creative.
After quilting, cut out your pattern pieces. If making a sleeveless vest, trim .5†from the armholes. Now, pin and sew the shoulder seams. Remember, the right side of the vest is the inside when worn, so plan accordingly. I prefer serging the seams and pressing them toward the back for a flat-felled seam effect. Finish the seams however you like.
Add elastic pieces at the center back neck, front notches, and sleeve seams. These help maintain shape and fit. Next, apply bias tape starting from the bottom hem, working your way up to the armholes. Be careful—starting at the front can cause issues, so always begin at the back.
Lastly, sew in the buttons to secure the vest inside the jacket. The placement is marked on your pattern pieces—six on the facings, one at the center back neck, and two on the sleeve hems if you’ve added sleeves.
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Congratulations! You’re all done. Take some photos and share your creations in the Oliver + S Flickr group. We’d love to see what you’ve made. Happy sewing, and thanks again for joining us on this journey!
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If you enjoyed this sew-along, feel free to leave a comment below. Let us know how your jacket turned out or if you have any questions about the process. Until next time, happy crafting!