Retro’s back baby!

Actually I have no idea if retro is or isn’t back, it just worked for this project! Introducing The Retro Jacket. It’s bright, it’s bold, it’s funkadelic; totally hip and happening all the while practical and warm!

This project is probably one of the most ambitious one I have set out to do in a long while. It is quilted, totally lined, has a hood and a zip front closure! Plus the pattern came from one of my Japanese pattern books and nope I don’t speak or read a word of Japanese (actually that is a lie, I can count to 10 and say hello, goodbye and thank you!) So here is an insight.

I treat it like fabric Lego. Find the piece that matches the picture and attach. Next piece and so on and so on. I get pretty excited when I can tick off each step and move onto the next. All up I would say the jacket was actually a rather easy process albeit a lengthy one! How did I make it? Well its lined with red flannelette, to be extra warm and soft for Master B, for extra warmth I used an old (actually it was brand new I just had no use for it) polar fleece blanket as the “batting” layer and the bright blue cotton fabric I got from Ikea last year became the shell. I quilted the polar fleece to the shell in even lines and then added the stripes using bias tape I had made earlier! After all that I just followed the construction pictures above! Result? 1 totally awesome jacket!!!!!!

   

I can’t wait to catch up with Master B and try it on him!!! This is one of my favourite projects ever! Only thing I wish I had done was add a little loop of ribbon at the back between the hood and back panel so Master B’s mummy can hand it on the cook hook (not that I think they have one but still!)

Word of advice on Japanese pattern books – THEY DON”T CONTAIN SEAM ALLOWANCE you must add it yourself – just letting you know!

A Christmas printable

Christmas is getting closer and our house is starting to look more and more festive with each passing day. Today I got around to completing a little printable to put in a spare Ikea SAXNÄS frame which you can use too for FREE!!! That’s right I have made it a printable for all of you to use! We all love free stuff so here it is – DOWNLOAD PRINT HERE.

Now just a mini tutorial for those wanting it to fit in the SAXNÄS frame. I got mine printed at Officeworks (if someone knows somewhere cheaper please let me know) and because the frame size does not match our paper sizes here in Oz, I had to get it printed on A1 poster size and trim it down so here is how that works.

 

Firstly get it printed with NO SCALING on A1 paper. Next take the “glass” (i know it is plastic) out of the frame and put it over the image. You want there to be a 2.5cm boarder between the red and the frame.

Trace around the frame with a pencil. Remove the frame and cut around with scissors about 1mm inside the line (otherwise the picture will be just that bit too big for the frame). Of course if you have a cutting mat big enough by all means use a cutting wheel/exacto knife to cut it quick smart. I of course do not – “drats”!

Remember to remove the protective film from the “glass”and pop the poster into the frame and voila you are done!!!!! Hang it on the wall to share some Christmas cheer!!!!!

Just a note: I have made this free for you all in the spirit of Christmas for personal use only. Please do not sell the design or any you print off. Thanks and Merry Christmas!