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A Sherpa jacket

April 22, 2019

I’ve had this fabric since some time last year, and I wanted to make a lighter jacket with it for fall and spring. Something that you could just throw on before going outside if it was a little chilly.

I started using a pattern, but I changed it so much that you can’t really call it a base. I don’t think there was a seam that wasn’t changed, but it gave me a starting point. I made the sleeves wide and short, as I was going for a wider look to them. If I don’t like how short they are, I can unpick the overlap and just let them hang long.

I didn’t hem any of the seams here as it wouldn’t look right with this fabric. Looks more natural as if you used a real sheepskin.

I did the collar in a wrap-around style.

I made the back into two pieces so they would have some shaping. They actually have too much shaping as it bows out a bit. I changed the pattern piece afterwards. I sewed the back seam wrong sides together and then top-stitched the seam allowance over the right side of the fabric for this neat detail of the Sherpa.

The end product was actually a little longer at the hip, with more of a collar wrap. It was too long and there was too much fabric in the neckline. An easy fix to cut it off and then just re-lock the seams at the bottom.

I made the rest of the outfit, too. The top is a modified Rulo from George & Ginger Pattern Co. I changed the arms, added a longer hem and added the cowl.

I had a faux leather (the tag called it Vegan leather 😉 ) jacket that has bit the dust. The elbows had worn out with the faux leather. I did have several years of use out of it, so at least it was worth the price. It is nice to have a little black jacket to throw on. I think I am going to use my pattern copying method so I can make another from some black faux reptile leather I purchased from Spandex World.

Always something fun to make!

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