This week, we had releases from only two pattern companies:
- Grainline Studios
- McCall's
Jen has been teasing with sneak peaks of the Tamarack Jacket on Instagram for the past few weeks. Coupled with how much I liked Sewmanju's quilted jacket and Jen's teaser shots, I actually plunked down some birthday cash on some Nano Iro pre-quilted fabric from Miss Matatabi. Upon seeing the sample pics, though, I wasn't convinced that the lack of shaping in the Grainline jacket would work for me, so I will be using the Tamarack as inspiration, but actually using a collarless Simplicity jacket with princess seams and cup sizing for my actual jacket.
TL; DR: I like the idea of this jacket. Quilted jackets are everywhere right now, and I think that if I wasn't using pre-quilted fabric I'd be interested in learning the quilting techniques in this pattern. I'm not sure that this particular pattern will work well on a curvy figure, although the samples look great on Jen.
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| Grainline Studios - Tamarack Jacket |
Usually, when the online sewing community seems to love a Big 4 collection, I can't find anything in it that I'd want to sew and wear (as is often the case with Vogue). Other times, particularly with McCall's and Simplicity, the online sewing community collectively yawns, but I wind up buying six patterns from that collection. This time, however, the online sewing community and I are in sync: this is a pretty "meh"to bizarre collection.
M7280: Misses' Jacket and Dress
Those sleeves are, um, interesting.
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| M7280 |
M7293: Misses' Jacket and Pants
I like the shoulder saddle detail on this jacket, although it looks like you'll have to sacrifice the princess seams from the other views to get the shoulder detail:
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| M7293 |
M7296: Misses' Jumpsuit and Romper
I can't decide if this lounging jumpsuit/romper is the best or worst idea ever. On one hand, it looks super comfortable for hanging around the house. On the other hand, if it's cold enough to lounge around in a cozy jumpsuit, do I really want to get undressed to use the bathroom?
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| M7296 |
Okay McCall's, now you're just trolling:
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| M7295 |
Final Thoughts
This is the rare week where there weren't even any patterns released that I'll be putting on my wish list. I'll be keeping an eye on posts related to the Grainline pattern just to see what techniques others are using for their jackets. (I haven't yet decided if my take using a Simplicity pattern will be lined or unlined with bound seams.)Did anything new grab you this week?
Oh dear goodness. What is going on with those trousers! I wouldn't make those for my 7 year old, never mind me!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, those are the pants that you see a lot of the "mommy blogger" pattern makers release. I wouldn't put my 3-year-old in them!
DeleteI really need the meet the team that designed, approved, sampled sewed, and photographed that last McCall's pattern. No one along that entire process ever stopped and said "this is a truly terrible idea"... no one?!
ReplyDeleteI also feel sorry for the poor model, who know has photographic evidence of her wearing those pants preserved on the internet.
DeleteRumba pants make perfect sense....
Deletewhen you are totally high.
I agree the trousers are *interesting*. The top has nice seaming though. I do like the quilted jacket. It looks like it would be lovely and warm. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt's soooo hard to see the top past those pants. I wonder who greenlighted pairing up those two patterns.
DeleteAfter making my vogue quilted jacket I don't think I would attempt quilting another any time soon. I do, however, like the idea of making one with pre quilted fabric. I will be interested in seeing the tamarack jacket sewn up. For anyone interested I have also made a jacket using prequilted fabric which has princess seams (I obviously have a thing for quilted items!) https://sewmanju.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/butterick-5683-diy-quilted-zip-up-jacket/
ReplyDeleteAlso I always look forward to your weekly round up, even if I don't comment :-)
I really like that jacket, too! I hadn't thought about flat-felling the seams if I left the jacket unlined. I'll have to consider that, too.
DeleteMcCall 7288, the jacket with cup sizing could be a winner. I put it on my buy list since I always need work clothing.
ReplyDeleteAgreed--that looks like a nice pattern. I'd overlooked it because I didn't like the collar on the photographed view, but the other views are nice.
DeleteI like that top in the atrocious pants pattern. Shame they paired the 2 together. I cannot give any sales to that pattern! Cannot.
ReplyDeleteM7284 is actually cuter than I thought upon further inspection :-p and aside from the apron (somewhat of a collector), the only one I will buy. It's like they REALLY phoned it in this time around. Sheesh.
Ooh, does this mean Butterick isn't far behind?! I've been liking them more and loving the Lisette designs.
I loved the fabrics over at Matatabi!!! Beautiful! I might splurge on some later.
Like you, the idea of a casual quilted jacket is awesome. But as a busty rectangle --- no thank you.
I believe that the Buttericks are coming soon. Liesl (aka Lisette) mentioned on her blog that they should be out in the next few weeks and that one of the Lisette patterns this time around is a set of pajamas. I'm looking forward to seeing her take on adult PJs!
DeleteI quite like the idea of a quilted jacket, so I will be keeping an eye out for versions of the Tamarack to perhaps make for next winter here. There is nothing about the McCalls release that interests me at all.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm looking forward to seeing how that one makes up.
DeleteI hate pdf patterns but I plunked down my money for the Tamareck Jacket because I want to use a quilt I bought last year for the jacket plus it's time to try something new so I guess I'm going to be the test subject! As for the McCalls patterns I liked nothing too which is fine since I have loads of other unused patterns to sew!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm looking forward to see your test version! As far as PDF patterns go, I learn that I sneak into my office's copy room early in the morning and at lunch and use the paper slicer to slice of the margins. It makes the PDF assembly go really fast.
DeleteNo lounging jumpsuit for me. I hate sitting naked on the potty.
ReplyDeleteSitting naked on the potty, likely when it's still freezing in the house at 6am, too.
DeleteIt's probably me, but the Tamarack looks like a re-purposed bed comforter. I do like the McCalls jacket with the shoulder detail, maybe the two views could be morphed together so the princess seam could stay?
ReplyDeleteHeh. I can see that. I do think it would look nice in fun print or a vibrant color, though.
Delete