The Brocade Makes The Jacket - Butterick B6915

A little over a year ago, I briefly mentioned my work on the muslin for the jacket of this pattern.  Since that time, I did more tweaking of the pattern and decided to use a beautiful brocade that I purchased from Mood Fabrics several years ago during a visit to New York.  

I thought the style of the jacket was the perfect match for the brocade.  Granted I did want to reduce any chance of something going wrong or turning out wonky before I cut into my fabric.  I really love the fabric and wanted to make something special with it.   

We are now in the hot, muggy days of summer.  It was 94 degrees when I took the photos of me wearing my outfit.  Though the coloration of my new suit is bright and cheery, it is perfect for the fall/winter season.  

Pattern Description:  Classic two-piece suit with a twist.  Lined jacket draws asymmetrically across the body and fastens with three buttons.  Jacket features flap detail at front.  Pants come in ankle length and includes invisible zipper on the side.  View C are wide leg pants.  I made view A and B.

Pattern Sizing:  It comes in two size groups (8 - 16) and (18 - 26) I used size 16 with modifications.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes, my outfit does look like the drawing and the suit that the model is wearing.  

Were the instructions easy to follow?  The instructions were typical and easy to follow.  There was nothing confusing about them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  

Likes -

• The asymmetrical style line of the jacket.
• The pleats at the neckline of the jacket
• The princess seam.

Dislikes -

• The one piece sleeve.  I prefer a two piece sleeve for a suit jacket.  These sleeves were snug and there was too much in the sleeve cap for my fabric.  When I made the muslin the amount of ease in the sleeve cap was easy to work into the armhole.  But in the brocade it was slightly difficult.  I had to set the sleeve three times.

Fabric Used:  My fabrics were purchased at Mood Fabrics during a trip to met up with several sewing friends (Carolyn, Andrea, Gaylen)  in New York.  My jacket fabric is a silk brocade and the pants is a medium weight polyester satin.  

 
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I made several pattern adjustments beginning with the full bust adjustment and my usual back adjustments.  I also lengthen the sleeves and added an inch width to the upper arm area.  For the pants I had to lengthen the leg and crotch.  Sorry no photo of that adjustment.

After making the adjustments and a muslin, I still needed to make a few tweaks as I sewed.  Below is a photo of me fitting the lower half of the jacket along side of photo of the finished outfit.  See the difference in the flare of the peplum.  I ripped it all out and reduced the peplum along the sides. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I think once is enough.  But, I do recommend this pattern to others.  You should make a muslin before cutting into your fashion fabric.

Conclusion: I'm pleased with how this suit turned out.  I'll probably wear it the first chance I get when cooler weather returns.  This pattern is not difficult to sew. It's time consuming and you should take your time and enjoy the process.

Midnight Blue Crinkle Velvet and Butterick B5101

 

Hi sewing friends, 

Today I'm blogging my first 2025 sewing project.  I wore this pant set to an 80th birthday celebration a few weeks ago.  

I wanted something easy and quick.  So I choose to make something that I'd already adjusted and tested.  Butterick B5101 was perfect.  The fit of the wrap top was pretty good and the pants were a simple pull-on pant with a yoke.  

The crinkle velvet was purchased at JoAnn's.  It was so easy to sew. The crinkles ran horizontally from savage to savage.  I wanted them to be vertical.  So I cut off the garment pieces perpendicular to the savage. This change gave some added "fake" stretch  around the body.  This affect, in my opinion, gave the illusion of a slimmer, sleek body.   Lol

My review of the wrap is located here on my blog.

As mentioned in my previous post, I did add a few inches to the bottom of the top. I was it to look more like a jacket.

Making the pants were as easy as making a pair of pajama pants. Easy.   So, that's it on the pattern review.

Happy Sewing!

P.S.

I have a few more 2024 reviews to go.  

Wrap Top- Butterick B5101

This wrap top was made in October 2024.  It has been on my "to make" list for ages.  Butterick B5101 Lifestyle Wardrobe pattern, with several views to literally make a complete wardrobe with endless outfit options.  The copyright year is 2007.  So it is OOP.

Pattern Description:  Misses' top, dress, skirt and pants:  wrap front top and dress have all-in-one sleeve, pleated collar extending into front neckline, side tie, sleeve length and hem variations.  Mock wrap front skirt and straight leg pants have casing and elastic yoke.

Pattern Sizing:  SX, S, M, L, XL .  I used size medium grading it up somewhere between a medium and large with fit adjustments.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes,  my top does look like the drawing on the envelope.

Were the instructions easy to follow?  The instructions were typical, but not difficult to follow.  

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I liked that it is a wrap top/dress with some pleating around the mid section with a tie.  

I do have a few dislikes, though.  The tie is slightly wider than what I'd like for this top/dress.  And I prefer it to be a little longer since I'm so tall.  My other dislikes is the thickness of the belt loop.  It could be thinner.  I'll make these adjustments on my next version, which is already in the making. :-)  No other dislikes.

Fabric Used:  My knit jersey came from New Rainbow Fabrics on Roosevelt Road in Chicago.  It is a vibrant tomato red with a dry hand.  It is easy to work with and is wrinkle free.  I pre-washed and dried it as soon as I bought it home.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  Okay, it may be boring, but I had to make my usual full bust adjustment.    Definitely necessary for the level of stretch of my fabric choice and the style of the top.  Because the sleeve is cut-on, I started the process with removing the sleeve.  Then I made the FBA.  Finally, reattaching the sleeve. See the photo below for the finished fit adjustment. Also, I lengthen the sleeve by an inch.  

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  Yes, I will.  I'm in the process of making the pants and the top.  I hope to finish it by the end of this week.  If this is your style, of course, I recommend it.  The pattern is easy to sew and it offers a lot of style options in one pattern.

Conclusion:  This is a good wardrobe pattern that offers many outfit options.  It is easy to sew for all level sewists.  The hem of the top/dress may be a little challenging for beginners, but doable.  Take your time.

Happy Sewing!

C

Minerva - Caftan - Challis Prints Butterick B6900

Last week, I was finally sewed up this lovely caftan.  It has been quite some time since I've sewn anything using Minerva fabric.  I'm so glad I was able to finally finish it.

 

Pattern Description:  V-neck caftans have drawstring waist with hem and length variations.  View A has ruffled collar.

Pattern Sizing:  8 - 26.  I used size 16, view B.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes, it did.  Big and floaty. Lol

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy.  Nothing confusing about them.  Typical.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I like that the caftan was a very easy make.  At the time, I thought I would make it up immediately after I cut it out.  But, that didn't happen.  Also, I thought the pattern was perfect for showcasing the beautiful rayon challis.  Who doesn't like a beautiful house dress.

No dislike.

Fabric Used:  Rayon challis from Minerva.  It is soft, fluid, and easy to work with.  Love how it presses.  Unfortunately, it wrinkles just as easy.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I didn't make any changes.  Perfect. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  Yes, I would like to make view B for a swim suit cover-up.  Yes, I do recommend it to others.

Conclusion:  I'm pleased with how the caftan turned out.  I will certainly get a lot of wear out of it.  Also, this was a super easy sewing project that I recommend to all level sewists. 

Parting Shot:  Me admiring our tomatoes plants that are still producing.

That's all for now!

Another Butterick B6628 Top

I couldn't resist.  So I made another Butterick B6628- View A last week.  This time I used a viscose knit jersey from Minerva Fabrics.  Love the fabric and the top.  There is not much more to tell.  So this post is super short on the words.  I just wanted to share the latest version of this view.  It's a winner.

Happy Sewing!

C