Burda World of Fashion 3/08 Jacket 103

Take that BWoF 3 dot pattern - I conquered you in one day! Well except for the tracing out, I always need a lie down after doing that and so I had traced off the pattern the evening before, but the cutting out and sewing was completed in a day (nearly the whole day though, good thing I don't have any kids yet!)

During my lovely three days of uninterrupted sewing, afternoon napping and newspaper reading in the sunshine that I indulged in last week instead of going to work, I managed to finish two jackets, two dresses and two skirts, save a bit of hand sewing for hems here and there. The one I am most proud of is a jacket I made from BWOF 3/08, jacket 103:

I made a straight size 38, only narrowing the shoulder width but making no other alterations and it fits perfectly for the size I am now, and I think that when I get bigger I can move the buttons over to make it less of a double breasted jacket to a bit more a single breasted style to accommodate my growing belly. I made it from a very small black and white check fabric that I bought from Spotlight over 2 years ago on sale for $6 a metre, used some thrifted lining fabric and buttons, so all up I'd estimate this jacket cost me around $10. Here is a photo of me squinting into the sun, not my best angle I must say but I'll take whatever sunny spot is available for photos at the moment!

The jacket turned out wonderfully, even my notched collar is perfection if I do say so myself! I mostly ignored the BWOF instructions although I followed the collar instructions and amazingly understood them. I must be getting better at these I think! Oh the other change I made was to make the sleeves full length rather than 3/4 length, which is why the cuff is humungous. MaryJ you are so right about allowing extra length at the front to accommodate a growing bump - I have remembered to do this on the dresses and skirts I've made but didn't do it for this jacket, but hopefully it won't be too noticeable for when I get massive.

A small warning to anyone else contemplating this pattern - if I wasn't pregnant I would be a bit unhappy with the style because it certainly adds volume there in front which if you don't have a pregnant belly you may not want to highlight! But otherwise it is a lovely jacket, with two pleats across the back that line up with the princess seams of the back bodice.

I wore this to work today with some black pants that thankfully still fit - and by fit I mean stretch under my belly and also around my expanding rear end and thighs! Sadly I am growing in those areas too which is why I can't really wear that grey suit I posted about a few posts ago, it is definately time to lay off the chocolate bullets..... But the jacket landed me lots of compliments today, some from complete strangers which is a nice way to come back to work.