Sewaholic Minoru Revealed
I have to say I was truly delighted to be picked as one of Tasia’s pattern testers for her brand new pattern – the Minoru Jacket. We know I’m not really a big pattern user, I don’t have a stash of patterns, I have one or two burda downloads and thats it, but when Tasia started up her Sewaholic line of patterns I was so excited for her. I think she really identified a niche market designing for pear shaped women. I may not sew from patterns but I read ALOT of blogs of people who do so I know all about the alterations they all seem to make to every pattern. Plus I love seeing someone take a negative like being laid off and turning it into a positive by taking it as a spur to follow a dream.
But back to me and my new jacket! I’m not particularly pear shaped, nor is this the type of jacket that I would design for myself (I am currently mulling over some new coat ideas) but yet I love my finished product! I think my choice of fabric brings it back to being a garment that I would wear but its also a testament to Tasia’s pattern – and I do wear it… lots!
After measuring myself and comparing to the size chart and the finished measurements which are helpfully included i decided to drop down a size. In doing so I eliminated a lot of the design ease so that my jacket would be closer to fitted than semi fitted (Steph had a great post recently about design ease), you can see some other versions here, here, here and here that have a more relaxed fit.
I sewed up according to the instructions that were incredibly well written, straight forward and easy to follow. Other than sewing a size smaller the only things I changed were to take a 1cm sean allowance down the arm and side seam, as opposed to 5/8″s as drafted, to make sure I was going to be able to move my arms comfortably in the smaller size, and I made little pleats instead of gathering my lining at the shoulders because I’m not a huge fan of gathering – either the doing or the result (or my result!). Oh and I lined my hood with the same fabric as I used for the outside.
This was a quick make, taking less than a week of evenings between printing, cutting and sewing, and all while I was unpacking in my new house – Tasia’s email with the pattern attached literally binged in on my phone while we were driving a van load of my belongings over from my parents place. One last picture on Mertle (who is not a scale model!) including the fantastic opportunity for print placement on the inside pockets.
Gosh, I love it—that fabric is AWESOME. I wasn’t totally sold on the line-drawings of this jacket, but the more versions I see the more I like it!
Thanks Taran, it’s actually home dec fabric, don’t you just think curtains when you see it?! haha!!
I have to say its a really versatile jacket, i wear it loads and goes equally well with jeans, like in the pic, as it does with a short skirt, tights & brogues
Such a cool fabric! I love how you made this pattern your own and they way you styled it with the jeans and t-shirt. I’m sure it would work other ways as well.
Super unique and fun! Great job!
Wow -that fabric is awesome! And I love your version of this jacket. Super cool! I was sold the first time I saw the pattern, and I´m patiently waiting for the pattern to come once Tasia starts shipping it out. Well done!
So cool! I love your fabric choice, it makes you look so punk rock! I pretty much loved the pattern as soon as it came out, your’s and Tasia’s versions are my favorites so far.
Very cool, I like the inside-pocket-detail. Lovely.
You have totally turned my head with this one! What a statement fabric, this is Fab!!
I share your gathering avoidance, so it’s nice to see how amazing this looks with the pleat treatment.
I really like it Louise, love the material and design choice, it’s so «you»
I like the way you put the «Must have this» quote on the back. Well done once again !
thanks for all the comments on the jacket – i think we’re all agreed the fabric is key haha!!!
This is freaking fabulous!!! I have to say, it’s my fav Minoru, and I’m totally jealous of the fabric. You are going to rock the shit out of this.
why thank you
i think you’d fallen for the fabric what i uploaded a phone pick of it spread on the floor for cutting!!!
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Ooh brilliant make!!! Yes I am contemplating a sea of ideas for my new coat project too and so definitely took notice when Minoru hit the scene! Doesn’t pattern testing rock? You end up making things you might not have otherwise, but end up loving, you end up finishing them on deadlines you otherwise wouldn’t have, and in the end you inevitably learn something about something or other that you use later, and everybody walks away happy- at least thus far is my experience. You must be brilliant at it too because you come at it from such an independent, almost guerrilla perspective, your ways may not be the conventional ways and you might have suggestions and hacks others haven’t thought of, which it sounds like would be a perfect fit for Tasia, at least in my limited understanding of Sewaholic. Anyway, I absolutely adore the flourishes you achieved with that print, and the way the way you have it fitting here. Fantastic marriage of fabric and design, love it!
it was deadly, who knew i could make a coat from scratch in less than a week while still going to work during the day, outside imposed deadlines work wonders!!! totally love it, wear it every opportunity i get and picked up some nifty tips on constructions processes – definitely a win, i just hope my feedback was helpful & i get picked from the 600+ on Tasia’s list again!
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Love the jacket. Once upon a long time ago i made a jacket from home dec fabric and wore it out shopping in the mall, wondered why the store owner was staring at me in a “bed and bath store”and realized i was standing next to a shower curtain from the same material!
WOW! This is the coolest version of this jacket out there. Nice job.
I’m feeling the same as everybody, the fabric is FANtastic! It’s amazing how different fabric choices change the feel of a piece. I’ve already got my fabric for the sewalong, the lining in mine will be the pattern, but I’m now thinking I should check out the home dec section! Great choice!
I never in a million years would have picked that fabric for the Minoru, but it is amazing. Love it. Off to the fabric store to see if they have any of it.
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