It's about exploring and sharing my creative adventures (mostly sewing these days) ~
~those activities that sometimes obsess, usually inspire, occasionally frustrate
~and always provide a delightful maze to wander through.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A Side Trip Down Easy Street - Kwik Sew Bed(?) Jacket

Well, it was supposed to be a bed jacket...but I like it so much I think I'll be wearing this one out & about!

On those mornings when I don't need to jump out of bed, I enjoy a few minutes of sitting up in bed and "beditating". On those chilly winter mornings, however, this usually means crawling out of bed to put the fuzzy warm robe on, & then crawling back in bed with the ungainly robe, and it doesn't even cover those cold ears anyway!   The solution?  A warm, fleecey, hooded bed jacket!
I meant to make this Kwik Sew last year, but never got around to it.  A couple of recent below freezing (OK, ok, maybe below 55, but still....COLD for these tropical-loving old bones!) mornings convinced me that it was time to whip this puppy up soon.

After a session with the Peony Vest that involved a few too many trials and errors figuring out the hem/lining details,  I decided it was time for a quick & easy side trip to rejuvenate the mojo - the bed jacket was just the ticket!

I dug into my fleece stash & selected this nice, thick, soothing green Polartec 200, traced off a Small, and cut out the 2 pattern pieces w/ no alterations, looked through the instructions, & decided this was probably about 30 minutes of needle time.  Including sewing on a button!

Well.....almost it was.

I serged the first 3 (out of 4) seams, & decided that the serged seams were entirely too bulky for this thick fleece.   So I finger pressed the seams to one side & sewed over them with a decorative stitch to flatten them.  The last seam (underarms & sides) I just sewed with a straight stitch.

I also had an issue sewing the corner where the hood attached to the back - going over clipped corners with the serger is not a technique I've figured out yet.
If you look closely, you can sort of see the clipped corners
 - on the 
wrong side of the serging
- this was definitely a case where the sewing machine is preferable, at least for me!

The small ended up being a tad on the too small side, so instead of making a buttonhole & button, I braided 3 thin strips of the fleece together to make  a button loop - this allowed the front to be a little bit looser.   Then I did a decorative stitch around all of the edges (the pattern calls for hand sewing a blanket stitch around the edges, but for a one hour top?  I think not....)

Here's a close up of the deco stitching & buttons:

Can a project be too easy & still produce results that are this much fun?  I'm happy to add a few more sewing projects like this to my repertoire!

I love that the collar can lay flat, or sit up....lots of options!

Being all warm & cozy



The collar as it fell when I pulled the hood down - fun!
Materials: 1.5 yards of Polartec 200 Fleece, 2 vintage pleather buttons from stash, thread.
Time:  About 3 hours, from pattern tracing through button sewing.
Rating:  Two Thumbs Up!

I'll definitely make another variation (or two) of this one!

The question still remains:   will I be wearing my bedclothes out on the street, or will I be wearing street clothes in bed?   And does it matter?

May your dreams be pleasant, and your mornings be full of promise :)


18 comments:

shams said...

Very cute! I like how you identified a need and filled it with a cute, wearable garment!

Jillybejoyful said...

Sometimes practicality rules, doesn't it? ;-)

Margy said...

oooooh....love it! I have the same need. Where did you get your polar fleece?

Dixie said...

Warm, cozy, and cute. Actually, I can't imagine warmth in a belly-baring design. That's just because where I live, 55 degrees is warm! Glad you took time out from your long project to whip up this fun jacket!

Jillybejoyful said...

Margy I bought a bunch of it from The Rain Shed in Oregon last winter (online) They have the BEST selection in colors - I actually ordered a ton of their swatches too - I have a box just to keep the swatches in! Mill Direct (also online) also has a good selection. FabricMart has a few colors right now. I got a couple of pieces from Stonemountain & Daughter in Berkeley too....this may have been a cut from Stonemountain... I REALLY need to sew up more fleece this winter...dang it takes up a lot of room!

Jillybejoyful said...

Hehe...Dixie, the bed covers take care of the belly warmth...it's my neck & ears I want covered in cozy fuzziness!

It's hard to believe that I was raised in Montana, and I, too, thought a 55 degree day was short-sleeved weather!

Andrea said...

Jilly, so cute and cozy. Remember way back in the day when bed jackets were in vogue? I wish I still had the one Mom wore when I was a girl.

yarndiva said...

Another one who likes this little jacket. Sometimes it is just nice to just make something cool that is also simple,quick and easy.

sdBev said...

Hey I have that pattern! It's really cute!

Witch Hazel said...

That is so cute! I am embarrassed to admit I am unfamiliar with bed jackets (apparently not a new thing either), but what a perfect idea!! I often sleep with the covers up over my ears and head, trying to sleep with my nose and mouth sticking out so I don't feel smothered but my ears and neck are warm. Well....this is a MUCH better idea! And it looks very much like you can wear it out and about, too. Love the soft color on you as well. This is just cute and comfy!! I hope it got your mojo going again for the peony vest.

gwensews said...

What a cute, bolero type jacket. Whether for bed or outside, it will look terrific.

Tanit-Isis said...

Oh, how cute! Much more appealing on you than on the envelope, as well. I do love a cropped jacket...

Jillybejoyful said...

Thank you, all!

Andrea & Aurora I only remember bed jackets from tv & movies; I guess I think of them as more of a "high-end lady's" sort of garb. You know, being served tea in bed while feeling ill ;D

Tanit, you & your cropped jackets actually came to mind when I was done with this :)

House of Pinheiro said...

Jilly, This is lovely. I was thinking about a bed jacket too because the UK is so cold and I love my sunday breakfast in bed...

Justine of SewCountryChick said...

Hi Jilly be! I love your style! I am starting a sewing linky party today called Sew & Tell Saturday at my website and I am hoping to get some vintage and other creative sewists aboard to post their projects because there aren't any sewing linky parties to show off vintage sewing. But you can post anything fabric related too! Kids stuff, knitting, crafts... even something fashion forward..hehe. I hope you can come over and post a link to your blog today! Thanks so much!Justine @ Sew Country Chick

Scruffybadger said...

I've just found you via Sew Country Chick's links .... I'm so enjoying exploring! And I had to leave a comment as I'm in love with this jacket - there is something so adorably touchy-cosy about it. It's so simple yet incredibly stylish. And I love the colour! Gorgeous!

Carolyn said...

Gorgeous! I'd definitely be wearing this out and about on the street too... :)

Martha said...

Just wonderful to cuddle up with a cup of tea!