Remember the chintz robe I made for Lynne last year? Well, I saved a length of that fabric for myself, to make the most fabulously, floral-y, extremely exuberant Amalia Jacket.
I’ve been plugging away on it all year. It’s been my happy sewing. I love the fabric. The cotton and linen are so easy and fun to work with. It’s really nice to make something without a deadline, and to just work on it when the mood strikes you. It’s not a fast process, but it’s so satisfying. And I’m still so delighted with the Amalia Jacket pattern!
Here’s a look at the making process.
I started with the lining, and then added the back panels, building out from the center back, and lapping each piece over the other:
Felicity, in her own special way, made sure that I didn’t go over my daily sewing allotment.
Bodice assembled!
Now, on to the sleeves:
Here’s a little sewing tip. If you need to cut a pattern piece with the pattern wrong side up, fold the pattern piece along the grainline:
Now it’s easy to see the grainline, and make sure it’s placed properly on the fabric!
I loooooove sewing 18th c sleeves. The assembly technique is so clever.
And involves whipstitching! I could whipstitch all day long…
Then it was on to the bodice front.
I opted for the cutaway front, even though it’s very subtle in such a bold print, because most of the extant jackets with cutaway fronts are also in chintz.
Lots and lots of finishing stitching…
And then a final try-on, and the excitement of sleeve fitting!
Yesssss…
Am I excited about this outfit? Yes I am!
(yes, there’s a matching petticoat!)
Not exactly a proper pinning job!
The final outside touch was the chintz straps…
But there was some inside finishing to do. I felt this jacket deserved that!
And my Amalia Jacket is finished inside and out!
I wore it to the Georgian Dinner, but it’s definitely going to get a lot more outings, and, eventually, so many ruffles! (seriously, so many!)
It’s GLORIOUS!!!!! <3
Aww, thank you
Mrs. C stole my comment. That’s exactly what I thought as I scrolled through. It is glorious and suits you perfectly. Wherever did you find such beautiful fabric?
Thank you! The fabric is an block printed chintz from an Indian fabric seller on ebay. Unfortunately the original seller no longer seems to have the fabric 🙁
It’s worth hanging out on ebay and etsy checking out the indian fabric sellers. You can get some fantastic stuff, and if you know the kind of print that suits the particular clothing item you want to make, you may well strike it lucky.
🙂
Another plea for the source of that fabric!
what fun! i loved your outfit in the georgian dinner photos, so it’s a treat to see it here in different lighting.
That is seriously beautiful. Loved seeing all the handwork (I could whipstitch all day too!).
Wonderful! First look at it with the matching petticoat – oh, my!! A total delight. All praise to the work, and to a very fine pattern.
This material is delightful! Such eye candy! I love the whole ensemble!
Love it!
I love the fabric and of course Felicity looks delightful as ever. Well done to you! I hope you get lots of opportunities to wear your new ensemble.
This is amazing!!! And thank you for sharing the construction closeups!!!
Such a beautiful jacket and I also love the fabric.
Amazing, great job!!
dutchfabric.nlIt’s só beautiful, loved to see the hand sewing process.
The fabric reminds me of a Dutch heritage chintz print, these cotton chintz fabrics are still produced and sold over here in the Netherlands
https://www.dutchfabric.nl/?lang=en
Just the project/outfit for cheering up a grey winter!
I love your pattern weights too – much more decorative than my large metal washers from Mitre 10.
It looks beautiful! I also could whip stitch all day, something about it is just delightful.
Oh this is gorgeous! I really need to break out my Amalia pattern and give it a go soon, I love every iteration of it that I’ve seen on every body type, which is just delightful.
Absolutely stunning!. Having read the older posts about making Lynn’s wrappers….have you guys thought about releasing it as a pattern?