Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a happy and creative start. I have enjoyed the holiday season and a refreshed after a relaxing time with my family. I was gifted a set of Kantha blankets from my mother-in-law for Christmas that has kick-started my creativity.
You can read about this Indian stitch craft here and in a few books here. I love the look and feel of these textiles and have contemplated trying my hand at the slow-stitch process. With my schedule, I decided pre-stitched fabric was the way to go for now. The set I received included 5 throw blankets in various colors and prints with options on both sides.
As is my default when I touch textiles, I knew I wanted to wear them! I reached way back in my stash for Butterick 5224 with an eye to make view B.
This is a 2-hour pattern, but I made it in 6! Choosing my print layout and coordinating the 2 throws required took the bulk of the time as did my modification for reversibility.
I went back and forth to get it just the way I wanted with the bold green and yellow swirls prominent.
The deliberation was worth it to have a completely reversible jacket.
I love that the second side is a bit more mellow with stripes as the focal point.
The reversibility is achieved by flat felling the seams. I stitched the seams, trimmed one seam down to 1/4in. and folded the larger down, to encase the smaller. I then stitched close to edge.
I double-folded the hem and stitched it down so there are no raw edges on the sleeves and lower edge.
I cut the facings along the edge of the blanket to preserve the hanging threads of the original blanket.
I cut the size medium on this and like the ease and structure of this jacket. There is definitely room to size down if you make this one.
My year is off to a fun and colorful new start. I hope you can say the same!
Happy Sewing,
Bianca
I love it!! I also have also loved the feel and comfort of these kantha blankets and now YOU have inspired me. Can't wait to get sewing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I am so glad you are inspired by this!
DeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!
Happy New Year!
Thanks so much!
DeleteI love it so much, I can't do it myself but I have a friend that can!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Lucky for you to have such a generous friend!
DeleteLove it! Can't decide which side is my favorite. I have a couple of Katha's in my stash and this jacket is inspiring me to do something with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I can't decide either and that makes it all the better! I hope you make something you love.
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ReplyDeleteYou can do an easier flat-fell: Offset the seam edges by 1/4", but sew the first pass with the longer side of the seam at the regular 5/8" position. Fold the longer side over the shorter side for the second pass, and stitch it down (thus enclosing all raw edges). Result is exactly the same as if you'd sewn, then cut, then folded, then sewn -- but you don't have to cut.
ReplyDeleteI learned this from a Threads magazine article, in the 1990s. Will try to look it up and get a reference for you -- it was mind-blowing the first time I tried the technique. The illustrations were particularly good.
Thanks so much for this! I will try it next time.
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