Here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for.* My Grainline Morris Blazer.
*(Slight exaggeration perhaps but I know one of you is at least!)
I finished it last week; it took about a week of evenings to make.
I didn’t like it at first; I can see the imperfections and the difficulties I has with the sewing machine eating it were clear in my memory. But I have to admit that it’s growing on me.
For a start it’s comfortable. It fits all right. I lengthened the sleeves because I like my sleeves long, and I’m really happy that I did that. And I love the colour. It goes with everything! [Nearly.]
But I stitched almost all of it using a stretch stitch, which perhaps wasn’t necessary. I also used my walking foot, which is noisy and takes forever! As you can see it is a slouchy fit!
Step 15 and sewing the hem and front facings down was confusing. I got there in the end but it took a LOT of unpicking and chewing of the fabric. (By the machine that is – not me!) And the end result is messy. I can’t even say I learned anything because I’ve already forgotten what I did and I didn’t write it down!!
I’m really ashamed of that! It looks a right mess!! But I had just had enough by that point and just rammed it through the machine.
The other two things that bug me about the finished piece are…
1) The interfacing is on show. Not when it’s worn but I can’t help but think there should be a lining piece to cover it. And 2) There are two raw edges. It’s fine in this case but had I used a fabric that frays then it wouldn’t be so fine. Did I miss a step saying to finish those edges?
The rest of the blazer’s seams were finished with an overcasting stitch. I didn’t need to finish them fray-wise but I quite like the neatness of it. Apart from round the armholes in places where my machine liked to take a good bite.
I will probably make another although not in such an annoying, light and cheap ponte roma.
I’m not sure about how it’s sticking out in the above photo. I want the entire lapels to lay flat.
Don’t laugh at this final photo. I was saying how it’s not even hanging symmetrically. I don’t know if that’s just the photos or it’s always like that and I messed that up too!
Phew, now that’s over and done with I’m going back to wovens for a while!
Beth x
P.S. I just realised we are so close to the end of Me-Made-May already. How did that happen?! “See you” on Sunday for my final roundup!
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Such a lovely colour Beth. And it does look good on you! Agree with all above that sometimes a garment will grow on you as kne forgets construction issues. Shame about the issues you had but I do hope you gibe it another go – uiu really do look so nice with it on😃
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Thank you so much! I was actually wearing it this morning til I went out and realised it was warm out!
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Thank goodness for the warmer weather. Hope it sticks around!
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Don’t be so hard on yourself. It looks very nice and the colour suits you perfectly! Looking forward to your final MMM post! 🙂 Happy weekend, Jana
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I agree, sometimes it is just NICE that the project is finally over! I do love that colour on you, and you have a nice top to match!
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Absolutely. Thank you 🙂 at least the colour is a hit!
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I think we all have moments where we think ‘sod it’ and ram it through the machine. Recently I’ve been walking out of the sewing room just before this point to avoid the regret later!
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Haha I should take a leaf out of your book!
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I think it looks really cute on you! Love the color, too.
I tried sewing the Morris Blazer twice already and both were absolute wadders. The shoulders were Way Too Wide and the everything hung funny – into the bin they went. Maybe the knit I was using wasn’t substantial enough, I don’t know. Jen is having a sew along next week, so I will give it one more shot with a stretch woven.
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Thank you! Ooh I must check out the sewalong. Thanks for that 🙂 I’m certainly not the only one to have issues with it. Shame you had to bin your attempts because it is a nice garment – or it would be. I must have broud shoulders! A stretch woven sounds like a great idea. I just got a leaflet through from Minerva saying 10% off all stretch cotton sateen fabrics. And then read your comment. They’re signs!
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I love it! The colour really really suits you, and even though you’ve have a few niggles making it the fit is spot on! Most I’ve seen, including mine, look too big and slouchy on the shoulders. I never gave a thought to the interface with mine being white, so will bear that in mind if I make another.
Think of it as a posh cardi to throw on, all the mums will be jealous on the school run and think you’ve made a big effort!!
(PS think the * might’ve been for me maybe!!)
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Yes I did have you in mind!!
Thank you very much 🙂 I’m glad I didn’t have to make any alterations to the fit. Besides the sleeve length but that wasn’t hard!
I’m going to have to check out the shoulders of other peoples’ blazers now. I think this confirms that I have broad shoulders! And they have worked in my favour for a change.
Haha I’m sure everyone will be jealous of my roughly made posh cardi 😀
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Your shoulders don’t look broad I thought you’d just done a better job of choosing a size than me. And you could say athletic cos you don’t look like you’ve broad shoulders. 😃
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Hmm I think athletic could be right although I am not athletic at all if you know what I mean!!! I have bony shoulders which probably helps hold it up! I don’t think yours looks like it’s sloping off your shoulders badly though. Oh yeah, I wish I inserted my sleeves the usual way, like you did, because it was not easy putting them in after doing that side seam. I shouldn’t have followed the instructions! Must remember that for next time! I really love your blazer!!
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Well, despite its teething problems, it looks great on. I have a real love/hate relationship with knits. I think it’s a real case of matching the right weight to the right pattern: I’m still not quite there yet…
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You’re right, and it’s difficult to buy fabric online in terms of weight. I need a decent nearby fabric shop. But thank you 🙂 I can’t believe you just said you’re not quite there yet! Your knit garments always look great!
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Did you not see my ugliest make yet last week? 🙂 Ughhh, it was bad. And all due to the wrong weight I think…
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Oh yeah, haha. I hope we learn from our mistakes!
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I keep seeing these in my TL but yours is the first full post I’ve read, I think it looks great! I understand what you mean about the finishes like the interfacing, I find full lining a pain but think it makes things feel so much nicer & more professional. I bet you will get lots of wear out of it and it looks like you can dress it up or down – well done 🙂
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I feel privileged now 😀 Thank you. I guess it wouldn’t really be hard to line those lapels if I feel so inclined. Yeah I think it will be a good versatile piece even with the gripes! Thanks!
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It certainly looks great on the photos! It’s a gorgeous colour and looks lovely with that top you’ve worn with it. My machine also doesn’t like knit fabrics and likes to eat them. I have to sew really, really slowly. I’ve put an overlocker on my Amazon wish list, but strangely nobody has bought it for me!
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Thank you. I’ve found it goes with a lot of my clothes. I’m glad I can blame my machine! Haha strange that!! 😦
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I really like the style Beth, it looks good on you. I shouldn’t worry too much about the imperfections, especially as they are out of sight but I know how annoying things like that can be, you just know they are there! Why are machines so temperamental? We hope to get Abi a sewing machine for her 18th so I may be sneaking on that for a bit of sewing soon 🙂
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Thank you, you’re right. I got my machine for my 18th – probably my best present ever!
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Ha, me too, I wanted us to do the same for Abz and she is more than happy with the idea, there are a couple of secret makes in the pipeline too. Have a great weekend. X
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I hope you’ll share when the time comes as I will be curious now 🙂 Thank you. You too! X
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If it’s comfortable and you like the colour then, hopefully, you’ll forget the woes of construction pretty soon and end up loving it:)
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I hope so! I am warming to it already.
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Yup – I experience lots of these problems working with knits too. In fact until I bought my overlocker I would never have got anywhere at all. Love the colour on you though…
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I will have to trundle through as I can’t see myself getting an overlocker any time soon 😦 thank you, I do have more of the fabric!
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Keep going – you are doing soo much better than I do with my machine!
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Ah thanks!
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Cute! I would never attempt this, just from you talking about it makes me worried.
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Haha sorry! Never say never. It’s not that bad a pattern, it’s mostly the cheap fabric that I used that made things difficult.
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I think the colour is great and you can certainly wear it. Maybe treat it like a wearable muslin for the real thing with a thicker ponte. The absence of lining is the one thing I don’t like about knits, when it comes to jackets, however I am very tempted to try the Morris at some point.
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Thanks 🙂 it’s definitely not my best sewing so I’m happy to say it’s a wearable muslin! I’m sure I’d want it lined even more so if it was made with a woven fabric.
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I’m with you on the struggles of this blazer! I had so many issues with the facings and my lapels don’t lie flat either! Love the colour of your fabric, it really suits you!
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Glad I’m not the only one. If I hadn’t used a nice colour fabric it would be shoved to the back of the wardrobe I think! Thank you 🙂
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