1910s Suit-A-Long - The Suit Jacket

This is it!  The final installment in the 1910s Suit-A-Long series!  This has been the most incredible learning experience as I moved into a new era with many new sewing, corsetry, and millinery techniques.  Having the support of the Sew-A-Long group on facebook was invaluable and motivating!  Thank you Lauren and all members!  The group has now changed names and if you enjoy this historical era we are located here:     1910s and WW1 Era Costumer's Support Group

This is the Wearing History pattern I'm using and I highly recommend it for this mid-era war-period impression.  Here is the link:     Wearing History 1910s Suit - Circa 1916 Pattern

I've already written about the corset, hat, undies, blouse, and skirt for this costume and the posts are listed here:

The corset:  http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2014/06/historical-sew-fortnightly-challenge-12.html

The hat:     http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2014/07/1910s-suit-long-hat.html

 

The undies:  http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2014/07/1910s-suit-long-undies.html

The blouse:  http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2014/08/1910s-suit-long-blouse.html

 

The skirt:  http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2014/08/historical-sew-fortnightly-challenge-14.html

The color scheme for this suit is the skirt of a fine blue/green/ivory plaid with the buttons covered in ivory linen.  The same linen is used for the lining of the blouse.  It's also the same linen I used for the underthings, so as you have probably already guessed, I had quite a bit of ivory linen!  I purchased it from another costumer for a great price and love the color.  It is very delicate, however, and so I've also purchased an ivory muslin to interline the jacket.  In this photo you can see the unlined linen on the left and the linen lined with muslin on the right.   The muslin also turns out to be great for the structure of this jacket.

The first step then, because of my fabric choice, is to interline every panel with muslin, sewing inside the seam line along all edges.  Here are all the pieces cut from the linen and the muslin and the finished belt made from the same fabric as the skirt with the same linen covered buttons.

The pattern is very straightforward simply sewing side seams, cuffs, and a front collar facing.  I drape the pieces on my dressform as I sew to view the placement of the collar and to test button placement on the cuffs.

There is such an opportunity for creativity with this pattern for cuffs, collars, pockets, buttons, and belt!  My version is a bit simple in its use of combined fabrics for the jacket as my plan is to make another skirt and belt from a persimmon-colored fabric and I will be able to use the jacket again.  I've chosen to add interest to the jacket with the pleated collar.  It is simple to sew and although the attachment was a bit confusing for me at first, I simply stitched it completely through the jacket and then covered the attachment with a bias tape.

The jacket looks HUGE when complete!  It is a lot of fabric but when belted the shape is really flattering and the jacket hem flares the same way as the skirt hem.  It's a beautiful look!

I love the clean, simple lines of the suit with the over-the-top laced and feathered and flowered and bowed and pearled hat!

The addition of some mini-mosaic earrings and a pin put another bit of color to the costume and added the perfect touch!

 

It was exciting to complete this costume in time to wear to the Royal Ascot Tea at Costume College 2014.  My friend and Costume College roommate, Kay, made her Wearing History 1910s suit in a gorgeous plum checked linen and we had a wonderful time together!

In late September I attended a costume event in Pennsylvania - Steampunk unLimited at the Strasburg Rail Road.  Since we were so close to Winterthur Museum in Delaware and the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit, we took a morning drive and toured the exhibit in costume.  My good friends Sharon, Mike, and Randi having a glorious day!

 

I hope you've enjoyed the journey into a new era for me and a new pattern for Wearing History!

 

Love always,

Jeanette