Late last year, my mother and I were browsing in an Op Shop and spying a piece of wool jersey, I commented “You don’t see fabric like this anymore”. Returning home, she disappeared into her sewing room, and reappeared sometime later with a lovely piece of grey houndstooth wool jersey. She can’t remember exactly how long she’d had it, but for many years. Would I like it? “Yes please!” I love the kind-of punk fading check pattern.
There was about 1.2 metres (a rough-cut metre), x 1.4m wide, not much more than a skirt length. But it didn’t feel like a skirt to me. At first I entertained the idea of making a tunic dress, before settling on a short jacket. From my own stash I pulled Simplicity 6068 a pattern from 1983, but soon realised there wasn’t going to be enough fabric even to make that, so I need to get creative.

Simplicity 6068 grey wool houndstooth jacket front and back view
To achieve the fade from hem upwards, the body pieces had to be cut on the crosswise grain (hem on the selvage), while the sleeves were cut on the lengthwise grain. I ditched the collar, but there still wasn’t enough fabric. Scouring the shops I eventually found matching grey leather in The Fabric Warehouse and cut a yoke and pocket trims. It was a very tight squeeze, the facings are scraps patched together, and there are virtually no left-overs.

Simplicity 6068 grey wool houndstooth jacket inside and scraps
I’m very happy with the results, and as you can see by the rumpled photos, it has been worn a few times already.
Stash Smash Project Points | ||
Meters Used | 1.2m | 10 points |
Stash Time | 10 months (not counting Mum’s years!) | 10 points |
Preciousness Really like it, so “Made It Work” | 20 points | |
POINTS TOTAL:
|
40 points |
Check out more of my makes at juxtaposenz
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What a beautiful jacket and the leather details are looking amazing.
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Thanks! Yes, the leather was a stroke of genius inspired by Pinterest, just in the nick of time.
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Love the story and the resulting jacket!
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Thank you!
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This is amazing! What a fabric find and well done for eking this jacket out of it. I think you need to give yourself more stash points though… 😀
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…maybe in a substainability category, for least amount of wastage/left-overs going back into the stash?
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Well I was thinking how long it had been stashed for full stop, but yes, all those other reasons too! 😀
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Thats a lovely jacket. Well done. I personally have several coats and jackets on the go and never seem to finsh any of them! You have done well here.
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I too have a nearly-finished jacket hanging in the back of my closet since the ‘Inspiration Nation’ challenge last year. Should we challenge each other to finish in time for amnesty day next month?!!
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I do not think I would manage to finish all of my jacket UFOs but yes, why not. Its a great idea. You are on for finishing at least one of my half made jackets or coats for next month’s amnesty.
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You’re on! One jacket/coat completed by November 30. gulp!
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very impressive. I like the way you moved the fabrics around to get the effect of the fading. Really nice.
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Thank you. I could hear Tim Gunn saying “Make it work” – mission accomplished!
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That is a stunning jacket! Enjoy it!
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I sure will. It’s very useful at the moment, with the weather in-between seasons, I wear it to work in the morning chill, then chuck in my bag on the way home, it doesn’t crease because it’s jersey knit. Handy!
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Gorgeous jacket – well done you!
del
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Thank you!
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Beautiful! Perfect fabric for this pattern and LOVE the gray leather accent 🙂
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A happy conclusion after quite a bit of head-scratching, I confess. The inspiration for the leather yoke, etc came from Pinterest in the end!
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