Braidwood Heritage Crafts: Uptown Girl Winter Jacket Tutorial

I have been busy making up a sample of Uptown Girl by talented Australian Designer Toni Coward of 'make it perfect' fame.

This little girls jacket is a project to make up for little girls to keep them warm in winter. This pattern comes in 2 sizes. Little Uptown Girl for 0 to 5 years and Big Uptown Girl for 6 to 10 years.

This is my first online tutorial so enjoy. If you have purchased this pattern from my shop www.braidccraft.com.au I hope you will find this tutorial helpful. The pattern has a helpful set of instructions and this tutorial provides additional information for those who are unfamiliar with some of the techniques. I hope these photos give you more idea of how to finish this jacket to make it a project to be proud of.

I made the jacket in red and pink.using Saffron Craig Fabrics in Tulip Fairies and Ginkgo Blossoms.

Step 1: Cutting out

This is the easy part... just follow the pattern instructions to cut out all the pieces in the two fabrics you have chosen for the jacket.....

Cut out all the pattern pieces in Vilene H630, a lightweight iron-on pellon (fusible fleece)

Then fuse the pellon onto the wrong side of each pattern piece for of one of your chosen fabrics.

Step 2: Transferring Gathering Markings and gathering

(for this step I am working on the back of the jacket where it is attached to the jacket top or yoke and on the fused fabric pieces)

Mark each point with a pin or other marking tool

The pattern has 1/2 inch seam allowance. Sew with a large stitch length each side of the stitching line which is 1/2 " from the cut edge. Wind threads at one end around the pin to stop it pulling out. You can then pull the other ends to gather softly.

Pin top to bottom, easing gathers to fit.

When matching opposing curves it is a good idea to pin vertically and close so that the edges match

Stitch and then top stitch along the top edge of each yoke piece

Step 3: Pin and sew at shoulder, pressing seam open as you go.

Step 4: Continue following the pattern instructions, sew on the sleeves using the gathering tips above as a guide.

Step 5: Make up 2 jackets one for the outside and one for the inside. The hood should be made separately and attached to one side of the jacket around the neckline.

Step 6: pin and sew the two jackets together as per the pattern instructions to enclose the hood.