Revamping a vintage jacket

A few months ago, a friend and I went to a vintage clothes show. I picked up this number for the gorgeous green trim and the fact that it looked like something a character in 'Jeeves and Wooster' would wear. I wanted to wear it with jodhpurs and riding boots and stride around around an estate in the 1940's...

We didn't get to the fair until late in the afternoon and I was surprised that the jacket hadn't been snapped up. I suspect that it was because of this:


Hunchback back! I'm not sure WHO looks good in back pleats...

Luckily because of my reworked black trench coat, I knew how to deal with it.

Undoing the seams

 Pinning the new seam

 Finished product which has become a favourite!

Applique Love

After years of being terrified of patterns and 'real sewing', I have finally conquered my fear. So far I am the creator of THREE dresses. However, the act of sewing with virgin fabric, rather than re cutting and altering existing clothes, comes with the realisation that it is very difficult to buy interesting fabrics in most sewing store. Instead I have been using very cheap, $4 a meter cotton and jazzing things up with the addition of appliques which can be bought for a few dollars on etsy.

Here's my attempt to 'interesting up' a black top with a purple lace applique.

Before

Pinning down the lace

 After