Salamanca Jacket Check

Itch to Stitch Salamanca Jacket in Lady McElroy cotton mix canvas gifted by Minerva for review in 2021. I added 3 x silver trousers hooks to the yoke to fasten it. The checks are pattern matched and the jacket is fully lined, the sleeves and hem are handstitched although edges are enclosed by the lining. I used pinstripe soft Italian shirting. I want to be sustainable with my sewing and use older separates in new outfits. I know this is only two years old but I made so many fabric fails (and on me, patterns) in my first years of sewing.

The jacket is the older sizing 00 to 20 and cup sizes A to DD. It's one of my most worn sewing patterns! I feel like the projects that take a little longer to make are underrated as they last a long time due to careful sewing and they're real workhorses. I also love that this jacket can be sewn with buttons or snap fasteners, or trouser hooks as I did. It's worth having a gentle cropped jacket that doesn't feel slapdash, there are facings, closures and a lining.

Jacket fabric Minerva supplied. Itch to Stitch Salamanca Jacket 

• A, B, C, D and DD cups for the perfect fit
• Completely lined for a beautiful finish
• Cropped, swing style jacket with high-low hem
• Gathered raglan sleeves
• Layers feature (print only the sizes you need)

McCalls 6361 Skirt

I had 2.5 metres of this cream with black polkadot Rico cotton canvas I purchased originally to make a jacket, but I am in need of more skirts due to a wardrobe/attic cull or fabric recycle. I really like this one too, it's understated and an airy colour, and the perfect skirt weight without needing a lining. McCalls 6361 is trousers or a straight skirt with a fly zip. The pattern is one of those fitting practice Palmer Pletsch patterns, I basted the side seams at 1 inch and ended up seeing them down at 1 inch as I was happy with the fit, the seams are marked 1.5cm in the instructions but it has you put on the skirt inside out and pin it to size. There is a photo step missing for sewing the fly (sewing it near the zip before doing the topstitching from the outer side), but I have sew fly zips before so knew how to make it. I sewed a straight 14 (38 hip) I think my hip is 39 high high 40 lower hip / thigh but a 14 has always fine for skirts. I sewed two trousers hooks for the closure, in gunmetal. You could use a button of course, I was considering using a black button to complement the polkadots. I sewed the pocket linings and waistband in a soft cotton volie from when Sea Salt sold fabric.  Jacket fabric supplied by Minerva in 2021 for review.

 Itch to Stitch Salamanca Jacket in Lady McElroy cotton canvas supplied by Minerva for review 2021.

Salamanca jacket in fabric from Minerva (review/gifted)

Itch to Stitch Nazare Zip-up Hoodie

Nazare Zip-up Hoodie sewn in two shades of John Louden organic cotton french terry. I chose this top to model the skirt with for a grey monochrome look and I love this hoodie, the fit is wonderful the colour blocking is modern and sporty. The skirt is 1980s tulip skirt patterns. I've been collecting patterns from the 80s and 90s, I'm slowly working through them. 

 Itch to Stitch Nazare Zip-up Hoodie

• Options for regular bust and full bust
• Diagonal front seam lines for style and fit
• Large front patch pockets with curved openings
• Front exposed zipper
• Ample two-piece hood
• Long sleeves with cuffs
• Bottom band
• Designed for sweatshirting and stable knit fabric.

1980s NL 6471 Skirt

1980's New Look 6471 Skirt made from a 1 metre of brushed cotton suiting. I sewed View B. Views B and C have a separate fold over waistband secured with a 2cm button, I use heavy interfacing for these and used a brass 15mm brass sew in snap, you can use trouser hooks too. View A has a facing instead of a waistband for a seamless look. View C has pockets, but I think the skirt looks interesting enough without them and I don't use them for practicality. I sewed a straight size 14, which fits the same as the current New Look patterns in my opinion. I shortened the front as I think it was either too long or the brushed cotton stretched? I lined it in pink satin, I used a modern New Look straight skirt pattern for that. There's a petal on my hood!