Sewing up a beach cover up seems like an old fashioned activity. In fact, the vintage beach coat patterns I pinned to my Pinterest page while designing this Rain or Shine Variation (RSV) of the Tabula Rasa Jacket (TRJ) were so inspiring. I do think that a beach cover up is the perfect summer use for our RSV with the zipper and hood.
I made this jacket for our retro loving friend Edye who styled our RSV photo shoot. The double border print fabric just jumped off the rack at my local JoAnn Fabrics and the tiny white ball fringe from the trim aisle was the perfect complement. Edye loves ball fringe and this tiny version seemed like just the ticket – cute but not too dangly! The zipper was already in my stash. After I brought my treasures home, I prewashed both the fabric and trim.
Border prints are so fun, but you must fussy cut them to get the most from your fabric. The deep, dramatic beach scene border was placed at the extended hemline of the Front, Side and Back pattern pieces. The back piece had also been adjusted for the RSV swing back so there would be plenty of room for Edye to move around in her cover up.
The narrower umbrella border of the fabric was placed on the hood, facings and the summer sleeve which is found in the Sleeve and Cuff Variations for the TRJ.
Because I wanted the neck area of the front facing to show the umbrella boarder and the hem of the front facing to show the deep beach scene border, I pieced the front facing before it was interfaced.
After I assembled the cover up, Edye came for a fitting. She wanted the cover up to be as long as possible, so fringe was placed just above the selvage for maximum length. The fringe then turned at the front corner, extending up the center front and ending at the bottom of the zipper. 
Likewise, the fringe extended up from the top of the zipper, around the hood, and down to the top of the zipper on the other side.
To do this, I had to follow the order of construction for the reversible jacket found in the RSV direction booklet.
The hood lining and facings encased the edge of the fringe and all the raw edges of the hood, center front and zipper. A polka dot facing was made from the extra fabric to cleanly finish the edges at the coat and sleeve hems.
We know Edye loves it because she wore it during her volunteer time at the dunking booth of the local HonFest street fair last month in her neighborhood.
Beach or pool cover ups seem to have gone the way of hats and gloves at lunch, but this one is sure fun. I love Edye’s so much I might make myself one from old lace or linens. What do you think?
Tell us about your summer plans for the Rain or Shine Variations, then send us a photo when it is done. We love to see what you are sewing! Or better yet, come stitch up some new clothes with us at our Sew! Let’s get Dressed Retreat on August 22-27. There are still some sewing tables available.
Are you or do you sew for a curvy girl? Next Tuesday, July 19, I will be hosting a live webinar online at Craft University entitled Embracing Curves: Fit and Flatter a Fuller Figure. Click here and sign up now to participate.
Happy Sewing, RAE
Rae, this is adorable. Thanks for sharing.
Love it!! You look fabulous, Edye!