At the Fall Sew Successfully Retreat, Debbie accomplished a sewing project she had been dreaming about for several years. She created her Coat of Many Colors from beginning to end during the 3-day retreat with a little guidance and support from Fit for Art. Here, in her own words, is Debbie’s story.
Pattern + Fabric = Inspiration
“I have had my eye on Rain or Shine Variations of the Tabula Rasa Jacket almost since I first met Fit for Art at a Sewing Expo in Ohio as the world was just beginning to open up after the worst of the pandemic. I especially loved the It’s a Spectacle version in their photo gallery. Honestly, I wish I could have those exact fabrics, but alas!
After the closing of Joann’s, there has been a robust online fabric resale movement happening. I fell in love with a stack of coordinating quilting fabric in bright colors that I loved, so I ordered it, not having any idea what I would do with it (I don’t really quilt) . . . until I was packing for the recent Fit for Art sewing retreat, and it dawned on me that these fabrics would make a lovely Rain or Shine jacket with a hood and separating zipper!”
A Little Help with Design Decisions…
“I could tell everyone at the retreat was a little nervous about my bright colors, but I know what colors suit me, and I was pretty sure I could pull it off. Rae and Carrie helped me make placement choices and pattern adjustments. The floral stained glass print was my favorite, so I placed that at the top. The hot pink grunge was my second favorite, so that went on the lower front and back. Then it was just a matter of placing the other fabrics so that the blues weren’t right next to each other.”
I kept the It’s a Spectacle jacket in front of me for inspiration. It was made from a fabric that was heavier cotton canvas than my quilting cottons, so at Rae and Carrie’s suggestion I underlined it with navy broadcloth. I’m so glad I threw that in my travel stash just in case. I chose an attached hood instead of a detachable one for two reasons: 1. I knew I would never detach the hood, and 2. The zipper I brought with me wasn’t long enough for a collar. Sometimes limitations fuel creativity!”
…and Technique to Keep Progressing
“I decided to copy the inverted pleat in the back and let a little more of one of the blue fabrics peek out. And it never hurts to have a little extra swing in the hips! I also made turn-back cuffs and finished the edge with my lime green accent fabric. That took a bit of engineering, but again Rae and Carrie helped me figure it out.
I also used the lime green to separate the upper and lower sections and as facing so it would peek out a bit at the top. Rae was worried about using lime at the hem, as in, “who wants to draw attention to their hips?” But with the eye of my friend Cathy*, I decided I liked the way the bright green finished the edge. I was a little nervous about the zipper because my return to garment sewing after a long hiatus has not yet included zipper installation. But with Rae’s guidance, it went smoothly–no mistakes, nothing to unpick.”
Debbie’s Coat of Many Colors
“I’m so happy with the results! My Rain or Shine Tabula Rasa Jacket IS bright, but it shines, even on a rainy day! When I modeled it for my husband, he dubbed it The Coat of Many Colors. Appropriate, I think. I was wearing it in the grocery store on my way home from work the other day, and a teenage girl walking with her mother spontaneously blurted out, “I like your coat!” I said, “Thanks, I made it!” And they both whipped their heads around with awe and disbelief on their faces and said, “Really?” Yes, really, thanks to Carrie and Rae, Fit for Art, and my embrace of a slower kind of sewing to create something truly unique.”
Have you been dreaming of a complex garment sewing project but are a little nervous about tackling it on your own? Join Rae and Carrie on a Sew Successfully Retreat where we will provide support and encouragement to help you get your special project over the finish line, just like Debbie’s Coat of Many Colors. Fit for Art offers two 3-day sewing retreats annually, so register now to reserve your spot this Spring (March 20-22) or Fall (November 13-15) and bring a dream project to completion. We hope to see you soon!
Happy Sewing, Carrie and Rae
“*Speaking of Cathy, we’ve been friends since 1972 when we did a junior high class project together which involved gluing colored rice to a board. We can’t remember the project, but we both remembered the beginning of our lifelong friendship. When I decided to take a road trip to visit a few special fabric stores and attend the sewing retreat, I immediately thought of her, since she too has only recently returned to garment sewing. I’m so happy she said yes when I asked her to travel with me. Word is that she enjoyed the retreat, too, and is pretty happy with her own project.”
