Well, you’ve seen it already on my dress form Ada, so this isn’t really a big reveal.  But I know that there is a difference between seeing clothes on a dress form and seeing them on a real person!  So here goes – Lekala 4329, made to my measurements.

So, what’s my verdict?  I’ll start with the minuses.  See the bit of blousing above the belt at the back?  That’s due to a couple of things.  Firstly, the belt is probably too tight!  Secondly, I provided Lekala with a circumferential waist measurement.  They have divided that measurement evenly between the front and back pattern pieces, but most of my “waist” measurement is actually in my front.  Which then makes the front a fraction small and the back a fraction large, at waist height.  But it’s not drastic.  And maybe I just need to pull the back down a fraction.

The pluses?  It’s a great fit across the shoulders and chest, I love the two piece sleeves, it’s well proportioned for my short and short-waisted frame, and everything fits!  The pattern pieces all fitted together beautifully, and overall I have to say that I am very pleased with Lekala’s price and product.  There is no way that I would have been able to make a jacket that fitted me this well with an unaltered pattern from any other pattern company.  Lekala still need tweaks, but that is the challenge of translating circumferential measurements to my body shape.  I think that the secret is all about taking accurate measurements.  Actually, the most recent issue of Threads has one of the best articles on taking measurements that I have ever read – I highly recommend it.

So, what about the rest of the Lekala-alongers?  Suzy has already shown off her lovely jacket here.  Andrea will be putting has hers up on the blog later today here  Black pleather – fantastic!  Rachel‘s went into the rubbish bin after she inserted the sleeves.  Karen‘s is still in flat fabric form somewhere in her new sewing room, that is still being set up.  And Kathryn and Ali – how far did you get with yours?

Overall, it’s been a great experiment.  Thanks for taking part, whether by sewing along or by reading along!