This is another one of last year’s garments.  What is interesting to me about this one is that I love it, but I haven’t actually worn it, which is why there are only photos of it on Ada and none of it on me.

This is the Side-buttoned jacket from the book Bold and Beautiful Easy Sew Clothes by Habibe Acikgoz. I think I first came across it on an online forum about Lagenlook patterns.

Of course, whenever I see or hear the book title I think “Brooke! Ridge!” The patterns come on a CD and are also graphed if you prefer to enlarge them directly from the book. I needed to take the CD to a plan printer, as they are not on standard A0 size that a regular copy shop could easily deal with.

The fabric is linen – I think it was from Tessuti but had been in stash for some time. I possibly sewed the smallest size – Lagenlook is designed to be oversized, and I didn’t want to be swamped.

There are lots of pattern pieces, and lots of cut out pieces! I did take it slow and steady in construction. I think these buttons may have come from Stitch56 (but I could have bought them from Notionally Better on etsy). I said it had been a while!

I’m not enamoured with the narrow half collar band. It looked much wider in the book, and if I made it again I would definitely widen the pattern piece. It seems a little insubstantial, but still adds a little quirk.

Linen is such a beautiful fabric to work with. It has its frustrations, but overall I love to sew with it and to wear it. Even with the steam ironing required – which is really a bit useless at the same time, as it gives and wrinkles so much while wearing!

The little tie at the back provides extra shaping if you want it. Actually, with the princess seams there is plenty of shape in this jacket already. The side seam vents open right up to waist level on me when I put it on. I suspect that the main reason I haven’t worn this is that I am not sure what to wear it with.

But I do adore that pocket! This jacket is a keeper, I just need to spend some time playing with it and seeing how to wear it best. I suspect that for me it needs a simply styled dress underneath. It’s not the sort of jacket that looks good worn open, and I don’t want to have midriff exposure by pairing it with a skirt or pants. Time will tell!