Hello Hive

Its a beautiful thing whenever we are able to make modern clothes from traditional fabrics. There are modern designs like suits, jackets and the like that we have made using traditional fabrics creating a trado-modern look like I often call it. Check out this jacket I made for my besty from an African print fabric.

It is always a thing of joy to when we make clothes for the ones that are dear to us. Even though I do find some satisfaction sewing clothes for customers that feeling doesn't always gives me so much joy like sewing for a loved one. In this case I am not after collecting money for my services but with the hope of making my friends happy and strengthening our bond of relationship. We can't always quantity the joy we feel when we have quality friends who are ever ready to give us a listening ear.

I have too many best friends as I chose to place all of them in the same position in my heart. I don't want any of my friends to feel left out when I call one a best friend in the presence of another. They are all needful to me in their own unique way.

Today I will starting the process of making a two piece outfit for my friend Dorcas. She has admired the outfit on another of her friends in church service and politely asked me if I could replicate the said design for her.

I can only try my best was the response I gave her. We all have our unique creative minds when it comes to sewing and sometimes when you see a design and wish to replicate it we end up making a mistake of doing something else completely

We got the beautiful African print fabric and I proceeded with the task at hand.

Materials needed.

African print fabric
Black linings
Zipper
Thread

Cutting

I started by cutting the back block of the outfit using her measurements
The neckline is a 3.5 width by 1.5 depth while the front has a different depth of 3.4" and the same width as used for the front block.
After placing the back on the front I was able to cut both pieces here before slashing the front block open

The linings were also cut in similar manner as the African print fabric

Next I cut out a straight sleeve here and another flair that I will be attaching to it

Sewing process

For the sewing I stated by turning the necklines and the hemming with the linings.

Next I also turned the sleeves in

I ironed out the necklines before proceeding to join the side seams.

I totally forgot about adding dart allowance while cutting the outfit.

When this became a challenge I reduced the seam allowance form 1" to 0.5" so that I can use the saved allowance go add darts to the outfits.

Darts are meant to add beauty and body shape (contour) to our outfits. So whenever you forget to add darts allowance here is a simple trick you can use. But it is important to be really careful next time.

The sleeves were the last to be attached to the outfit and the jacket part of the two piece is ready.