Project 33: Ms. Executive Hoodie

I made this piece at the request of a co-worker from NOAA's offices in Washington DC. She was out in Seattle on a business trip and saw me wearing my Dress Hoodie and remarked on the fact that she didn't own anything with a hood. She asked if she could try mine on, so I slipped it off my shoulders and on hers. She decided she liked the style and asked me to maker her one.

Having never made a woman's jacket before, I decided to make a muslin first out of cheap broadcloth. I was certainly glad I did! The shoulders, princess seams, sleeves, and pockets all needed major changes.

This is where my Garment Designer 2.5 software really comes in handy. Being able to keep all the basic measurements intact and just make adjustments is an incredible timesaver.

Construction was slow but smooth. The sleeve caps are the best I've ever made. Very hard to tell from ready-to-wear. The welt pockets are also pretty darn tight for a home sewer. I added a hanging loop, which I feel gives a certain completeness to it.

My favorite part is how the zipper worked out. The shell closes over it so neatly, and because the traveler is bright shiny silver, it adds an accent to the front that I really enjoy.

Working with the silk charmeuse lining was intimidating at first, but as the project went on I learned not to panic when it wiggled out of shape and just wiggle it back in.

I'm hoping that I can talk her into modeling it and getting some good pictures, since you can't really see how cute the shape is on a hanger. I suppose that's why women's clothing is so often displayed on shapely mannequins.

I hope she likes it! She is a stylish young professional woman in our nation's capital and if she sees something appealing in my aesthetic and skills I am going to hold my head up high for a long time.