Pattern: vintage Simplicity 4915 from 1943
Fabric: satin cotton, some stash fabric for
interfacing, and acetate for lining
Haberdasheries: four buttons
This is a jacket to go with my skirt. The skirt was my first 1940s garment, and the first I based on an
original pattern from the period. It fit well, so I was expecting the same for
the jacket.
According to the measurements table, size 14 should be slightly smaller
than my size, but without alterations the jacket would have been rather wide. I
was once inclined to think that if an original pattern is on the loose side,
that must be how they did things back then, but when you look at photos of
ladies from the 1940s, their jackets are very fitted at the waist, and
certainly not baggy. So I took out about 10 centimetres at the waist (and some
at the chest, I believe), and also a couple from the sleeves, to make the
jacket fit more nicely. Also, I left off the welt pockets. I tried them out,
but didn’t like the look of them, so I went for pocket flaps at the lower front
only.
I had too little fabric! I don’t know how that is possible, as I bought
it for this project and always intended to make the entire suit, and I’m pretty
sure I asked the person in the shop how much they thought I needed. Perhaps I
didn’t take the shine in the fabric into account, which meant I had to cut all
the pieces one way. In any case, I had to piece the front facings of the
jacket.
I’ll post some nicer photos when I’ve worn the jacket to an event!
