Sewing Cold Weather Gear

[Irulan]

Thanks SO much, Irulan! Yes, I do agree that lining this jacket would most certainly be overkill. In the photos, you can see the softshell outer layer, and the yummy fleecy lining. You can also see the windproof/waterproof scrim in the center of the "fabric sandwich" too. And besides all that good stuff, this fabric also has a bit of nice stretch to it!



I'm going to make Jalie pattern #2679, inserting reflective piping in the seams, and also lengthening the back. I'm going to check out some cold-weather jackets at my LBS to see if they put elastic in the back hemline, too.

I'll see if my ANCIENT (1987) serger is up to flatlocking. If it's not, for sure I'll use wooly nylon for finishing the seams on the inside.

The reason why I'm going to all this trouble? Well, I sew every single day in my studio, for one thing. For another, my bust is 36H, and no matter how much I lose everywhere else, the boobs REMAIN (that's fine with me, really!). But this means that there is simply NO women's cold-weather riding jacket to be found for me, at any price...and I'm just sick and tired of wearing men's stuff. I've always wished that Terry's XXL jerseys would fit me, but they only go up to a 42" bust, and mine is 44". I LOVE those jerseys! Ah well...I'll just keep sewing!

Thanks for all your help!

(You sound like a very experienced sewist so there is zero intention of being condescending with the following suggestions. I've found over the years that outer wear is a whole separate category of experience and materials)


Suggestion. I would really test out that flat lock before you commit to it. I've rarely seen a flatlock done on a home serger that looks great and can take the abuse that outerwear gets. Now, if you have a coverlock machine, that's a whole different deal. I finally bought one last year, and it's really made a huge difference on how professional things looks and how well they are built.

I would suggest testing out this seam finish... a wooly nylon two or three thread edge finish, a straight stitch seam, and the seam possibly topstitched from the RS if it's not too bulky. If the wooly nylon gives you fits, a regular thread would probably be fine. A 3 or 4-thread serged seam might be sufficent too... just test. But you know that...:-)

That's a cute Jalie - I hadn't see that one. Are you going to mock it up first? I know, as a theory, what the adjustments for cycling are, but getting them right in practice is a different deal.

Have you thought about pit zips for ventilation?

Cheers Irulan