Nip and tuck: Grainline Morris blazer

Like so many Londoners I’m working at home today at the pleasure of the transport unions. My natural socialist leanings are generally in favour of unions, and if my job was under constant threat from system automation I’d probably strike every now and again too. Twitter and the news are overflowing with ‘heroic’ tales of Londoners trekking across London, braving the roads and the rails to get into their offices. I on the other hand have no heroic tendencies, at least not where public transport is concerned. My little office at home is bright and comfortable, I have fast internet, good coffee and a local cafe that does a mean saltbeef and pickle sandwich. And during my lunch break I can finally snap some pictures of my completed Grainline Morris blazer!

Let’s start with the positives. This was a lovely pattern to sew, not especially challenging, but I was very grateful for Jen’s excellent Morris Blazer Sew Along for help with attaching the facings. All totted up I think it took me about a day to cut out and put together. I bought a medium weight navy blue ponte from Sew Over It, which is utterly beautiful and just my favourite colour. With hindsight this fabric is a little too soft for a jacket and the end result is more like a cardigan, but overall still very wearable.

With Grainline patterns it is all about the beautiful sharp details. I mentioned this in my post about the Archer shirt, and Morris is no different. The shaping at the front, the drape of the lapels and the shape of the top stitching; all deceptively simple and very effective. The not so positive side to this project was the fitting. As usual I charged ahead without making a muslin, which is a really bad habit kids and not something I ever want to catch you doing! With this jacket getting the fit on the shoulders right is crucial, so for next time I am going to measure the shoulder dimensions very carefully, make a proper muslin, and choose my size accordingly. As it is my Morris hangs off the shoulder just a little, and once it was finished there was a lot of excess fabric flapping around at the centre back. In the end I took a wedge out of the centre back seam, tapering up towards the base of the neck to remove the extra.But surgical enhancements aside I am very happy with this jacket, and have already started planning version two. This time I want to try using a stretch woven fabric; I fancy grey stretch suiting if I can get it, although I would settle for something more charcoal coloured in a pinch. I have a bit of time off coming up, which can only mean quality time with Cloth House!

Any other Morris makers out there? Did you enjoy this pattern?