No More Quilted Jackets

It is time to move on to another project. I am a bit tired of making quilted jackets.

The Tamarack Jacket is done save for the closures. I have not yet decided on buttons or snaps. (I am leaning toward turquoise buttons.) You may be able to see the yellow thread tailor’s tacks in the photo marking their position:

This one fits me well; I did lengthen it by about 2-1/2". I also shaved a total of about 3" off the back at the sides below the armscye after comparing the back pattern piece to the back pattern piece of my BU jacket. The larger sizes of this pattern, especially, have more way ease at the hip than I want or need. (I used the D-cup range with the bust dart.)

I did patch pockets this time instead of the (very fussy) welt pockets and I like these better. The binding came from my stash. I had a hard time finding a binding fabric that would work with both the outer and lining fabrics. This binding fabric coordinated with both and I had just enough.

I stitched the binding down by hand on the inside.

That meant that I had to sit and sew for about an hour and a half yesterday afternoon, which I don’t usually do. I prefer to leave my hand sewing for after dinner, but I was motivated to finish this jacket.

Of all the quilted jackets I’ve made, I still like the fit and style of my BU jacket best. (That one used the McCall’s 8560 pattern.) The Tamarack is probably my second favorite, although I definitely need the extra length.

The Toaster Sweater and the Burnside Bibs are the last two class samples on my list. The Toaster Sweater can be made in an afternoon. The Burnside Bibs will take a bit longer. And I found out yesterday that my college roommate and her husband will welcome their first grandchild in 2026 (how exciting!) so I need to make a baby quilt.

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This has been a difficult week in the personnel department. I always told my kids that it was more important to watch what people do than listen to what they say. People will tell you whatever they think you want to hear. I try very hard to be straight in my dealings with others and I am often disappointed when I don’t get the same behavior in return. The husband teases me that I wake up every morning with my faith in humanity restored, only to have it destroyed in about five minutes. 😩 I’ve had a couple of encounters this week that just left me shaking my head.

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The weather forecasters in Washington state are currently beside themselves. The forecast models are showing a possible very strong windstorm on Christmas Eve, but those same models cannot seem to converge on a consistent forecast, even from model run to model run. The model solutions have ranged from “nothingburger” to “Armageddon.” I hope that the storm fizzles out before it gets there, because Washington certainly doesn’t need any further battering.