Red Tamarack Jacket

 

Tamarack Jacket

The fabric was purchased from Ginny's Fine Fabric in Rochester, MN a few years go. Originally, I had planned for a tunic type shirt, but now I'm glad I waited for this pattern. I had made the Tamarack Jacket from Grainline Studio a couple times already, and I started by tracing out a smaller size 12 than my last size 14. I kept the added length and curved hem at the sides seams. There were three layers to cut out for each piece. The outer layer (red and white for me), the middle layer of cotton batting, and the inside layer which was a light color cotton remnant from Pam's mom. 

Front side of jacket

After cutting each outside layer, I laid it out with the batting and backing and then hand-basted the layers together before trimming the bottom two layers.

Sleeve with layers

The outer fabric did not have a clear distinction between the front and back of the cloth. As you can see I had pin-basted two of the same jacket fronts. but caught the error before finishing basting. 

Fabric looked very similar on front at back

Once I had the pieces quilted, I started looking for a coordinating bias tape.  The tape was to be used for the neckline, front opening, hem, and sleeves. I searched through both my stash and mom's stash for a suitable red, but ended up going out to Joann's to find a good red match. I cut strips of fabric and made my own bias tape.

Strips for bias tape

Adding bias tape

These fabrics are complementary

For the pockets on the front, I opted to create some patch pockets that would be large enough to fit my hands and phone. The pockets were quilted with horizontal lines to match the jacket front.

Front pockets

Inside of pockets

Front pockets attached

Here is the finished jacket before washing

I used blue chalk to mark the quilting lines on this jacket and it needed two runs through the wash with cold water to get the chalk washed out.  All the quilting was done on my Bernina 830 Record using the walking foot. The machine handled all three layers beautifully.

Blue chalk still visible

The finished pictures were taken at school during remote learning. For the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter break I taught from my classroom while my students were remote. 

No front closure

Both the front and back were lengthened a couple inches

Seams finished on my serger

Quilting visible on inside

Grade for this project