McCall's 5242
Pattern Sizing: 6-20. I made size 6, grading down to size 4 in the shoulders, back, and sleeves.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Pretty much.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. I used them as a base and incorporated some tailoring techniques, including bound buttonholes and mitered vents in the back and sleeves.
I also used tie interfacing to ease in the sleeve head and I applied fusible stay tape to the neckline to prevent gaping, per Judy Barlup's tip.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the shoulder princess seams and the feminine silhouette.
Fabric Used: Vera Wang fuchsia lambswool flannel for the jacket and matching chiffon for the collar and sleeve flounce. I used Vera Wang emerald silk satin for the lining; it had the right balance of body and softness for this jacket. The colors just happen to match my label perfectly:
All three fabrics were purchased from Fabric.com during their deal-of-the-decade $1.95 sale, so the whole jacket cost less than $8 in fabric.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I altered the shoulder area to accommodate a hollow chest and shortened the sleeves by a couple of inches.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don't plan on sewing it again in the near future, only because I have too many other patterns to sew first, but I would recommend it to others.
Conclusion: This is a great pattern with distinctive style.
