Given our climate, I only wear jackets and jumpers (sweaters) for about 4 months of the year. Most of my casual jackets get worn frequently, but the dressier types, such as suit jackets, are worn much less frequently.
* On-Track – since I expect to get around 10 years wear from my jackets, those newer items which are getting around 3 wears a year would be considered as on-track. Those worn less often appear in separate columns.
Jackets
So here is the stats and breakdown for the jackets. My casual jackets get well worn. The couple that aren’t worn as often is because one having really stiff fabric and the other is a colour which is difficult to pair it with. The majority are plain colours which are easy to combine with other garments.
The dressy jackets don’t get a lot of wear, largely to changes in job roles (no board meetings) and a largely casual lifestyle. They still need to be in the wardrobe for some occasions. Classic styles and good quality construction means they will be wearable for a long time. I just don’t need to make any more. I still have fabrics in stash for dressier jackets but they would be better used for a more casual style. Which is a bummer as I’d really love to make a couture French jacket.
FavE Jacket Patterns
These are favourite jacket patterns – a classic blazer, classic jean jacket and more elevated jean jacket that works well in linen and a parka. I’ve used Lekala and Knipmode patterns for these, as I’ve already done the hard yards fitting them. Most pattern companies have a version of these. The red knit jacket shown below is an example of how I’ve used a dressier pattern that has a lot more of a smart-casual look.
Jumpers
This was a surprising success with only three garments not making the grade, bit close to it.
Fave Jumper Patters
I have a few go-to patterns here. The main standouts are:
- McCalls 6614 – Great as a light – medium weight jumper with a little bit of shaping
- Kwik Sew 3818 – The North Face Denali look-alike
- Ottobre 2017 #5 – Good basic. Change up the collar something different
- Pattern Emporium Be You Tee – Love this for a sweater knit
Takeaways
- Don’t need any more dressy jackets
- French style jacket, if I make one, will need to be more casual in appearance
- Stick to classic styles
- Preferably solid colours. Prints need to be able to be worn with different colour pants, (or black and blue) to be useful
You have to love a Victorian spring. 35oC one day, snowing on the mountains the next. Considering the summer we are likely to get, I relished the cool weather while it lasted. Today is back up to 37, but the brief reprieve got me thinking about starting a jumper (sweater) for next winter.
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