So, I was given the gift of a sewing class for Christmas. This seemed like a good idea, and it was, but it was not clear initially that this was for a qualification.

18 weeks, Thursday evenings, three hours. At the end we needed to turn in a portfolio and a finished garment. This was for an NCFE level 2 in fashion, equivalent to a GCSE. This is what I made…

Made from an old pair of jeans, the chest pockets are the back pockets and the legs of the jeans used to form the front panels.
The brief was for a garment that was for an “eco warrior”, so the lining is partially made from some old pyjamas and off cuts from the kimonos I keep making. So these really fitted in to the ‘reuse and recycle’ element of the task.

The design was that of a kimono jacket but made larger and longer with nylon wadding to make it suitable for colder weather. There are nine pockets in total.

Japanese Kanji writing
The wording on the back of the jacket says Reuse, since that was the brief for the project.

This was a really enjoyable course and I learnt a lot. I passed but the certificate is still in the post.

Reflecting on this experience and the skills I developed, there was the quilting element as shown on the outside of the jacket. The garment is very heavy and, in retrospect, it would’ve been a good idea to add the front pockets to the outer front of the jacket while it was still in pieces.
The kimono jacket pattern is a favourite of mine since it is an easy starting point but you can do so much with it. Make one in denim for day time and casual use or a luxury fabric for evening wear and going out!

One skill that was very useful was the different kinds of pockets and zips that can be used. I used an invisible zip to create an inside pocket (orange zip).

This jacket is great and many people have said I should apply to The Great British Sewing Bee…. well maybe I will :)