Black Denim Jacket Ethan Flip

We accepted Frances Suzanne’s challenge to flip the Ethan Shirt by Sis Boom.  Of course, first of all we had to sew an unflipped version of the Ethan Shirt, but we’ll get to that another time.  When we can get the boy convinced to show his face on a SKIRT blog!

I knew I wanted to flip the Ethan Shirt several ways in general.  Into something for a girl.  Into a jacket.  And then I remembered this oh so fancy black embroidered denim I’d purchased on time to make into a denim skirt.  So this post could be called The Skirt That Wasn’t!  But I digress.  So I showed the pattern to Aria, my tween, and she wasn’t impressed.  Then I showed her the fabric and she was more enthusiastic.  Finally I showed her an inspiration photo and she was totally on board..

Here are the little, technical ways I flipped the Ethan Shirt into a black denim jacket.

I changed the shape of the back yoke, sewed it only at the top and sides and added a button and buttonhole.

I added a belt and belt loops top the waist.

I changed the sleeves by omitting the button placket and cuff and adding a faux belt and belt loops to the sleeve bottoms.  Also a button and button hole on each sleeve belt.  I’m sure there’s a more technical name for it than sleeve belt, but it escapes me at the moment.  Whatever!  All I know is Aria and I love this little detail!

Here’s a secret little tip on easy belt loops instead of sewing a little tube and turning it, use seam binding.  I did!  It’s reinforced/top stitched to add strength and character.

I changed the shape of the hem to be straight all around.

I used a little stiffer interfacing on the collar and collar stand to accommodate because I was making a jacket, not a shirt.

I omitted the button placket down the front, opting for a more jacket like closure.

We stopped the buttons just below the waist so for ease of walking and sitting.  But the jacket still looks format when standing without corrupting the straight shape.

The belt can also be looped back around and tied in the back.

Or the jacket can be partially buttoned.

I added welt pockets!  Welt pockets, people!  This was my first time, and I was so pleased with the professional results!

For the pocket material, I departed from the sober feel of the jacket and used fortune cookie fabric!

I finished each interior seam with either seam binding or a flat felled seam.

And topstitched every seam.  Sometimes twice!  But it looks soooo good, don’t you think so?

I did not change anything about the armholes or width of the Ethan shirt for the denim jacket.  The dimensions ended up being perfect.  I used the largest size, size 14.

Now I’ll tell you one tiny thing I’m not happy with about this black denim jacket.  Because of the large scale of the embroidery pattern, I had to decide whether to match the pattern at the front or the sides.  So I chose the sides.  But I still wish they all could have matched.  But that would have added about 14 inches to the sides of the jacket, so that wasn’t happening!

Did you know one of the themes for Project Run and Play Season 10 is Denim?  Guess what we will be entering?

For this photo shoot we went into the woods again.  We took a different path from last time, but still got some great shots.

We had just seen the photo shoot by Babykins Magazine and were inspired to do the same theme.  Or maybe they copied our tulle skirt photo shoot!

This black denim jacket looks so good, coming and going!  Aria is so delighted with it that she actually said she hopes cold weather arrives soon!  It’s not usually easy to please a tween.

I found those gorgeous buttons at Jo-Ann fabrics.  I had some that would have worked in my stash, but I wanted these to be special!  And I have a button weakness.  Sort of like my jacket weakness as evidenced here and here!

Have you seen the other Ethan Shirt Flips?  They are amazing!  And I can’t wait to see what everyone else does with denim for Project Run and Play!  How about you, do you like to sew with denim?

Make it beautiful,

Audrey