![IMG_1099](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/26952396476_442cb1c80d_z.jpg)
I made this jacket with the intention of wearing it with the outfit I made for my cousin's wedding, but they didn't look quite right together in the end so I didn't wear it on the day. It was an interesting project though, and I think I'll get some use out of it.
But, STOP PRESS, the best thing about making this wee jacket was that I discovered my new favourite technique: the Hong Kong finish!
The Hong Kong finish is basically a neat way to finish seams when overlocking or french seams won't cut the mustard. It involves sewing bias binding onto each side of a seam. As this jacket has a princess seam I think it gives the inside of the jacket a really cool look - in fact the inside of this jacket is way more interesting than the outside. To learn how to do the Hong Kong finish I used a tutorial in my copy of 'Sewtionary' by Tasia of Sewaholic but you can also find plenty step-by-step guides on this here world wide web.
![IMG_1112](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/26891430092_10405ea985_z.jpg)
![IMG_1094](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/26381594383_eb842a795f_z.jpg)
![IMG_1114](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7495/26891424582_fb5e521959_z.jpg)
To make the jacket pattern I started with the Jackie pattern from La Maison Victor but I made quite a lot of changes to make it fit and I added a pleat at the back.
![IMG_1101](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/26917210011_139c103525_z.jpg)
![IMG_1119](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/26712100160_9f5c690393_z.jpg)
I previously made a modified version of this pattern for the Sew It Up competition back in 2014. This time round I changed the shaping at the front. Unfortunately I think I should have used some stronger interfacing as the fabric requires a bit more support to sit right. I feel it droops slightly.
![IMG_1097](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/26381583083_b3b2b275e5_z.jpg)
To jazz up proceedings I also used some red piping in the shoulder seams.
![IMG_1088](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7565/26712092330_9ee21424b5_z.jpg)
Not a life-changing project by any means but always good to learn new techniques and do a bit of pattern engineering to modify patterns! I particularly enjoyed working out how to do the facing which I mostly sewed by hand.
I'll definitely be using the Hong Kong finish more in the future to make the insides of garments as nice as their outsides - and maybe even better.
![IMG_1115](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/26381552463_63f257a4cb_z.jpg)