Alright, so check it out, I’m gonna walk you through this whole thing about the “Notre Dame Green Jacket” I tried to make. It was a bit of a journey, lemme tell ya.
Phase 1: The Hunt for Inspiration and Materials
- First off, I started by just Google-ing “Notre Dame green jacket” to see what was already out there. I wanted to get a feel for the style, the shade of green, and the overall vibe.
- Then, I spent, like, forever browsing fabric stores online and in person. Finding the right shade of green was a pain in the butt. I wanted something that was close to the university’s color but also looked good on me, ya know? Ended up snagging a nice wool blend that felt pretty good.
- Next up: buttons. Figured I needed some cool, maybe vintage-looking buttons to give it some character. Hit up a few antique stores and finally found some that I thought would work.
Phase 2: Design and Pattern Madness
- Okay, so I’m no expert tailor, not even close. I grabbed a basic blazer pattern that was pretty close to what I wanted. Modified it a bit to make it slightly more fitted. That was a learning experience for sure.
- Made a muslin mock-up first, thank God. Pinched, tucked, and redrew lines like crazy until it looked somewhat decent on my body.
Phase 3: The Actual Sewing – Brace Yourselves
- Cutting the fabric was terrifying. One wrong snip and you’re screwed. Took my time, used pattern weights, and said a little prayer.
- Sewing it all together… whew. My sewing machine hates thick wool, apparently. Had to go super slow and use a heavy-duty needle.
- The lining was a whole other beast. Slippery, annoying, but necessary for a good-looking jacket.
- Then came the buttonholes. Ugh. I always screw those up. Practice makes perfect, I guess.
The Final Touches (and the “Oh Crap” Moments)
- Attached the buttons. This part was actually kind of satisfying.
- Realized the sleeves were too long. Cue some frantic seam ripping and re-hemming.
- Tried it on. It fit… okay. Not perfect, but good enough for a first attempt.
The Verdict
So, did I end up with a perfect replica of some fancy Notre Dame green jacket? Nah. But I made something, learned a ton, and now I have a kinda-sorta-green jacket that’s uniquely mine. Plus, I can now confidently say I know how to sew a basic blazer (sort of). Would I do it again? Probably, but maybe with an easier fabric next time!
