52 degrees in Florida??

Yes, it finally got to be winter here.  How odd, as last year we had this weather in January.  I've already packed up several jackets to take back to Madison, as it's been too hot and sticky most of the winter for much other than a short sleeved tshirt.  Even Linen tunics are too hot until my bathing suit gets wet!

Nevertheless, jackets are one of my favorite things to sew.  I usually have lots of jacket weight pieces of fabric hoarded and waiting for a good jacket pattern.  Thank you so much, Marcy, for Vogue 8982.

I first made this in a bright blue polyester I ordered from Gorgeous Fabrics.  I hated the hand of the fabric when it arrived and it seemed way too thin for a jacket.  But, the pattern is sized for knits and the darts helped tame the cheesy look.  And, this fabric is perfect for travel!

Then came the dreaded buttonhole phase.  Fortunately, I've been watching Sandra Betzina and Ron Collins sewing videos.  In one, she emphasizes several times, that a Solvy sandwich (Solvy on the top and bottom of the buttonhole area) will tame most potential buttonhole disasters.  She was right, even for this largish (over 1") set of buttonholes.  And, Ron (I feel I know him virtually well enough to call him that) has an incredible Western Canada way of pronouncing "buttonholes".  These shows are some of the best tutorials I've ever seen BTW.  They are now filming and releasing episodes on each of Sandra's Today's Fit patterns, even the older ones.

This version of the jacket is in a cotton ponte from that orlando fabric store I blogged about in November.  I love the bright colors worked into the animal print and plan to wear this today.

There are separate pattern pieces in this pattern for wovens.  So, I just completed this version in a brown printed linen I found here last season at Jo Ann's.  This jacket gets packed, as I have a marvelous E. Fisher brown sundress just waiting for this fresh topper.  

Yes, Madison, it will be summer before too long!!!!