Another Tessuti Sydney Jacket

For my next trick, may I share the cozy blankety goodness I've been swaddled in since it left my sewing machine in November? Another possible addition to the TNT canon, the Sydney Jacket from Tessuti has proven to be an indispensable companion this winter, whether in this warm wool or the textured knit I made in early fall.

When I was in France over the holidays, I pretty much didn't take it off. Proof:

We only had one day in Paris, and I got to live out a weird little blogger fantasy when G snapped some pics in front of the Louvre and along the Tuileries. If you follow street style blogs like The Sartorialist, the scenery is familiar. During fashion week all the pretty swans flock here to have their pictures taken, and it felt kind of necessary to pull out the camera the one day we were in the city, even if I did feel like a tremendous goof the entire time, with a case of the hangries and sore footsies since we had just wandered around the Louvre for 4 hours (I finally acknowledged I need to find some chic sneakers since there are no comfy ankle boots on the planet capable of getting me through an entire day in Paris).

We spent most of our time in Lille while G finished work, and then out in the suburbs with family, so we tried to make it count the day we were in the city. I requested a trip to the Louvre since it was the one big museum I missed on my first/last trip to France 5 years ago, even if going meant braving the holiday crowds (hot tip: buy tickets online to avoid the insanely long line to get in). Unfortunately one of my favourite paintings and the piece I truly wanted to see was on loan, but it's kind of hard to feel disappointed while you're there. It's massive and overwhelming and you get dizzy when you think about all the beauty, craft, history and wealth contained within its walls. Which is why you make sculptures kick you in the boobs when you're standing in front of it: Respect.

Oh but the jacket! Such a simple, fun project to put together. Since the edges are all left raw and the seams are overlapped and topstitched rather than finished traditionally, it requires a non-fraying fabric like wool coating (or a sturdy knit). When I was on the west coast in September and met Caroline of Blackbird Fabrics, we were talking about my plans to make a million of this pattern when she suggested I try one of her new coatings. I ended up choosing this lovely black marle with a  bit of a slubby, tweedy texture, generously gifted by Caroline. It's a poly/viscose/wool blend but I loved the drape, weight and hand of it when it arrived in the mail (while the colourway I chose is out of stock,  this lovely navy is still available). I had my doubts initially, but it has maintained it's nice crisp edges and hasn't unravelled at all, even after a few rounds in the washer.

It was a breeze to sew and really came in handy while we were travelling. Clothing that doubles as a blanket in a pinch? Yes, and thank you. It works with leggings and a tee or layered over a dress, and I felt very monochromatic and Parisienne pairing it with my striped Inari dress and some red lipstick. Even if my feet were useless stumps by the end of the day.

So, for the giveaway! Caroline is donating one $50 gift certificate to her lovely shop, Blackbird Fabrics. To enter, take a peek at her merchandise and let me know in the form below what you would purchase with your winnings. I'll announce a winner next week!

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