
Looking for a fresh new way to use your favorite LJC patterns -- and maybe make an on-trend, back-to-school piece too? Well, that's just what we have for you this week.
Giveaway update! We have a winner! It's Judy who said, "My favorite back-to-school supply is binder clips. I teach, and have to manage lots of papers. I’m so glad they make them in colors now." Judy, we'll be in touch via email soon.
We're going to be combining two LJC classics -- the Denim Jacket, and the Ruched Hoodie -- to make this fun, stylin' jacket.
First, you're going to need some fabric: some sweatshirt-type material (we're using a double sided knit), ribbing, and of course, some denim. A little bit of narrow ribbon in a splashy color is a fun extra...

Then, cut out all the pieces for the denim jacket EXCEPT the collar and the sleeves/cuffs.

Use the sweatshirt material to cut out the sleeves from the Denim Jacket pattern, and the hood from the Ruched Hoodie pattern.

Grab the Denim Jacket Sleeve Cuff piece, and draw a line 1/2" in from the dots. Fold along this line, and use this new (shorter!) pattern piece to cut two cuff pieces out of ribbing.

Sew the body of the jacket together, following the directions in the guidebook. Stop when you reach the steps for the collar.
Switch to the Ruched Hoodie guidebook! Sew the hood together following those directions: stitch and finish the rounded, CB edge, then carefully hem the face edge.

Pin your new hood to the jacket's neckline, lining up the hemmed edges with the notches for the collar. Be sure to match Center Back too!
The hood will be a little longer than the jacket's neck edge, so just ease the extra fabric in gently with your fingers. If your fabric doesn't want to ease, you can always run a couple of gathering threads to help get everything in place.

Fold back the front edges so that they just cover the end of the hood. Stitch.

Trim corners, and clip into the seam allowance a bit so that it lies flat.
At this point you have two options: zig-zag/serge the seam allowances, or...cover them with some cute ribbon!

I sewed a piece of ribbon directly over the seam allowance, lining up one edge of the ribbon with my previous stitchline. If you do this, make sure your ribbon begins and ends in the facing.

Topstitch the bottom edge of the ribbon down to the jacket, sandwiching the seam allowances. When you reach the front edge, pivot, and edgestitch down the front on both sides.

I added a second line of topstitching just below the seamline, for good looks and extra stability.
Sleeve time!

Fold the cuff piece in half, and stretch it to fit the lower edge of the sleeve. Pin and stitch. (If you need extra help with this step, just follow the cuff directions in the Ruched Hoodie guidebook. The pieces are shaped a little differently, but the idea is the same.)
Set the sleeves in the jacket, and topstitch.

Finish off your jacket by sewing the underarm and side seams, adding the waistband, and doing the buttons and buttonholes.
Congratulations!

Giveaway Time!
Would you like to win this adorable little jacket? Super! We'd love to send it to one lucky winner...
To enter, just leave a comment below finishing this sentence:
"My favorite back-to-school supply is..."
We'll pick a winner on Monday, Aug 31, and get in touch with the winner by email.
Thanks everybody! It's wonderful, as always, to have you following along.
For Pixie Faire,
Melinda and Cinnamon





441 Comments
I love back to school shopping! All of it is fun. My favorite back to school supply is colored pencils. So many happy possibilities in such a little box. Btw, This jacket is pretty fabulous, I’d like it in my size!
My favourite back to school items were the art supplies. Crayons, pastels, markers, coloured pencils were a few that were the best. Putting my name on all of the supplies and putting them into a new backpack to get ready for the first day of school.
My favorite back to school supply is a backpack There are so many fun colors and shapes. I’d love to make a few of my own, too.
My favorite back to school supply was the stickers the teachers would get in the lower grades to put on your paper if you got 100%. I always liked to see all the different ones they had, and tried my best to get 100% so I’d get one on my paper!
My favorite school supply is a new wardrobe. I love shopping for new jeans, shirts, coats, shoes, etc. Yes, new crayons, pens, pencils, and notebooks are fun….but not as fun as showing up at school and showing off a new outfit to my friends. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a doll that is dressed in a matching outfit?