Back at it with another sewing kit from Minerva today! This little jacket piece was perfect for my ever-growing belly! I’ve worn it a couple of times since making it, and it is the perfect pregnancy piece. I have really enjoyed pairing it with more figure-hugging pieces, like this midi dress seen here, or yesterday with a pair of (maternity) cigarette pants and a stretchy tank. It is flowy, light, and lovely!
As I mentioned, this garment was made from another Minerva KIT! This was my second time working with one of their fully prepared kits, and it is still such a dream. The items sent along with this kit included the paper pattern, two curated coordinating fabrics, bias tape, needles, and coordinating thread. All I needed to add to the mix were my sewing machine, my garment labels, and myself! Simple and convenient – who couldn’t use more of that in their lives?
I can honestly say I don’t know that I would’ve ever chosen to sew this top up with the two fabrics featured here! They coordinate well together, but I don’t know that I would’ve made that connection just looking at the separate sample boxes of the two fabrics on a screen. I really loved that Minerva had curated options for this pattern that were all really fun and surprising. I absolutely love the way these two fabrics work together, and I’m so glad to have this piece in my closet now. Thanks, Minerva! I think patterns requiring coordinating fabrics are such great options for a kit. You might end up with something you had no idea you’d love, just like I did!
I’ve mentioned before that Art Gallery Fabrics are some of my favorites to work with, and these two did not disappoint. I love the feel of rayon, but I will admit it can be a little finicky to work with thanks to the flow and fluidity of the fabric. The overall construction of this garment is fairly simple, though, which I think was a benefit to the process as a whole. I’ve ended up with a great piece to throw on over some of my more basic pieces this summer! It feels like my style, and is absolutely acceptable in the summer heat. I’m looking forward to wearing it as a bathing suit coverup, as well!
This pattern comes with 4 different options – I chose the longer option without sleeve cuffs, because I really wanted to show off both of these lovely fabrics! The only trim / notion I needed for this option was the bias tape to finish around the neckline. Minerva included a perfectly coordinated grey bias tape, which you can see ever so slightly in the photo below! It is a great finish for this pattern, as it doesn’t add any bulk and is certainly easier than trying to turn under the neckline hem of the rayon garment all the way around!
I’m loving the opportunity to try out these kits with Minerva! I’ve found that the fabric options are fantastic, and seem to all be high quality fabrics – both of the kits I’ve sewn from so far included Art Gallery rayon fabrics, and I have another I’ll be working on soon which features a Liberty Tana Lawn! It is a little sigh of relief to know that I’m going to have everything that I need when I sit down to sew up my project, and won’t have to worry if I have enough of the right color thread or if I’ve run out of needles! Head over to Minerva today, as they’ve just released a few new kits, and see what they have to offer!!
Jacket: handmade by me using a KIT!
Pattern: Simplicity Patterns – 8172
Fabric: Minerva – Art Gallery Fabrics Rayon Challis Fabric – Floral and Stripes
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Prym Sewing Machine Needles
Essential Trimmings Polycotton Bias Binding Tape – Slate Grey
Gutermann Sew All Polyester Sewing Thread in 537
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this pattern! The fabric, notions, and pattern used for this post were provided to me as a kit by Minerva in exchange for photos of my finished garments and a review of my experience with the kit, to be posted on their website. All words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
