My Fav Make Yet - Viola Jacket & Sneakers
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Every now and then a project comes along that brings together so many wonderful ideas, talented people and creative businesses that it becomes much more than just another sewing project. This matching jacket and sneaker set is exactly that.
I created this outfit to take with me to the craft shows, and I honestly couldn't be happier with how it turned out. It's bright, bold, completely unique and perfectly captures what I love most about making your own wardrobe - creating something nobody else has.
This project combines the beautiful Viola Jacket from Peppermint Magazine, custom-printed fabric from Spoonflower, stunning quilting by Jodie from 88 Stitches, and a pair of matching Sneaker Stitch sneakers.
Starting with the Viola Jacket
The Viola Jacket is such a fabulous cropped jacket pattern.
For this project, I made it exactly as drafted and in my usual size. The fit was excellent, and there wasn't much I wanted to change.
The only design change I made was to the pocket. The original pattern has a diagonal pocket opening, but I chose to make mine rounded instead. It's a small detail, but I felt it suited my own style a little better.
Sometimes it's those little personal touches that make a handmade garment feel even more special.
Discovering Spoonflower's Fill-a-Yard
One of the most exciting parts of this project was finally trying Spoonflower's Fill-a-Yard feature.
If you've never come across Spoonflower before, it's well worth exploring. Spoonflower is an American company that works with thousands of independent designers from around the world. You can choose from an incredible range of unique artwork and have it printed onto fabrics, wallpaper and home décor products.
For this project, I selected eight coordinating prints from one designer whose style I absolutely loved and arranged them into a Fill-a-Yard layout.
It took a little experimenting to get the layout exactly how I wanted it, but that was part of the fun. Spoonflower even has a helpful tutorial explaining how Fill-a-Yard works, so don't be afraid to jump in and have a play. It costs nothing to experiment with layouts before placing an order.
One of the things I love most about Spoonflower is being able to find fabrics you simply can't buy anywhere else.
For example, we have a Miniature Schnauzer. Try finding Miniature Schnauzer fabric in your local fabric shop! It's almost impossible. Jump onto Spoonflower, though, and you'll discover so many designs to choose from. Whether you love a particular breed of dog, native birds, florals or something delightfully quirky, chances are someone has already created it.
It's a fantastic resource when you're looking to make something truly unique.
What I'd Do Differently
I chose to have my fabric printed onto Dogwood Denim, thinking it would make a beautiful jacket.
While it certainly did, once the denim was quilted it became much more structured than I had anticipated.
If I were making this jacket again, I would probably choose a cotton base fabric instead. I think it would still quilt beautifully while creating a softer jacket with a little more drape.
I'd also lengthen the jacket slightly. Because I have a longer torso, I think an extra little bit of length would improve the proportions for me.
Another lesson came with the internal binding.
Because the quilted denim was so thick, attaching the binding became a little more challenging. Next time, I'd cut my binding wider. That little adjustment would make the process much easier and give a cleaner finish.
None of these things take away from how much I love the finished jacket. They're simply the little lessons that every sewing project teaches us.
The Quilting That Made It Shine
The biggest transformation came thanks to my wonderful friend Jodie from 88 Stitches here in Brisbane.
Jodie custom machine quilted both the jacket fabric and the fabric for my sneakers using a beautiful swirling quilting design.
The quilting adds gorgeous texture and gives the whole outfit a professional finish. It also perfectly ties the jacket and sneakers together.
If you've ever admired quilted garments but don't consider yourself a quilter, having your fabric professionally quilted is a fantastic option. It gives you that beautiful quilted look without needing to master free-motion quilting yourself.
Matching Sneakers... Because Why Not?
Of course, the outfit wouldn't be complete without matching sneakers.
Using our Sneaker Stitch kit, I created a coordinating pair using the same quilted fabric.
This time we also experimented with something new by adding heel tabs.
Not only do they add another pop of colour and personality, but they also give a little extra support around the heel. I absolutely love the finished look, and it's a feature I'll definitely keep experimenting with.
Yes, my sneakers are bright, colourful and impossible to miss... but yours don't have to be!
That's the beauty of making your own. You get to decide exactly how bold, subtle or unique you want them to be.
Why This Project Means So Much
This project perfectly sums up what Sneaker Stitch is all about.
Making your own shoes means you're no longer limited to what's available in the shops.
You can coordinate your shoes with your handmade wardrobe.
You can make matching bags.
You can use fabrics that nobody else has.
You can create an outfit that tells your story.
That's what handmade is all about.
This project was only possible because so many wonderful ideas came together.
A beautiful pattern from Peppermint Magazine.
Unique custom fabric from Spoonflower.
Expert quilting by Jodie from 88 Stitches.
And matching handmade sneakers created with Sneaker Stitch.
It's proof that when creativity meets collaboration, something truly special can happen.
I'd love to know what you think. Would you wear matching sneakers and a jacket? Have you tried Spoonflower's Fill-a-Yard? Is this a project you'd love to create yourself?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
After all... why wear what everyone else is wearing when you can make something that's completely, wonderfully, uniquely you?