Back when we polled the CSC** about what you wanted to see on the site, several members suggested a new series: Same Pattern, Different Bodies. As part of this series, multiple sewists with different body shapes sew versions of the same pattern and share their alterations and how the final garment looks on their bodies. We loved this idea and thought that the side-by-side comparisons could be eye-opening. Today’s post is the first in that series! And, lucky for you, we also have a giveaway! Check out the end of the post for details.
Today we’ll be taking a closer look at the Decades of Style Three’s a Charm Jacket as beautifully sewn and modeled by several of our CSC members. The Three’s a Charm jacket is an unlined jacket with a topstitched facing, 3/4 sleeves, a single button closure, angled front darts, and side bust darts.
Tanya
Tanya has sewn two Three’s a Charm jackets so far, one in white stretch denim and one in plaid wool suiting. Below are the alterations she made to her Three’s a Charm jackets:
- Graded up to a 48″ bust
- Widened the sleeves
- Added a lining
- Graded up to a 49″ bust
- Full bicep adjustment
- Enlarged the armscyes
- Bound seams
For any future Three’s a Charm jackets she makes (because the third one will be the charm, right?), Tanya plans to make a small swayback adjustment.
Elaine
Elaine also made two Three’s a Charm jackets, a mustard version with sashiko stitching (her muslin) and one in rusty red lightweight denim. She describes her fitting changes from the mustard muslin to the red denim version as follows:
- Added 1″ to the torso length
- Lowered vertical bust darts by 1″
- Sewed the waist 3/8″ larger at the side seam
- Removed 1/4″ from the hips at the side seam
- Small FBA
- Forward shoulder adjustment
For her next version, she might tweak the shoulder and armscye a bit more to perfect the fit.
Michelle
Michelle’s Three’s a Charm jacket is made from some lovely floral stretch denim. Her fitting changes were as follows:
- FBA
- Shoulder dart (rotated from bust dart to keep it from being too large)
Andie
Andie chose a woven mid-weight black and pink polka dot fabric for her Three’s a Charm jacket.
- 1.5″ FBA
- 1.5″ large bicep adjustment
Next time she makes the Three’s a Charm jacket, she will add more width to the sleeves, do a narrow shoulder adjustment, and lengthen the back to accommodate the length caused by adjusting the large dart to make it less pointy.
Meg
For my Three’s a Charm jacket, I used Thai dupioni silk. I sewed the pattern as-is from the envelope with no fitting changes.
Next time I make the jacket, though, I’ll either lengthen the sleeves to full-length or shorten them a bit because they were too long to be true 3/4 sleeves on me. I might also narrow the forearms.
GIVEAWAY: Decades of Style has generously offered to give away a copy of the Three’s a Charm jacket pattern to one lucky CSC reader! To enter the random drawing, please leave a comment below by Monday, May 30 and tell us what fabric you would use to make a Three’s a Charm jacket!
UPDATE: Congratulations to giveaway winner Sherrell!!
**Slowly but surely we’re covering the suggestions and requests from the poll. We have plans for posts for many of these, but we want to hear from you, too! Do you have great ideas for posts in one of the topic areas identified in the poll? Send them our way!! Do you have ideas for patterns you’d like to see get the Same Pattern, Different Bodies treatment? Do tell! Contact us, we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
This would be fun in a brightly coloured stretch denim. Or a ponte knit for in between seasons.
Would definitely try it in a denim! And also a ponte knit for a comfortable work blazer!
I’m thinking I’d love one in a mustard colored denim for the fall!
Nice, versatile pattern. I would use either a lightweight patterned denim or a light wool blend suiting fabric in a neutral color to go with lots and lots of things in my wardrobe!
Love the idea of this jacket in lace. I thought this was a 3/4 sleeve jacket but it looks like everyone made it with long sleeves.
I would make this jacket in a navy blue linen fabric to start with.
Great idea to see all the different versions. I fancy a turquoise cotton with large white polka dots – would fit in with my summer colours.
That is a beautiful and flattering jacket!
I would make my jacket in a bright colored linen. It would be perfect to wear to the office, where it can get a bit cold during the summer months.
I think the stretch denim is brilliant! I would make the jacket with that.
I love this post. What a super series idea! This jacket is perfect for the first of many, I hope, more same pattern, different bodies. Can’t wait to sew one.
As a long-time beginner sewer, I’d never thought about making a jacket but after seeing this one, I think I might attempt it. I’d like to make one in a nice lightweight linen for our warm Hawaii weather – something to cover up when my arms get cold in the air conditioning but not so heavy that it’s overbearing.
Love this pattern! Meg’s dupioni silk looks very posh. All lovely versions, and I find it very helpful to see this jacket on different body types. I think this jacket made up in white denim (yes, me too!) would fit into my wardrobe nicely. Thanks so much for sharing your versions!
I would love to make the jacket in. A stretch denim or a linen like fabric. Love th pattern. Each fabric gives it a unique look!!
I have a great piece of Linen/Lycra in sunflower yellow. I have my heart set on this jacket having seen all the great pictures in this post. Thank you and I hope you do this type of comparison often
Would love to try this in a different color denim, or maybe a small wale corduroy; I think either would be very nice.
Oh, I think linen would make this a perfect summer office jacket!
There is a navy stretch nubbly cotton in my stash that would work great. And some heavy linen
Love the pattern and I would definitely try this in a baby cord say forest green would be a great piece to dress up or down.
I think I would like to try it in a linen for the summer.
Visiting Italy and seeing lots of lace and eyelet. Eyelet in black might make an awesome “air conditioning ” jacket.
I’d love to see it in a dark blue denim, or in a pale gray one if I could find that… It looks gorgeous in white denim, but white gets dirty too fast for me sadly
What an awesome idea! So great to see the same pattern on different shapes (plus what changes were made) without trawling the interweb for hours!! With winter rearing it’s ugly head, I’d be inclined to use a heavier fabric like a denim or merino that I have languishing in my stash.
I usually prefer a long coat but seeing this on different bodies, I want to make one in either a soft denim or a coral slubby linen I’ve been saving.
I like this jacket a lot and have some black silk dupioni that I think would be perfect. I like to personalize my fabrics so I would probably do some accent silkscreening using metallic gold/silver/bronze on the black to make it stand out.
I really appreciated seeing the pattern on the different body shapes! All of the ladies did a great job and their jackets look fabulous! Thank you for all the hard work you did to help other sewers!
I’m thinking a light chambray to go over a simple summer dress. Maybe in white or red to add a pop of colour.
I like the white denim version, but also love the silk version as well for a dressy look. Have been thinking about this pattern since seeing some of the versions earlier.
I’m with Susan and Jacquie. A lightweight, printed stretch denim would be perfect!
I would love to make it in a white linen to go with a beautiful vintage dress which I made in a moss green with pretty white flowers on it.
I’d use a graphic stretch woven, with a contrast facing, as I’d wear the jacket open. (And similar contrast sleeve hem facings).
I’d love this, polka dot denim for me.
I have some lovely designer linen I scored at a fancy fabric store remnant sale, or maybe some of those pretty, Japanese linen cotton blends I’ve been ogling…. They would be perfect for such a versatile jacket. And then I’d have to use some wool suiting for fall, and denim for year round,,,
Wow they all look so lovely in their jackets!! I would make my version(s) in bottom weight cotton one with small –flowers and the second with small mammals.
Really flattering jacket and I love seeing how it looks in different fabrics. This looks great in so many fabrics, I can see how it could become a “go to” jacket pattern.
This is such a great pattern. Love Michelle’s floral version. I am planning to make this up for a wedding I’m attending later this year!
Oh this is the best idea. I love seeing the same pattern on multiple shapes at once. Thanks!
Oooh, so many possibilities! I think I’d try cotton velvet.
This is a delightful email about the Threes A Charm Pattern today. I would love to make this beautiful jacket in a soft 100% gray linen material. I’m sure I’d wear it often.
Thank you,
Mary
I rather like this jacket. I would make it in dupion silk and line with silk too. I would have to lengthen it as I’m tall
Enjoyed seeing so many versions at once. I made two and have worn them both often. I do think I will make a third, planning to lengthen its look a bit and add some embellishment.
Love this pattern. I wasn’t sure it would suit me, but I can see it’s universally flattering. I’d love a version in some sleek black fabric, like cotton sateen with a slight sheen. A navy or true red version in suiting would be an awesome addition to my work wardrobe, too!
I would use Ankara (african print fabric) This is a NICE jacket!
This is such a nice pattern that seems adaptable for any number of different types of uses or occasions. I would love to make this jacket in a silk, either a neutral like Meg’s or in a rich jewel tone. I think I’d also enjoy it in a nice linen fabric to make it very versatile.
I like Tanya’s white denim. It’s the perfect time of year to make one. Have been thinking of buying the jacket pattern but just haven’t done it yet.
I love Tanya’s wool version! I’ve got some wool suiting that I think would look great made up into this jacket.
I would make this in a houndstooth pattern wool, and an animal print denim.
I probably would go first with denim and later with a nice fabric like yours Meg. Thanks!
I love the idea of a lightweight patterned denim – tea roses or something similar! – made up in this pattern.
How fun to see everyone’s together! I think I would try to make this out of a linen, I’m not sure its one of the recommended fabrics, but I think it would lend a nice casual vibe.