Hello and welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m thrilled to be a part of the Do It Better Yourself Club’s Julianne blog tour and can’t wait to share my version with you! Please stay tuned (or scroll down) all the way to the end, as there are a couple giveaways included in the tour!
I’m super excited to be a part of this blog tour. I’ve worked with Jessica Hooley of the Do It Better Yourself Club a couple times now, and each time I do, it’s a lot of fun! She has a new partner, Kelly, who is a ton of fun as well! If you’ve never heard of the DIBY Club (as it’s called by members and fans), you’re in for a treat. Not only are Jessica and kelly pattern drafting wizards, they are also into all things DIY and love to share their knowledge freely. The site is full of great information and tutorials. I’m a big fan of all Jessica’s soap & bath bomb recipes! There is also a “Beginner’s Guide to Sewing Knit Apparel” on the site that has been an incredible resource for me and is full of tons of very helpful info.
This tour is all about the newest pattern, the Julianne pattern.
Kelly and Jessica say:
The Julianne women’s PDF sewing pattern was designed to be a wildly versatile wardrobe pattern. This button-up can take you from a breezy summer dress all the way to a jacket. Be sure to check out all of the options this pattern has to offer and subscribe to our Sewing Insider emails to find out about new pattern hack tutorials!
Your purchase gives you access to pattern files from size misses 00 to plus 36. The instruction packet also includes detailed alteration tutorials so you never feel frustrated by an improperly fitting garment again.
The Julianne comes with 3 neckline options (traditional collar, hood and fold-over collar), 2 button-up options (full or half), 4 sleeve lengths, 8 hem lengths, pockets and an optional drawstring waist.
If you know me, then you know I have 4 kids, 3 jobs and very little free time. So I take shortcuts when I can (and sometimes I invent a shortcut. haha) That is to say: I skim read/don’t read tutorials. I also chain stitch, rarely press and avoid pins at all costs….so long as I’m just sewing for myself, I’m comfortable making the piece, and it isn’t a pattern test. When it comes to DIBY patterns, however, I ALWAYS read the tutorials(and would recommend the same). These pieces are drafted with all the important things factored in. Take the Duchess Skirt pattern, for example. Reading the tutorial allowed me to see that Jessica had drafted it to be cut in such a way that it would flutter away from the body. If it had been cut without taking your fabric grain into account, the skirt would have had an entirely different look. (You can read my duchess skirt pattern blog post here.) Not only can you learn fun little facts about design and fabrics, there are about 50 links to tutorials, hacks, and videos to help you work your way through the pattern (and other patterns in the future)! I’ve included some of the pattern pages so you can see the fabric requirements, size charts and supply list. I love that by reading one of their patterns, I come out of it feeling like I’ve picked up some great new tricks. It makes it well worth the read.
To be honest, the longest part of this entire process was deciding which options I wanted to make and what fabric I wanted to use. For mine, I opted to make a jacket of sorts (sizing up). I wanted to use a hem line in between the mid thigh and tunic lengths, long sleeves, hood, cuffs, roll up button tabs (for the sleeves), as well as the cuffs, and full placket (to attach a zipper) I decided to use my precious stretch denim that I had been hoarding from Aurora Design Fabrics to create a denim jacket. I had just received a bit of twill khaki colored fabric from Fabric Mart as well, so I decided to use that for my accents, linings and such.
Now, this pattern is not simple and quick by any means. It can be, if you want to just make the tunic or dress version without all the options. But there are a ton of options and small pieces that need to be cut, if you want to create a jacket with everything. Still, there is no need to worry, as the tutorial walks you through every part of making the jacket, dress or top, step by step. Each individual step is broken down thoroughly and expertly. I’ve attached a couple pictures of some of the pieces throughout the sewing process, so you can have an idea. 🙂 This is one to take your time with! Since it’s a woven AND there are lots of little details, go slow and be sure to finish all those seams!
For my hood, I decided at the last moment (after cutting it), that I wanted it to be larger and lined. There is an add on to the pattern that will help walk you through the lined hood steps. For mine, I simply cut double hood pieces (for the lining), then made my hood pieces larger by attaching strips that were approx. 5″ wide by the length of the hood from the very top to the bottom in back (around the curve). I attached the pieces RST to the main hood pieces before sewing the hood together. It altered the hood shape slightly, (and caused me a bit of grief while attaching, since there is NO stretch and I had to improvise with a pleat at the base of it) but I’m happy with how it came out, as I wanted an oversized hood. 🙂
I took a cue from Sarah at SewingwithSarah.com & added a bit of bias trim to the hood seam, to keep it covered and pretty. (I wish I had read her post before starting, as I would have covered all my seams!) I used the same twill fabric for my cuffs, the inside of my button tabs & my hood lining. I also added a bit of it as faux lining inside my pockets, and as a bias trim decoration that I stitched above the yoke seam in the back. I love all the little pops of color that keep it from being overly denim-ized 🙂
I decided early on that I wanted to do a zipper instead of buttons, since I thought it would make things easier. bahaha. I still used 4 buttons total, between the long sleeve cuffs and the button tabs, so I didn’t avoid buttons completely! I purchased a super long metal zipper to use for the front. It has been awhile since I used a zipper…and I ended up seam ripping twice. I also realized (after adding it) that I had picked the wrong kind, as I wanted one that would open completely…since it was for a jacket. *le sigh*
If you are planning to use one, I would say follow all the steps up until the part where you are turning and pressing the bodice pieces in (before buttonholes). Try it on to see how many times you need to fold the seam over, then unfold once and baste the two front seams together at that exact point. Open the seam to lie flat, then place your zipper on top of the basted seam, sew up, around and down as usual. *I highly recommend watching this video: DIBY Club: how to install a zipper onto a facing I will be sure to do so myself BEFORE attempting another zipper. haha.
I also decided at the last moment to add an elastic within the drawsting casing, to cinch the waist a bit, as it was true denim and I didn’t want it to look completely bulky and shapeless. (the pattern had already given it great shape, but because I sized up to wear it over clothes, it lost a bit of that shape) To do that, I just made the casing per the instructions, then threaded 1″ wide non roll elastic through and stitched it down at the two end points. No exact science there. 🙂
This jacket took more than a little time, as I am guilty of being a total perfectionist who is also indecisive. If you want to create a version that has all the options, and you want your results to be good, I would definitely recommend taking your time. I’m glad that I stuck it out and brought my denim jacket vision to life! I think this jacket will be great for fall and I can’t wait to make more. I think I’ll make a tunic version next, followed by a fully lined twill version. 🙂 I learned so many new little tricks about working with wovens (and buttons)! I would like to thank Jessica and Kelly for letting me be a part of the tour!
Be sure to grab the Julianne while it’s on sale for $8.99! You can also get a coupon for 15% off the other patterns when signing up for the sewing insider emails on the site! Buy it here: the Julianne pattern.
You can find the non-stretch version of the denim used here: Indigo denim from Aurora Design Fabrics
and the twill fabric came in a $5mystery fabric bundle from: Fabric mart fabrics
To enter the Giveaway: You will need to share/comment on the blog release post on the DIBY Facebook page to enter. Each share equals one entry. There are 5 pattern and fabric bundles up for grabs! Winners will be chosen on Monday Nov 7th!
Enter the Giveaway Here!
You can find all of the tester photos here: https://doitbetteryourself.club/julianne-button-shirt-dress-tester-album/
And the official DIBY club blog post about the release here: https://doitbetteryourself.club/julianne-pdf-sewing-pattern-is-finally-here
Want more info? Head on over to the DIBY Club Facebook group
The Julianne Blog Tour Schedule
November 3rd – Sewing With Sarah | Bellephant
November 4th – Very Blissful | Stitched by Jennie
November 5th – Styling With Christina | Mermaid Mama Designs ****YOU ARE HERE | Diskordias Curvy Sewing
November 6th – Swimming in a Sea of Estrogen | Bex Textiles | Love Made Handmade
Mermaid Mama Designs 
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