Collage Jacket with Barbara Burke

"Why do I call this a collage jacket? The following is why, and all your needs to start your fabulous creation...

The measurement of strips and blocks are based on the 'I can't believe it's a Sweatshirt' by Gail Abeloe. I have been making these jackets for over 20 years, and it has evolved over time. It went from simple stitching to treating this as a collage... YOU are going to take your fabulous colors and fabrics and create a whole new one!

Plus you will be adding dimension by couching specialty yarns, lace, etc. Twin needles also add dimension.

I consider this my pattern, and would appreciate that you not share it with other people or use it to teach a class in the future. It has numerous ideas, techniques, etc, that you can make this jacket your own, thanks!

I will tend to repeat things along the way through this... LOL so bear with me...

PLEASE READ ALL DIRECTIONS THROUGH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT TO CUT FABRICS. HAVE THEM PREPARED AND READY TO GO. YOU DO NOT WANT TO WASTE TIME ON THIS DURING THE CLASS.

BARB BURKE 908-674-0295, dobe271.2015@gmail.com.

SUPPLIES and homework:
- Sewing machine in good working order!
- Bring your machine manual if you have one.
- Walking foot.
- Darning / freemotion foot.
- (optional) cording foot (to couch down yarn, beads, etc).
- Sweatshirt! MUST be one size larger than you wear normally... You are going to be doing a ton of threadwork, plus cutting a side seam to open the sweatshirt so you can work on it. (SEE PREPARATION OF SWEATSHIRT SHEET. Asheville Cotton has these as printed handouts). You will have to sew it back together to wear LOL. If you are very tall, you may consider a man's sweatshirt, they are usually longer than a woman's. Look for the SOFTEST sweatshirt. I have been using Hanes - they have nice long sleeves and wear well. You can always trim away fabric but not add on since the sweatshirt is the base. Black is a good color base if you like a stained glass effect. Choose color of sweatshirt to go with what fabrics you will be using. DO NOT CUT THE NECK OFF! You need it to help keep the shape of the jacket and not have a huge boat neck opening.
- FABRIC. Choose colors that you wear normally and look and feel good in! This is a garment, not a quilt! After all your hard work, you don't want it sitting in the closet!
(DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING; -Batiks unless they are very soft, most are too thick and stiff for thread work. - Extra large florals. - No solids or tone on tone, they jump out and say look at me!)
Generally I buy 1/2 yard pieces of fabric.... you just need enough to cut the large squares (4x4" and 4x6")
You will need a minimum of NINE FABRICS for the 4" strips. Cut at least 2-3 strips of each and cut your 4" squares and 4x6" rectangles! 
A minimum of 9 fabrics for the 2" strips, which will be cut into 2" squares, 2x", and 2x6" rectangles. Cut at least 2-3 strips, and cut your 2" squares and rectangles before class!
You will be ironing all of these right side down on 18" pieces of FREEZER PAPER. I like to put all the large squares and rectangles together and the same for the small ones... it's easier to find what you want to use as you are working.
- THREAD. -Regular cotton to begin with. Regular 80/12 needle is okay. Pick the color of thread that goes with the colors you have chosen to work with!
Whatever color your sweatshirt is, WIND 5-6 BOBBINS TO START CLASS WITH. Yes, you do need that much! LOL you don't want to waste time winding bobbins.

Now you are all prepared to start the class!
Let's create something wonderful to wear :) Barb"






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