Which Design Will You Vote for in the Denim Challenge?

Voting is Closed

Design One was the winner of the Denim Design Challenge. Learn more about the two designs below and revisit the blog to see the progress on the hooded denim jacket.

Denim Love

I have been looking forward to this month’s Denim Challenge for months. About this time every year, when the leaves begin to change colours, I start missing my beloved jeans.  I cruelly abandon them every May when I float away from my jeans towards softer, lighter fabrics and looser styles and fewer layers.

The first time I designed jeans was for a fashion show at University and I still use the same, albeit it slightly larger and occasionally altered, jeans pattern to this day.

I love how easy denim is to work with and how versatile and comfortable garments made from jeans can be. For this challenge, I wanted to branch out a bit and use denim to make something other than jeans.

Long Loose Denim Hoodie – Why Not?!?!

I think this would be the perfect casual fall coat for me. I have a lovely dark denim in my stash that will be perfect for it. The fabric has a little bit of Spandex which gives it a softer hand and better drape than raw denim would have given the design. At the shoulder on the front and back of the jacket, there would be two layers of denim with one layer cut away to reveal the layer below. I think the frayed edges where the fabric design is cut will look fantastic.

I have a confession, though; I am not 100% sure that the design pictured below will be the one I end up making. I like it, but I reserve the right to tweak it on the final garment. Sometimes it is not until the experimental stage that the finer details can be finalized. I give myself this leeway to give myself an opportunity to experiment. I cannot wait to start making samples this week. Stay tuned to Periscope to follow along with my progress.

Pocket Love

I love pockets for two reasons, one they are a fantastic design element and two they are so functional. I love the large oversized pockets on this jacket, but I know I would hate how everything would rattle around in the pockets. I am planning on sewing a hidden smaller, phone-sized pocket inside the large patch pocket to keep my keys from scratching my phone. Design two will also have pockets, but these will be in the side seam. I should have drawn these on the flat pattern sketches by my illustrations but completely forgot.

Sporty Kimono

I was looking at a photo of a classic bomber jacket with its distinctive elastic band collar when I started wondering what the elastic band would look like on a kimono style jacket. I thought about adding the band at the bottom like a classic bomber jacket but love the simplicity of it without. I added grommets and lacing details on the centre back hem of the jacket, but I am not sure I will keep it. Yes, it adds to the sporty feel of my kimono, but I think I would get more wear without it. I left it in the flat pattern drawings, but I think I will wait to decide whether or not I put them in until I create my first toile. Sometimes less is more. I would love to know what you think. Lace detail at back or not?

Want to learn more about what makes denim such a popular fabric? Read my next post, The Skinny on Denim to learn more about denim and its properties.