Great British sewing Bee Anorak

This was a recent entry in a Pattern Review contest for outerwear and although I didn't do well compared to all the trenches that entered I wanted to do this jacket anyway.

 If anyone watched the Great British Sewing Bee you will know it takes home sewists and has them compete in challenges. It's not like Project Runway as the drama and egos do not abound. Also no big prizes - a dressform trophy and bragging rights. They also show lessons on how things are done. Each episode has three timed challenges: A pattern they have to follow, then a remodel of an existing garment, then a bigger more creative challenge.One contestant gets eliminated at the end of the show.

This was the book from Season 2. The book on the series had a lot of the patterns used on the show. Quadrille Publishing has a link for the Pattern download.   I'd rather trace then tape so I got the book. It's actually a pretty good book. It comes ith five full sheets of traceable patterns. Also I found the technique for the heat tape there. Amazon has the book here.

So this is what the front looks like:

And here is the back:

Believe it or not on this jacket they were given 3 hours! Needless to say it took a lot more for me! It's actually a men's jacket but I didn't see any reason I couldn't make it for me. I did size it up so I can wear a sweatshirt under it. I found all the fabrics at Seattle Fabrics and got the zipper from G Street Fabrics as they are nice enough to shorten as needed. 

For the heat tape I sewed the wrong sides together and trimmed so the tape is right side. I then opened the seam and ironed it. I positioned the tape over the seam put tissue paper on it like I was using a pressing cloth. The first round I tacked it, the I repositioned the paper and went over it again. I repeated until it was firmly bound.


I wasn't lined but I created a lining because the fabric I used for the jacket, although waterproof is very thin and frankly it would have looked very unfinished otherwise:

I think in the future I would like to make it in another color, perhaps put our boat name on it and maybe add a hood. Hmmmm, red with black tape and ribbing next time? As soon as I finish the whole other bunch of projects I want to do!