Creating The Kusama Jacket
Let us inspire your next Winter make
Each month Fabworks presents a new Fabric of The Month (FoTM) offer. This is a limited time offer on selected seasonal fabrics, perfect for the upcoming months.
Fabric of the Month for December 2024 is a luxurious black 100% wool melton fabric, this unique offering is available as a lucky dip themed bundle. Each order contains a length of black wool melton fabric, with lengths ranging from 2.8m to 7m. As well as the black melton, the Lucky Dip Bundle comes with a 3m of lightweight printed satin of your choosing - all for only £32.00!
We’ve curated this bundle with your next winter project in mind. If you're unsure what to make, the creative team at Fabworks has been busy providing some creative inspiration to help you transform this versatile fabric into something special. Black is a timeless & elegant colour that can be made characterful with the addition of colour combined with you own style - the possibilities really are endless!
Making The Kusama Jacket
Harriet's Blog
My name is Harriet, I am new to the Fabworks team, having recently graduated university, achieving a First Class Honours in Fashion Atelier.
I am passionate about everything creative, especially fabrics & sewing, and I love attention to detail. When I was tasked with creating a garment using the December FoTM, having already had my eye on the Kusama Jacket, I knew that this sewing pattern would turn out really nicely in the black melton, and it was definitely what I wanted to create.
Below I have detailed some of the process and explained how I was able to achieve this make with ease. My hope is that this inspires you to be creative and find a style that works for you!
The Kusama Jacket pattern from Sew Different, although only released recently, has quickly become a firm favourite with everyone at Fabworks. The weight and texture of the melton is perfect for the boxy silhouette of the jacket and with added topstitched details, this sparked ideas for adding a pop of subtle colour, making it perfect to personalise this piece to just how I wanted it.
So, I gathered my lucky dip roll of black melton and headed to the Fabworks Mill Shop to choose the perfect colourful accents - lining, thread, buttons, and a sewing pattern, and set to work on creating my own Kusama Jacket
Everything that I have used to create this make is available at Fabworks Online, as well as in-store at Fabworks Mill Shop, alongside this special offer for December.
To create the Kusama Jacket you will need:
5 x Chunky Pearlised Purple 3.5cm Button
Wreck of Seabirds - Special Occasion Satin
Kusama Jacket Pattern by Sew Different
Sewing thread in your chosen colour
While wool melton is often associated with heavy outerwear, and is a fabric that can sometimes feel intimidating to work with, panic not, if you’re new to working with wool and outerwear fabrics, this is the perfect project to start with.
You get all the warmth of wool without the hassle of it fraying, thanks to its felted finish. This fabric’s stability means that it won’t distort, and seams align perfectly without any tugging or unnecessary manipulation. The outer shell of my jacket came together in just a couple of hours, and my domestic machine handled it easily without any issues. This fabric really is a joy to sew with!
To give this classic black fabric a personal touch, I decided to complement it with a rich purple, using the Wreck of Seabirds Lightweight Satin, which is part of the Lucky Dip Bundle offer. There are other lightweight satin options to pair with this if purple isn't your cup of tea.
I chose a complimentary purple thread for the top-stitching, plus embroidery which I did by hand with a similar shade of purple to blanket stitch around the sleeves, pockets, collar, and front edge.
For the lining, I like the playful purple as it added a fun pop of colour to the inside.
This is just how I chose to personalise my make, but there are endless ways to add your own flair to this blank canvas. Try adding brightly coloured binding around the edges instead of the blanket stitch that I went for, or make a feature of the contrasting topstitching. For extra texture, try lightly quilting or free-motion embroidering a design across the jacket to emphasise the contrast. You could even opt for a different coloured wool melton for contrasting patch pockets, or keep it more neutral and classic by swapping my bold purple choice for cream or white.
The black Melton makes this jacket incredibly easy to style. Black is both timeless and classy, yet it adds excitement to any outfit while keeping you cosy and warm. Pair it with a coordinating Fabworks scarf for even more luxury, and the ensemble is complete!
Other Creative Ideas
How about a stylish pinafore dress, or a cosy gilet? These smaller layers will keep you warm all winter long. Don't forget about your offcuts... Perfect for a festive Christmas stockings or even a quirky plant pot for your Christmas tree! (I've made lots of other little bits using my leftovers which I'll also show you soon, as well.)
Whether you're making a bold statement or opting for something more classic, December's Lucky Dip Bundle offers endless possibilities for creating a stylish, cosy winter wardrobe. With its timeless appeal and ease of use, it's the perfect fabric to experiment with and make your own. The bundle has everything you need to bring your project to life, and is an absolute bargain with over 50% off its RRP.
I hope that this has inspired you to get creative with some winter makes.
Happy sewing, please share your makes with us, we love seeing what you create!
