Handmade Fall Jacket
Mark Allyn Artistic Journal
Clothing, Jewelry, and Light Artist in Bellingham, Washington
Handmade Fall Jacket
While waiting for a bus here at the South Station Bus Terminal, I noticed the upholstery on their chairs.

It was very sturdy upholstery fabric that had to withstand many people and whatever those people may spill on them.

So, with this idea in my mind, I asked at a local fabric store about upholstery that is used in bus stations and airports, they showed me a very good selection of fabrics. Many of them were quite beautiful.

These fabrics are expensive, but the Mill End Store in Portland, Oregon has what are called remnants, which are bolts of less than 2 or 3 yards that are heavily marked down.

Marked down to about $7.00 per yard from as much as $100.00 per yard, these fabrics are still new. They are just very short. Some bolts were less than 1/2 or even 1/4 yard.

The very short bolts force me to be very creative in using them for a garment such as this jacket.

After constructing this jacket, I decided not to wear it but to give it to a family member for Christmas.

Now, eight year later, I still get compliments on the beauty and durability of this garment.

The fabric used in the upper panels (my breasts) came from a bolt that was 1/4 yard. Believe it or not, there are still remnants left over on that bolt after this jacket was completed!