The Sari Edition – By Hand London Victoria Blazer
By Hand London have done it again, created a beautiful yet simple pattern which is taking the blogging world by storm! THE VICTORIA BLAZER. Plus they are doing a Sewalong – fear jackets no more!
Yes, it’s popped up at House of Pinheiro, Sew Dixie Lou, Dolly Clackett, The Virtual Princess & the Pea, A Stitching Odyssey and none other than Oonaballoona of Kalkatroona.
By Hand Victoria Blazer – back view – oops excuse the little oopsie crease in the hem!
The thing I am coming to love most about the By Hand London patterns is they have these amazing cuts, great drafting and the patterns lend themselves to so many interpretations. I fear I may be a junkie for these patterns. I really adore their design aesthetic… as they describe themselves: By Hand London is an independent sewing pattern label for women who love to dress up, stand out and customise their own wardrobe. The designs themselves are an up-to-date take on classic silhouettes and so act as a canvas for your unique look. Creating patterns inspired by and named after the stylish ladies we know and admire, By Hand London is all about championing individual style and celebrating strong femininity.
What’s not to love about that! And they have just celebrated their first birthday. Happy birthday girls – looking forward to your second year!
I made the cropped version in the smallest size – it’s slightly shorter than it should be as I didn’t realise how badly silk dupioni can fray!!! I picked up the black silk from The Fabric Store in Sydney the morning after the Sydney June Meet-up High Tea. It was in the remanents bin – score!
The lining is a vintage silk sari that I found on ebay. The collar and cuffs are cut from the gilded edge of the sari. I pieced the collar and cuffs so the reverse is a matching pink linen (leftovers from my Tessuti jacket) to provide a little more body to the pieces as the sari is old and oh so soft & fine. The sari is gorgeous – if you are thinking about experimenting with these, the vintage ones can be a little stained and worn in places – however they are 5m long so you can cut around the ‘issue’ areas. Damage to mine was minor and for the princely sum of $20 (including delivery) I think it’s good value for 5 metres of silk!
By Hand Victoria Blazer – the Sari Edition & lining!
By hand Victoria Blazer – the Sari Edition, the cuffs
By Hand Victoria Blazer – the Sari Edition, the collar
By Hand London – the sari lining.
You might notice that I have only attached the collar band and not the lower lapels. I did attach the lower lapels but because the gild edges are prone to curling a little, they didn’t sit perfectly and looked a little wonky – that sort of thing bothers me tremendously. I knew that when I wore it I would be forever fiddling with them – and there is nothing worse than a girl tugging at her clothes – if you want to look effortless and stylish, constantly tugging and pulling at your clothes is not going to achieve that. So I took the lower lapels off. I’m much happier with the jacket with just the collar band.
I took three lots of pictures trying to get some nice ones… it’s tricky in winter, it is dark early and photographing black was not easy! So I ended up trying it with jeans, a black singlet, a white singlet and a black dress! At least it is versatile!
I hear there is another pattern just around the corner from the By Hand London girls – I can’t wait to try it!!! So far it’s been three out of three for these girls. A trifecta of sewing joy!
By Hand Victoria Blazer, the Sari Edition with white singlet and black skinny jeans!
By Hand Victoria Blazer the Sari Edition with black singlet and skinny jeans!
By Hand Victoria Blazer – the Sari edition with a black slinky dress
It’s an easy make. Really easy. I did have to gather the sleeve heads ever so slightly as the silk dupioni was not very forgiving going into the armhole, just a tiny bit of gathering pulled it in perfectly. I might have been having a Doh! moment (which I am prone to) but the instructions did not seem to mention how to finish the lining armhole edges. I just turned them under and slipstitched them to the seam allowance of the armholes, like I did with the Elisalotte.
Next time around I would also line the sleeves. It would be easy to modify the pattern ever so slightly to accommodate the lining going over the armhole without pulling – plus the cuffs is a nice neat French seam so I think it will work beautifully.
It’s quite a boxy shape in the silk dupioni but I like it as an evening jacket, it’s got great structure. I can’t wait to make this in a fabric with some more drape, perhaps a ponti or wool…
Woo hoo – I’ve squeezed THREE Indie Patterns into The Curious Kiwi & Modern Modern Vintage Upcake’s Indie Pattern Month, my Tofinos, my Cambie and my Victoria Blazer! And four if you count my Icecream Marion cardigan – ok it’s knitting… but you know I think I can claim it 🙂
Sew Busy Lizzy 
Wow, that’s a corker, I love it! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this post Lizzy and it was worth being patient, I love the pop of colour from the delicate sari lining and the cropped shape, it’s really lovely.
Thank you so much – I like to spend time putting thought into my fabrics and individual touches so it’s nice to know that I’ve ‘hit the nail on the head’ 🙂 x
You look amazing. I love that you ditched the lapel… Great lining
Thanks Rachel – and for putting up with my random emails! xox
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! this is absolutely stunning. really, really, really, really, really well done!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This looks great and I love the Sari! I’ve always loved the look of Silk Dupioni but had been afraid to sew with it. Good to know that it frays a lot, I’ll be ready for that when I finally make something out of it.
It’s easy enough to sew, if a little crisp – but it looooooves to fray!! Overlock or finish the edges!
This looks so classy. The use of the sari is beautiful.
Thank you 🙂
Lovely color and fabric combo- that little bit of texture and sheen- just lovely!!!
Thank you – it feels rather scrumptious!
This is absolutely gorgeous Lizzy! I’m even more hyped about the Victoria sewalong now! I love the Sari you’ve used as lining, and the way you’ve used it on the cuffs is gorgeous! It’s lovely and sunny here today and all I want to do now is get tracing my Victoria blazer pattern and cut the fabric out, but I should force myself to get out in the sun in case it doesn’t last!
Absolutely – get out in that sunshine, you never know how long it’s going to last! I’m thinking I’ll make another one during the sewalong, it’s a great pattern.
Wow, Lizzy! That is just beautiful! Such a creative idea to use the borders of a sari! I’ve been lusting after this pattern for a while, and I think my copy will be arriving in the mail today – yay!
Thank you so much. You are really going to enjoy making this little jacket, it’s delightful to sew
This is gorgeous with the contrast of the black dupioni and the colorful sari fabric! And you’re right, it’s so versatile that I’m sure you’ll be getting a lot of wear out of it. I just bought fabric for mine yesterday (I’m making the sleeveless version first) and this makes me even more excited to get going!
Oh I was just thinking that a sleeveless version in a wool would be quite delicious!! Enjoy making yours!
Your jacket is stunning. I love how you used the saree for the lining, having lived in India I am a sucker for a beautiful saree. Beautiful job.
Thank you, it’s fun finding ways to use unique fabrics.
love how this came out! every version i’ve seen so far looks great!
Better get yourself a pattern!
Every single version of this blazer I’ve seen has been just lovely and yours is no exception Lizzy! Beautifully made and as you say, it works perfectly as a chic evening jacket. I’m joining in the sewalong and am making mine from double knit – will let you know how I get on. x
Ohhhh I’d love to have one in double knit! Can’t wait to see!
Beautiful! I love the vintage sari. I’m off to search ebay for one!
You will work magic with a sari! They are very fine & light. I’m thinking to squeeze a summer dressing gown or another jacket lining out of the fabric I have left.
Your blazer is gorgeous! I love the idea of the sari fabric and silk dupioni. It’s such a versatile pattern where you could make it for evening or day depending on fabric. I can’t wait to make one myself 🙂
That’s so true, I’m really keen to make a casual longer one…. and the vest… addictive!
A very luxurious garment. Love it!
Thank you – it’s nice to have some special things in the wardrobe.
You are just oooozing style lady! Gorgeous version and so chic in silk. Particularly love the cropped version. . Those girls make such a great team as well as the awesome patterns. X
Thanks Janene. I can’t wait to make another now!
Oh, wow, how cool! This looks fabulous! It’s so luxe in silk!
Thanks lady! The silk, both dupioni & sari, were really easy to work with. Silk ain’t that scary!
love that single lapel and the use of the sari! the options to change up the feel really seem endless. beautiful!
You should get yourself some sari – you would create some serious rockin’ garments ma’am
This is sooo beautiful and it looks stylish and classic! Love the contrast of the collar being like the lining! I’m definitely joining the sewalong as I need another black version to wear all the time. 😛 glad you finished the lining the same as me. 🙂
I kept reading the instructions to see if I’d missed it. Next time I’m lining the sleeves so that will get rid of that bit of hand stitching 🙂 I agree another Victoria is required STAT!
i am hoping to make mine reversible! 🙂 So good that there is the sewalong now! 😀
I think it would work easily as reversible. Good luck!
Oh, very pretty blazer! I have heard very good things about By Hand patterns. I love the Sari lining, so luxurious and colourful!!
Their patterns are fab, I would really encourage you to give it a try 🙂
Spectacular. Back in the days before the euro, I paid 400,000 lire for a sari. And that was a mates’ rates deal. You’ve understated significantly the value of $20 for five metres of very lovely silk.
The best thing is I think I have enough sari left to make something else… I’m thinking PJs!
This is beautiful! I love your use of the sari – you’ve highlighted the beautiful fabric but it is still very wearable and versatile.
I think I will be ordering some more saris soon, their designs are fabulous and it’s such a lot of silk for so little!
It’s a beautiful jacket, and I love the fabrics you used.
Thank you Cari
Hi Lizzy. I echo everyone else’s comments. A beautiful and stunningly original jacket. You probably should be designing clothes as well as making them, as you have so much talent for lateral thinking in terms of use of materials and changes to design. That change to the lapel was inspired!
I particularly liked the photo of it over white: it made more of a feature of the gorgeous jacket due to the contrast. Well done!
Thank you so much Trish. You will be pleased to know I’m dreaming up a plan for old kimino panels next!
Wow, beautiful 🙂 love it
Thanks!
Looks gorgeous Lizzie! I like it without the long lapels, gives it a slight twist and really makes the rest of the collar stand out.
It’s fun to experiment – and I was fiddling so much with the lapels while making the jacket I just knew they would drive me nuts IRL.
Lizzy it’s gorgeous!! I love the length on you – the style suits you to a tee 🙂
Thanks Mel! Are you going to be in Melbourne in Sept for the meet-up?
Most absolutely 🙂 I look forward to meeting you!
Ditto!
That’s a stunning version Lizzy! And I love how you left off the lapels, that’s a really neat idea. The sari fabric is so pretty. Super chic! xx
Thanks Clare! It’s amazing how different the jacket looks on everyone. It’s a true chameleon! I want a long one after seeing yours 😉
Wow you are cranking out the fabulous makes this month, I love the idea of using a vintage sari as lining, the pink and gold is so beautiful against the black.
Thank you! I’m quite pleased with myself – three indie makes this month!
This is soo beautiful. The choice of the sari lining is just inspired and the finish is impeccable. The By Hand London girls will be so pleased to look at those pictures!
Awwww thank you. I’m dreaming up a new project with Japanese kimono fabric – just have to find the right fabric…
That looks awesome! I really need a cropped jacket to wear with all my dresses. Maybe I should give this one a go. I love the sari lining. What an awesome idea!
The sari fabric was easier to work with than I thought. And at that price it’s cheap!
Lizzie, it is totally darling – I absolutely adore everything about it & it is so “you”. The sari fabric is genius. I’ve nearly ordered it twice now, but have swooned too much over the new Anna dress – that has stirred me up in even more of a frenzy! But seeing your blazer is making me reconsider!
I’m think I’ll be ordering the Anna dress when it arrives in Australia!
You should make the blazer, so easy yet very cool. You would create something awesome I’m sure!
Gorgeous! And using the Sari as a lining is clever and really added a special touch to the silk jacket… ~Laurie
Thanks Laurie, it was a fun experiment!
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I’m going to have to look into this By Hand crowd as this is just lovely. I couldn’t agree more with you, by the way, when it comes to tugging at your clothes all the time. Damned annoying and people notice. The collar looks just fine as it is.
How wonderful to think that second hand saris are available online. What a treasure trove of loveliness and this jacket show cases it most beautifully. Clever use of it to great effect.
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