My First Kilt Jacket [PC]

[2nd to One]

Some of you offered advice several weeks back when I posted a few questions about the PC jacket I was working on for Hothir's Homeschool Alumni ball. Well, I finished it, wore it to the ball, had an amazing time, and thought I'd share a picture to see what you think...

This was my first attempt at a jacket of this type, and also, I followed the pattern instructions for the most part...a mistake, which I won't make next time.

Hopefully my next attempt will be better...

[English Bloke]

Blimey! I can't even thread a needle, let alone make a jacket. Well done!

[Mickey]

That's pretty impressive. Briefly thought about attempting it myself until I started getting my butt kicked trying to simply move pockets on a jacket. You look good!

[CMcG]

I see you decided to go with silk/satin lapels after all, which I think was a good choice.

<snip>
This was my first attempt at a jacket of this type, and also, I followed the pattern instructions for the most part...a mistake, which I won't make next time.

Was the mistake in following the pattern or in diverging from it. Could you tell us why?

In moving away from the pattern, you might try a different configuration of buttons on the front of the jacket. This is how they do it at Kinloch Anderson (picture below) and is basically having them be functional instead of decorative. This will give your PC a more bespoke feel and, to my eye, looks classier than having the buttons on both sides.

[2nd to One]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate it!

Was the mistake in following the pattern or in diverging from it. Could you tell us why?

In moving away from the pattern, you might try a different configuration of buttons on the front of the jacket. This is how they do it at Kinloch Anderson (picture below) and is basically having them be functional instead of decorative. This will give your PC a more bespoke feel and, to my eye, looks classier than having the buttons on both sides.

The mistake was following the pattern's instructions for the construction of the jacket. Most notably, those for attaching the collar. On the costume jackets I've done in the past, I've put the collar together and then stay-stitched it to the jacket, then sewed the lining over with the collar in between the layers. However, the pattern has you sew the upper collar to the lining, and the lower collar to the jacket, and then sew around the whole thing in one fell swoop, which makes it a bit more difficult to get the collar and lapels shaped the way you want (speaking from experience, the joins of the collar ends and lapels don't match on mine.) Also, the upper collar pattern piece is smaller than the lower collar pattern piece...not sure whose idea that was... And I've already mentioned the jacket front darts in one of my other threads...

Other than those things, the pattern itself was fairly good, I just think I should have followed my previously established method of putting it together. All in all, I am quite happy with the result, though I intend to try again at some point, perhaps then I'll try some different things...the closing PC style is interesting.
I was really happy with the way the waistcoat came out as well!