COZY QUILTED TAMARACK JACKET

As I sit down to write this post my baby is sleeping in the next room over and all I can think about is getting all cozy under a blanket on my couch. With that said I can’t think of a better project to share with you today. I recently finished the Tamarack Jacket by Grainline Studios. I dragged my feet making it, but once I finished I didn’t know what took me so long! I’m already planning my next variation(s)… 

I love Grainline Studios and have made quite a few of her patterns and am always ready to buy her latest releases. They are the perfect basics/essentials and you can right away envision the pattern in so many different fabrics and ways to modify it to make it your own. But to be honest it did take me a bit to hop on the Tamarack Jacket train. I had to see some other people’s makes before I could really envision my own. Then I started to get inspiration everywhere! Just perusing Pinterest or doing some online window shopping. I saw so many jackets that I liked and could see the Tamarack as the base. And yes this pattern is a few years old it has really stood the test of time. 

SO- I guess I’ll cut to the chase and tell you what I did to make my Tamarack variation! 

I had a specific color denim/blue in mind and this fabric fit the bill pretty well. I found my fabric at Joann. It’s 100% cotton and pretty lightweight so it was easy to work with being that there are so many layers to the project. I wanted the thread to be a bit darker so that it would already look a bit worn in and faded. I made all my own bias tape to match. This was my first time doing so, and as intimidated as I was it really wasn’t too bad! I don’t think I would have been able to do so without this handy little tool though. I may never need to buy bias tape again! I only did one layer of batting but if you live somewhere much colder I’d suggest doing two to really keep you warm. 

I did my horizontal quilting lines 3 1/2 inches apart. I lengthened the jacket by 10 inches and straightened the hem to get the look I was going for. With the length I didn’t want to get swallowed up in it so I added a waist tie. To make the tie I folded a strip of fabric 5 inches wide by 64 inches long in half wrong sided together and sewed up one side. Then I flipped it right side out and folded in the ends and top stitched around the whole thing. I did a bit of an angle on the ends of the tie and I feel like it gives it a bit more of a professional look.

I did struggle with how I wanted to keep the tie on the jacket when not tied. I just couldn’t picture a loop made with the fabric, for some reason it didn’t seem right and felt more like a ”robe” to me that way. I remembered seeing a tutorial on a chain stitch (actually on the Grainline Blog!) and thought that might do the trick. My chain stitch loop is about 5 inches long, but actually it could have been a little shorter. I made sure to add them to the back piece before sewing up the sides. 

Lastly I put the welt pockets in at an angle and lowered them to be at a more comfortable height. I did have to change the shape of the pocket as well, as you can see with the jacket open. I probably could have redrafted a whole new pocket shape but just kinda tweaked the existing one instead. The pockets are really comfy to pop my hands into and keep them extra warm! 

I really do love how it turned out! Its pretty much exactly as I pictured it! I’m really hoping the more that I wear my jacket the more broken it will feel… and look! It really does feel like I am wearing a blanket but I feel so cool (or warm??) at the same time! 

Annnnd my coffee maker is calling me to make another warm cup of coffee! If you have any questions feel free to ask away! Or just say hi! (So I know maybe someone out there is reading this!)