Fleece Fashion Contest 2015 Winner

“Congratulations to Akram Taghavr-Burris for winning the 2015 Fleece Fashion Contest!” YourFleece extended a challenge to top fashion bloggers to see who could create the most fashionable piece of clothing using fleece fabric. Akram made an original and trendy Swing Coat using YourFleece’s Red Fleece Fabric.

Akram Taghavi-Burris - Bio: Akram Taghavi-Burris is a writer, educator, designer, crafter, baker, sewer, and vintage collector, who brings creative and crazy ideas to life. Born and raised in the mid-west, Akram has always had a passion for the creative arts. Her hobbies include baking, cake decorating, crafting and sewing. In 2012 Akram learned to sew after receiving a vintage Bernina 830 sewing machine as a birthday gift. She mainly sews vintage and vintage inspired clothes primarily from vintage patterns, which she collects. Currently Akram is an Assistant Professor at Pittsburg State University in the Graphics and Imaging Technologies department, where she teaches graphic and web design courses. To learn more about Akram visit her blog Akram’s Ideas where she shares her creative and crazy ideas.

 Below is Akram’s Fleece Fashion Contest Entry:

For the ‘YourFleece Fashion Contest’ I decided to make a 1950’s style swing coat, using a vintage Simplicity pattern 4191. I used the ‘Real Red Fleece Fabric’ from ‘YourFleece’ for the outer coat and some red satin from my stash for the lining.

The pattern was a smaller size than I normally make, so after making a wearable muslin I decided to add 1/4 inch all the way around the pattern piece, then sew all my seam allowances at 1/2 inch seam. The lining to the outer edge and sleeve cuffs were sewed at the original 5/8 inch seam to ensure the sleeve length was accurate.

The original pattern had you cut the lining of the cuffs as a separate piece and then attach them to the inside lining. I opted to simplify the process. First I sewed the outer coat as directed sewing the back pieces then attaching the fronts to the back.

Next, I sewed the lining back to the fronts at the shoulders only. I left the lining back unattached. This way I could pull my lining through after sewing the cuffs together.

To attach the cuffs I turned the lining inside out and pushed it through the outer coat sleeve, right sides facing. Once the sleeve cuff is sewed in, I pulled the lining back through the sleeve and wound up with two mirror images of the side of the coat.

To sew the lining to the front edge of the coat I lined up the front edge pieces right sides facing. When sewing you need to be mindful of the sleeves because both pieces are still attached, but once trouvé got your sides together simply pull out the outer sleeves with the lining and everything should be in place.

Once I had both sides of the lining attached I sewed the back seams of the lining together. I also took time to add my sewing label to the inside lining.

While my method may have been a bit tricky to sew around, I think it’s much easier, since now you are only using two pattern pieces, and mostly because I didn’t have to hand sew the cuff, which unlike the hem was very fiddly to work with.

I love this coat it has both a fun and elegant look to it. I love how soft the outer coat is, thanks to the fabulous fleece that ‘YourFleece’ offers. The vintage look of the coat is exactly what I’ve been wanting. While it isn’t exactly a heavy winter coat, I know I’ll get a lot of use out of it and it makes a great fashion statement.