Last time I had finished embroidering patches on the pockets of my jacket and was eyeing off the yoke.

I have worn it a couple of times and it feels good to wear.
So, I decided to play with the yoke. The front ones seemed a bit too obvious, so I have begun the back. Another advantage of the back is that it didn’t have to be a close match of the pockets. However I wanted to keep some of the same elements.


The fabric is quite different — a mustard linen from a dress I recently made. The colours of the threads give it a different feel.
What is the same is the stitching. The outside border is coral knot stitch, then white chain stitch. The flowers are created with pistol stitch, which I think gives a funky feel.

Now I am a little stuck. It’s not finished, and needs more oomph, more wow. I tried the feathery yarn that worked so well on the front. It didn’t work on this 🤔. So I am letting it talk to me, to tell me what comes next. It doesn’t need to be rushed. I am sure there will be progress to show next SAL.
This stitch-a-long is for our own personal sewing, so all the women on the list are creating wonderful things. Follow the links to see what they are up to. I am sure you will be amazed.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen
I respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on which I live – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People of the Kulin Nation, their spirits, ancestors, elders and community members past and present.
37 replies on “SAL”
That jacket is going to be stunning. The yoke is much more restrained than the pockets so far so, yes, it needs something else – what it needs will occur to you in time.
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I am happy for it to take it’s time ~ although that may only be a different name for procrastination!
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I am looking forward to seeing what further inspiration comes your way with that yoke. I like what you are doing so far.
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Thanks Cathy. I am happy to pull things out if they don’t seem right.
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maybe some red stitching? or echo the very bright colours on the pockets.
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i do want it to echo the front so I am pondering putting in some orange. ‘Echo’ is a great word to describe what I want the the relationship between the pieces to be. Thanks.
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It looks great so far!
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Thanks Tammie 😊
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This is going to be such an individual jacket. Worn with pride.
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Definitely one of a kind! and yes, I will wear it with pride.
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Those pistol stitches don’t half ping! It’s a fun piece 🙂
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I think they are going to be one of my favourite stitches, and they are easy and fun to do.
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Lovely stitching!
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Thanks Renee. It’s a great way to practise some of the new stitches I have recently learnt.
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This is so creative and what a great way to include stitching in your everyday life:)
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And if/when I get tired of the patches i can take them off and it can return to a plain but useful jacket!
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You are having so much fun with this, and it will tell you what it wants, just be patient. You will love the outcome,no doubt in my mind!
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That’s very true, Kathy. I think it is telling me to add in some orange. ☺️
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I like how you’ve picked up the colours and details from the pockets in the yoke… keep going… more is more!
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Claire gave me the word ‘echo’, which accurately describes what i want to do. The patches should echo each other, without needing to be direct copies.
And yes, more is not enough!
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Nothing wrong with not rushing this and letting it speak to you. Now to be patient to see it’s finish 🙂
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Part of the dilemma is the long shape. However, as I am only playing, I am quite happy to pull out things that don’t work.
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Sometimes, things just need to percolate before continuing. And actually, setting it aside during the holidays as an ‘excuse’ to do so might relieve any pressure you might have in trying to blaze through to the finish!
🙂
I’ll bet this jacket makes you happy, too!
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Fortunately there is no deadline, and it will be finished when I am satisfied that it is finished. Letting ideas percolate seems to be my way at the moment. i wonder if I am just procrastinating…..
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The pockets have such punch because of the strong colours, and by contrast, the yoke is delicate and restrained. I get the contrast, but do you want it to be more cohesive, being on the same garment? Perhaps some fairly solid blackwork around those flowers, so that they still stand out? It’ll let you know what it wants sooner or later!
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Thanks Kate. As always you have given me another way of thinking about it. i do want it to have more punch, more wow. Maybe working on the flowers is the way to go. I have been thinking more about ‘filling in’ the spaces with stitches that make lines. 😘
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Yes! Like cross-hatching? Can’t wait to see what you come up with 😊
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Anne, it’s nice to see you enjoying the stitches from your last SAL, putting them to use to enhance your jacket into a one-of-a-kind piece. I’m so impressed.
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Thanks Alys. It was two ideas joining ~ revamping my wardrobe and practising the stitches ~ the lead me down this path. It will certainly be a unique jacket!
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It will indeed.
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Love it so far!
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Thanks Gun, Everyone here is always so supportive of my madcap ideas!
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What lovely work. Eventually I will decide how to add some embroidery to the plain brown coat I have, but so far I can’t quite see where to go, so your posts are really inspiring.
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My thoughts would be to go bold, to be confident. Little things could get lost, and could look a little strange. Pockets could be the place to start, as they are already additions to the coat. Besides, if it doesn’t work, pull it out!
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Has this now become a work of art or will you ever venture out in the jacket?
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What a fun project! As far as adding “oomph” to the back yoke, I can imagine “ripples” … almost like the contour lines on a map, or even the rings around where a stone has dropped in a pond?
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The yoke is looking wonderful so far!
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