Green Pepper: F700 (Polar Jacket and Vest) - Type:Mens - Jackets  | | Viewed 184 times
| | Review rated Very Helpful by 11 people | | Reviewed by: | thegreenviolet | 
| About thegreenviolet | | | | Member since: 11/26/12 | | Reviews written: 8 | | Sewing skills:Beginner | | Favored by: 4 people | | patterns reviewed: 8 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 2/20/13 2:32 PM | | Last Updated: | 2/20/13 2:36 PM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | More Info provided by thegreenviolet | | | | Fabric: | Fleece [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| This jacket was created for a good friend of mine- to whom I owed many favors! I think I've payed my debt and then some with this jacket. While we collaborated on some of the design/ function decisions, I will have you know that the color choices were all his! Fortunately it didn't turn out QUITE as appalling as I was fearing it would.
The whole saga is on my BLOG
Pattern Description: A comfortable multi-use garment with these great features: Jacket or vest with collar or hood (with optional drawstring). Cozy over-sized hand warmer pockets. Optional elastic hem.
NOTE: I think this is an out of print pattern, its not listed on Green Pepper's website and their pattern numbering has changed. The Plush Polar Jacket and Vest 507 seems to be the updated version of this pattern, and it looks like it has a few more professional finish options.
Pattern Sizing: Men's (though it claims to be unisex, its not a very feminine cut) sizes S-3XL. We measured my friend and according to the pattern, we should have cut an XL (he also wears and XL in RTW jackets). A little judicious pattern measurement suggested that we cut the size L instead, and it ended up fitting just like he wanted. I had read on the reviews for GP 507 that the sizing runs large.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, with the exception of the modifications that we made (see below).
FRONT
BACK
Were the instructions easy to follow? The directions were fabulous. Actually, let's be honest, they were clearly designed for some dude who was taking his first turn at the sewing machine without his mother/wife's assistance, which was perfect for me because I have never made anything like this before.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It was very easy to follow the directions and very easy to modify to accommodate my friend's requests. I think now that I have made it once, the next versions will be fairly quick to make. Everything was very straight forward.
Fabric Used: Very cheap 50% off fleece from the chain fabric store (Joann's). I do wish we had used something higher quality from Seattle Fabrics, maybe next time! He is going to be using this as if it were a performance jacket from Patagonia (like all his others) and I'm worried the fabric is going to pill and look very cheap very quickly.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Quite a few here!
-We added two inches to the length through the torso and two inches to the collar height (at his request) to accommodate a 28" zipper instead of the suggested 24" zipper. FYI, I think it would have looked and functioned better if we added four inches to the torso length instead, but that is NOT what he wanted! Either way, this pattern is SHORT (he is about 6 feet tall). The collar looks good when zipper up (and covers up to his nose which is what he wanted), but it looks totally ridiculous when unzipped.
-He also requested that we carry the color blocked yoke onto the back of the jacket. The original pattern has a solid colored back. This was easily accomplished by slashing the pattern at the same height as the yoke on the front of the jacket and adding a seam allowance.
-The only other request my friend made was that I include a zipper guard to keep the cold zipper pull off his face when the jacket is zipped all the way up. I did a little improv on this one. I didn't find too much info online, so I looked at a couple of my own jackets and came up with this. I cut a half circle shape out of the fleece, edged it with Italian nylon lycra from Seattle Fabrics, and sewed it into the seam allowance at the top of the zipper.
ZIPPER GUARD
-I also ordered some Groovy Zipper Pulls from Seattle Fabrics and got some 1/16 inch cord at my local fabric store to make zipper pulls. Its pretty hard to grab that tiny zipper when you are wearing gloves! You can also see the water resistant zipper that we used.
ZIPPER DETAIL
-I can't believe I forgot to take a photo of it, but I added the nylon lycra to the bottom of the sleeves following THIS TUTORIAL (using the steps labeled "lycra" at the bottom of the page). I think this step really added a more professional finish; rather than just having a straight hem at the sleeves which would allow them to hang over the hands, or a band of elastic which can be tight, the lycra keeps the ends of the sleeves resting lightly above the hands.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes! I'm sure I will make this again.
There are a few changes I might make next time. The pattern calls for two layers of fleece on the lower front, which are used to make a pocket that extends from the seam across the chest to the bottom hem. I've seen this construction in some professionally made jackets, but the inside piece is a mesh or lightweight nylon instead of fleece. I think this would reduce bulk and make it much easier to sew. My sewing machine did not like top stitching through 4 layers of thick fleece! I've added a small zipper guard at the top of the zipper, but most jackets have a zipper guard that extends all the way down the length of the zipper, to keep that cold zipper off your body. If I can figure out how to do it, I'll extend the zipper guard next time. Also, I'd like to lady-fy this pattern for myself. Obviously the first step will be to pick a more appealing color palette, but the second step will have to be altering the pattern, which is a bit above my skill level at this point.
Conclusion: The recipient LOVES it and that is really what matters! Seriously, this will make a great present for the men in your lives and they will be eternally grateful (or hopefully at least grateful enough to help you with that next home improvement project).
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10 Comments
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Nice job!
2/20/13 2:48 PM
Great review - and the jacket looks wonderful.
2/20/13 2:56 PM
Nice work! Your friend must have a buddy in my area. I have a neighbor man who only wears day-glo colors. It does spice things up a bit and they will never be hit by moving vehicles. Now that you have ventured in to fleece you will have many requests.
2/20/13 3:13 PM
Very nice jacket! I like the color choices.
2/20/13 3:16 PM
Oh nice! I like the colors...makes me think of sherbert!
2/20/13 3:49 PM
Oh! Well done! Every Hero in our lives deserves day-glo fleece. They have their reasons, we mere mortals are not to question their fashion sense.
2/20/13 3:52 PM
Love the jacket and the changes you make to suit your friend. I had a laugh about the collar height as my DH requests the same thing and I cringe at how it looks undone! Good luck with the changes for your version. Modifying the zipper shield is fairly easy and I'm sure you'll be able to work it out but let me know if you need a hand
2/20/13 3:58 PM
Great color choices - looks like high end RTW. Great work and very helpful review
2/20/13 6:55 PM
I like it!
2/21/13 7:50 AM
What a great job! All those little details you added make this one special jacket for your friend!
2/21/13 12:09 PM