This jacket from Kwik Sew pattern #3653 was a great canvas for incorporating a touch of embroidery. I used several designs from the Studio BERNINA Design Collection Vol.8 - Spirit of Geometry. (Designs used: BE10813.ART, BE10841.ART, and BE10839.ART.)

I scanned the pattern pieces of the upper front, lower front, and upper back panels into v6 DesignerPlus BERNINA Embroidery Software, then used them as templates for combining designs and auditioning placement before sending the completed arrangements to the embroidery system. No more guessing - it's just that simple!

The knit jacket was constructed with exposed seams using a three-thread serger stitch and threads that matched the embroidery designs and color of the jacket. I love the serger - it adds such a professional look to garments and really made this jacket quick and easy to assemble. This pattern lends itself to many possibilities and I can't wait to serge up another!

I've been working on embellishing some clothes to wear at Bernina University next week, using some of the new designs from the Studio Bernina Fashion Jewels collection. This one is designed to be stitched with metallic thread for the lace fillwork; I used a light shade of brown instead. I barely had enough of the dark brown to make a pocket; the side seams are only 1/8"! To make it more stable I completely lined the pocket with the same batik I used for the waistband and hem facings.

The second pocket is all one color; I used the same variegated Oliver Twists thread as on my Miranda Bag, mostly brown and green with just a bit of blue & purple. I had another spool in a similar but much lighter colorway, which I used to update one of my favorite linen shirts, made several years ago from McCalls 8740, now out of print.

I used the same design as on the pocket, but added a border design from the Border Embroidery Set; both designs have the same hand-look stitch pattern. The lighter thread matches the color value of the linen, and the slight sheen of the cotton thread plays nicely on the handkerchief linen. I also changed the buttons (having lost four of the nine buttons on the shirt); the replacements are dark mother-of-pearl with just a bit of green & blue that repeats the hues of the stitching.