This is the first entry on my Brocade/Lambskin Biker-Style Jacket from the Burda December 2015 issue (design 12/2015 #108B).  For more information on this issue, please visit the Burda Style Back Issue Archive.  The project itself was very, very intricate and time consuming.  I documented it from beginning to end.  In order to thoroughly address the project, I need to break it down into a multi-part series. This first article will focus on the pattern preparation, leather preparation, laying out and cutting of the pieces.  I won’t go into much detail regarding the fabric preparation – this will focus primarily on working with leather.

The materials …

Burda indicates that “jacket fabrics of wool or blends” are to be used for the body (1 1/4 yards), and “leather or faux leather” for the trim (6 sq ft).  For my project I knew I wanted to use a brocade roll end that I had purchased from EOS, it was a
unique weave with Laurex threads and chenille-like textured relief.  The fabric itself was not a black, it was a deep gunmetal color, with a bluish tint.  This fact made the choice of contrast particularly difficult.  I could have gone with black lambskin, but I really wanted to use a piece of gunmetal colored glove weight lambskin that I’ve been holding on to for years.  This piece couldn’t have been more than 4 sq ft.  Probably less.  I didn’t think I could make it work, but I was willing to try.