Heck yes, I am on top of the latest trends.

This is McCalls 5328. It was pretty easy to make -- I messed up the notch collar (and forgot to interface the underside, whoops!), but you can't tell unless you know to look for a problem. The fabric is a thick black cotton, with almost a duck or light canvas feel to it, and a big weave. This fabric basically shredded itself during construction. Too much handling and I would have been left with a fringe. But I pinked the seams and that seems to be holding.

The bubble sleeves took forever, especially gathering the two layers at the shoulder (which would have been much easier if I'd used a lighter fabric). My thread kept snapping and I kept having to go back and redo.

I didn't add the button yet, because I kind of want to keep it versatile. I was thinking of hiding a hook and eye or using a frog closure.

I'm excited to wear this... it's the perfect light cover for a summer evening. But due to the cut, it must be worn with something that shows where your hips are -- anything baggier and you look like your body follows the silhouette of the jacket!

I've seen these trapeze-style jackets around. In fact, we went to a very hip little barbecue party thrown by some very hip design folks we know, and a girl there was wearing something similar to this. Being by a long shot one of the two least hip people there (the other was the husb, but don't tell him I said so), I was pleased to see her, because I knew I had this pattern at home waiting for me.

Then someone complimented her on it, and she practically blushed and said, "I got it at The Gap!" And then I felt REALLY good, because I have the same jacket as a very hip girl, only nobody else in the world has the same one as me, and everyone else at The Gap has the same one as her.

One point for our team!