Outfit for a wedding and a party (McCall's 4781, Simplicity New Look 6415)

This was an outfit for a wedding and a party. The idea was that I didn't want to freeze in a dress; I wanted to make something relatively warm -- like pants. The outfit is the outcome of cutting, ironing, sewing, ripping, re-sewing, 3 days straight with my Dad.

Pattern: Top, Jacket: McCall's 4781, Pants: Simplicity New Look 6415
View: McCall's 4781 F, Simplicity New Look 6415 D
Size: McCall's 4781 XS, Simplicity New Look 6415 8
Fabric: Jacket: red brocade, with 1/4" double fold bias tape; Top and Pants: black moleskin, with ribbon strap on top, twill tape in pants waistline.
Things I learned:

• We were extra careful with these fabrics: we used loops of Scotch tape to lightly tape the pattern pieces to the fabric in oder to avoid having to pin, and maybe snag the fabrics.
  
• In the raglan jacket, we had to trim the underarm seam allowance, and serge the underarm seam, otherwise it wouldn't lie flat; it would bunch up.
• We drafted a bell-shaped sleeve that looked a lot better than the original straight sleeve.
  
• Twill tape stabilizes the waistline well.
• Interfacing paid off. My new iron worked really well.
  
• We couldn't deal with the brocade without FrayCheck.
• Note to self: Think twice before buying brocade, especially synthetic brocade. It looks great, but it's very hard to sew, and it snags very easily when worn.
• Moleskin is relatively easy to work with and looks great!
  
• This pants pattern looks great, but next time I make it, I should add 1.5 cm to the back pieces' waistline, and lover the front pieces' waist by 1.5 cm.
  
• It pays off to be patient, and detail-oriented. The outcome was a very comfortable outfit. The inside seams look nice, too.

I think next time I make them (and very likely I will), I need to make the following modifications:

• Raise the back waist line by 1/2 to 1 in.
• Lower the front waist line by 1/2 to 1 in.
• Shorten at both thigh- and shin-level to keep proportions.
• Use a flexible ruler to define more accurate crotch curve.
• Press size seams better while sewing.