It’s been a little while since my last blogged project, but I have been busily sewing away and hoarding my projects until we could get good photos, which we did yesterday. I actually have five projects to share, which I’ll post each week and hopefully then I’ll have some new ones too!
Pattern: Style 1671, available to purchase online (only in size 10) here
Fabric: Wool blend twill, from The Fabric Store
I first saw this coat pattern watching the Great British Sewing Bee 2019 – Riccardo won Garment of the Week with this vintage coat pattern. I began looking online and in op-shops and after a few weeks found the pattern in Canberra Antiques Centre. They actually had a lot of vintage patterns from different decades, and I bought a couple of different things!
Initially I wanted to make this coat in the lovely English wool used on the show, but I was priced out. The fabric would have been an OK brice but the shipping! I couldn’t do it.
I say this coat is almost finished, because I haven’t added buttons yet. I’m nervous to do it since I can never quite make them in the right spot. I’ll work up my courage though, eventually! It would be nice to have a button at the top to stop the wind blowing against my neck. I also have to machine top-stitch the pockets because they’re only done by hand at this stage…
The pattern itself is pretty simple, two front panels, two back panels and a pleat, a yoke, two collar pieces, a two-piece sleeve and facings. I also lined this in a red bemsilk (a bit crushed from being sat on for a week). I followed the pattern instructions for the lining and didn’t bag it out, which would have been lovely but I couldn’t quite figure out if it would work. So the lining might be a bit short, but at least it won’t show!
The pattern includes the belt but I also made some belt loops and sewed them on the side seams. I don’t think it needs more loops but just in case I have two more if I change my mind!
I didn’t do a huge amount of tailoring. There are shoulder pads and interfacing in the collar, yoke, and front facing but no more than that. I looked at a book on tailoring and ran away scared. Maybe next time, but also maybe not?
It is a kind of oversized look, you can see it’s a bit big around the shoulders. A bit like wearing your mum’s coat when you’re eleven. I still like it!
I love my new coat ❤
In other news, we moved back to Australia! We’re house hunting! It’s all going great 🙂
Christina Hopgood 