Thursday, February 9, 2017

A winter coat



I’m still here, still sewing.  Just a little hiccup in my intentions for regular blogging.
The coat…  The fabric and lining were given to me a few years back by a friend who no longer sews.  She’s much shorter than I am, and I knew there would be only enough fabric for a shorter coat.  Year in and year out I would look at patterns, come up with impossibly complicated schemes, and come spring, the fabric would be bundled up and put away for the summer.  Problem was, there were a few moth holes that had to be dealt with.  I couldn’t just toss the fabric – I just had to come up with a solution.  Last year I bought a new pattern. 
Vogue 9133
This past fall I finally kicked myself in the behind and decided to just lay out the pattern, cut the pieces, then deal with the moth holes.  At the Creativ Festival in Toronto I picked up some squares of wool, sold for wool applique.  That’s when the decision was made to simply cover up the offending holes (there really weren’t that many) with applique.  And so the ball got rolling and before the snow began to fly I actually had a new winter coat.  I must say, though I’m rather partial to long coats (keeps the legs warmer), this shorter length is certainly much more convenient for such mundane things as getting in and out of the car.
On the technical end…  The pattern is for an unlined coat.  (That just doesn’t work for winter around here!)  So I added a lining.
  I also underlined in cotton flannel for added warmth.  The lining is flannel backed.  All in all, a rather warm coat.  Mind you, with all the added layers, the sleeves are a little tight, especially if I’m already wearing a jacket, but I’m still pretty happy with the results.  I opted for the in-seam pockets. 
With only one buttonhole to make, I held my breath and made it a bound one.  For the applique – I cut leaf shapes and started pinning them in place, making sure to start with the spots with bright red tailor’s tacks marking holes.  They were stitched by had with buttonhole stitch.  Guess I got a little carried away with the applique - it's a bit addictive - stitching my hand– and, well, I didn’t want it to look as though I was covering holes!




May-be I need one of these unlined, as the pattern was intended, for spring, but we’ll have to see about that.
That’s one more piece (actually 3 pieces – wool, cotton flannel, lining) gone from stash to closet.  Yeah!
I really do need to learn to stop making things so complicated in my head.  This coat could have been done years ago - literally. 


18 comments:

  1. That is just beautiful, congratulations on such lovely work. Angela

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  2. Gorgeous, Irene. I love your appliqué and the collar on that pattern is wonderful.

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    1. Thank-you! The collar is rather nice, isn't it. So easy - all part of the front pattern piece.

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  3. Clever way to cover up the holes! A work of art.

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    1. Seems that the only time I really get creative is when there's a "problem" that needs fixing.

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  4. I love the style and the fabric of your coat. Very nice.

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  5. Oh I really like your coat Irene! The style and color are superb. What wonderful bound buttonholes too.

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  6. This is such a beautiful make Irene! Really, a treasure!

    The applique is clearly the star of the show, but I can't help but be drawn to the collar...very nice lines. And hoorah on the bound buttonhole success. They really do finish a garment professionally. A friend of mine likes hand sewn buttonholes, but I haven't given those a try yet.

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    1. Thank-you! I love lines of this coat, it can be quite simple, or it can become a canvas for all sorts of creativity.

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  7. This is absolutely PERFECT! What a great way to use a fabric that has some history to it. The applique and how you placed really makes the simple silhouette sing! LOVELY!

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    1. Thank-you! Only fellow sewers can appreciate the need to "save" the fabric. May-be I should stop telling people that I was covering holes!

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  8. Stunning work. I share your pain about regular blogging.

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  9. Regular blogging - sometimes I love to do it, sometimes not! This is a great little coat pattern - I have made it up. The applique was a great solution to the problem, and also give an interest over the expanse of back.

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