A New Winter Coat, Butterick 5685

Hi all,

I made a new coat because where I live, it's cold and can be cold for a long time--like 5 or so months.  Ridiculous, right?  So, to make it less brutal, I make winter coats so I have choices when I put on a coat to brave the cold.  

I finally used the beautiful wool/cashmere blend from Mood that I purchased about 2 years ago. 

I was pretty adamant I needed to use a somewhat classic design so this coat is 'in style' for years to come.

When I fit this to me, I intentionally made the shoulders just a bit wider in the back to accommodate being able to bend, lift, carry, twist, and drive a car if needed.  

I've had this pattern forever.  Here it is for you to see: 

I'd say mine fits just like the line drawing shows.

I knew I wanted to use a fun lining and this fabric is from Fabric.com.  It's a Telio brand rayon and it is just as luscious as the wool/cashmere!

Why make a coat with a boring lining?  Am I right? 

Buttons are from my stash.  

Thanks for reading!

I hope you are enjoying the weather where ever you live.  If you have a favorite cold weather coat pattern, would you please share?  I am always looking for coat patterns that are unique, classic, or just fun.

Sue 

More unselfish sewing--Elliot gets a new coat

Hello and Happy Holidays!

This past week, I finished a winter coat for grandson #2.  This one is Elliot, he is VERY 2, and he has my heart wrapped around his little finger.  All the way around.

Isn't this little monkey cute?  I made his coat a bit differently than the one I made for his older brother, Simon.  

Again, I used Jalie 2108 or the Puffer.  

The most notable difference is that I used fleece to line part of this jacket: hood, collar, pockets.  I like how it matches with the gray contrast fabric.  

I also decided to insert elastic at the waist of the lining.  

Yes, this coat is big on him.  I made the size G (2nd to the smallest size) based on his height and tummy measurements.

I didn't have him here at any time to try this for fit.  I am thinking it will fit next year as well.  :) 

These water repellent fabrics are from Mood.  I so highly recommend them!  Great to work with!  Just watch the temp of your iron and test the heat levels.

I was hoping to find a gray zipper but my local JoAnns is very limited on its selection.  Argh.  The plaid lining or flannel also came from JoAnns.  That blue was the closest I could get to the cobalt blue.  They didn't have a gray plaid as a choice.  It works.  

I do like this pattern, except for the wrist bands, but I haven't thought of a better way to put those together yet.  They will work well over mittens and then you can cinch them up.  

Of course, Jalie patterns are well designed and drafted and Elliot didn't want to take his new coat off.  That little monkey.

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Unselfish sewing--winter is coming!

I really have been sewing, I know I haven't been blogging as much as I should but my sewing machine isn't getting too dusty!  

With winter fast approaching, I knew my grandsons needed some winter coats.  I chose this pattern from Jalie.  It's been around for a while, but it's a goodie!  

 

Would you look at how warm and cozy that looks?  

I made this for my oldest grandchild, Simon.  He is just five and getting him to model took some bribery with a piece of Halloween candy.  I have no shame using bribery to get a little kid to smile and cooperate for a photo shoot.  How about you?

Notable differences--my batting wasn't as heavy as what is shown on the pattern.  I had a thinner batting in my hand and thought with a smaller piece, it would be easier to wrangle.  This has plenty of layers--four total (2 of heavy flannel, one of batting, and one of the outer wind and water resistant shell.  

Simon wanted to wear his new hat as he modeled so I let him.  Isn't he a cutie pants?

Color blocking this coat was fun.  I knew I wanted to use the red for him and toyed with numerous contrast choices until I settled on the 'silver'.  The shell fabric is from Mood Fabrics.  They had a nice selection, it was on sale, and wow is this stuff nice to work with!  The red plaid is from my stash.

That collar!  It is so nice and high, snugs around your face and neck to keep the wind out.  Plus with the well-designed hood that is detachable, you are warm and ready for the winter winds and snow.   As Simon is demonstrating, the pockets are very nice and roomy.  He was really shoving his hands down deep.  He even mentioned that he really liked this 'new' coat compared to his 'old' coat.  (I made both, but the old one is getting a bit small).  He loved it so much that when we went back into his house, he took it off and tossed it on the floor.  Nice.

Here is a photo of the insides.  I omitted the elastic waistband on the inside and the toggles at the side seam.  The color-blocking at the front neck area was a fix as I had accidentally scorched the fabric on the collar and front.  I put both the coat and my iron in time-out for a bit and then figured out a fix.  This worked.  Plus, it pulls together the two colors I used.

You can see the elastic and velcroed cuffs below.  What I should have taken a photo of was the ribbing I added to the inner cuff to keep the wind and snow out.  That made the sleeve super thick with eight layers to sew through.  More than once I did question my sanity, but in the end, it will be worth the little bit on agony that caused me.

This was a fun make.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and am going to create a blue/silver one for Elliot, who's two and a half.  It warms my heart to see my grand-kids wearing clothing I've made them.

I hope you are enjoying creating some fun cold weather garments!  

Thanks for reading!

Sue :)

Another dress for summer..McCall's 7351

When you find beautiful fabric are you like me and rush to snap it up?  That's exactly what I did when I saw a fellow sewer make a lovely shirt dress with this same fabric I used. And, here is her dress:

                    

She had a clickable link to Mood fabric and I snatched it up right away!  I wish I could remember her user name and I would share he blog post, but I am not that organized to have saved it but I will tell you that if you click here you can see and order some of this pretty fabric as well!

So back to the task at hand...let's look at McCall's 7351, which BTW is the same pattern I used!



I made view A sans lower pockets.   I just didn't think those pockets added to the overall look.  Do you?

I just love how summery and colorful this fabric is!  It is lightweight and very breathable.  I love the lower-in-the-front/back and higher-on-the-sides look.  It is a bit different but not too dramatic.  

I made a size 14, my usual size in McCall's.  This pattern has custom fitting for cup sizes from A/B to D.  I made the cup sizing in a C along with sloping shoulder adjustment.  Those are the only alterations I made.  Typically, I also make a swayback adjustment but when there is a waistline seam, it seems like I don't need that alteration.  

I really love how there is little gaping at the armscye so the bra is covered.  

The back is really great as well.  I love the detail of the back pleat and yoke.  The yoke is lined with the main fabric so that the inside looks nicer and tidier than it would if that wasn't lined.  

I've made enough garments like this that I didn't read the directions word-for-word but I will say that the order of construction was well thought out and logical.  All the pattern pieces fit together well and the pattern seems well drafted.

This dress is made for a belt and I had this Fossil belt in my wardrobe that gets used frequently.  Did I mention that I really like the collar, collar stand, and front bands?

For some unknown reason, I had a whale of a time stitching on the collar band.  This has nothing to do with the pattern or the drafting but only me and my lack of sleep from the previous night.  I finally just cut both pieces out new and started fresh.  It made all the difference.  

Thanks for reading!  My only minor complaint about this pattern is that while it looks shapely on the envelope, I don't think it does anything for me but to make me look more rectangular than I am.  Am I imagining things?  I still love the dress and will wear the heck out of it!

Sue :)

August/September plans

So, one of my New Year's Resolutions (sewing) was to reduce my stash.  Didn't happen.  In fact, last week I received 14.5 yards of fabric from two locations: Marcy Tilton and Fabrics.com.  A week or so prior to that, I also ordered from Mood and EOS.  I feel like I am swimming in fabric right now!  So, what's a girl to do but go through her pattern stash and make some plans.
With that said, I often change my mind....that's my prerogative, right?  Sometimes I even get a pattern pinned down and am just about to make a cut and realize this could be a big mistake so I unpin and start over.  I really think I am going to drive myself to stab my dress-form with a big, sharp, pair of Gingers.  I don't think I'll feel bad about it at all, not in the slightest.

So I took some photos of my more recent fabric purchases and with some possible patterns.  If you have a better idea for a piece of fabric, please let me know!  I'd love to hear your comments.  Also, I must say that some of my pics aren't the best quality--I am still learning to use my new camera and all the settings it has!

So here are a few choices I made based on some patterns I have either recently used and decided I must have more or patterns I purchased and haven't touched yet.  Amiright in that we all have a stack of these?


First up are my pants fabrics.  The dark denim and the two fabrics on the right are from EOS.  I just love Emma One Sock!  Her fabrics are topnotch and sew up so beautifully!  The obviously heavier denim that is second from the left if from Mood.  It is a Theory denim and has a beautiful weight.  I am thinking I will use my TNT pant pattern from Vogue for these.  Why mess with a fit you love, right?

I had to have a chambray shirt and when I found this Robert Kaufman Chambray on Fabrics.com I knew the Archer was the perfect pattern for it!  I even started it today!  Can't wait for it to be stitched as this is such a classic fabric with an equally matched classic shirt pattern.  Yay!

Next up are three pretty fabrics.  The two book ends are from Marcy Tilton and the green fabric is from Fabrics.com.  I've had this sewing book from Colette forever and really like the cute little dress on the front.  Not sure which fabric I will make into this adorable dress but I think it would be darling in any of these........oh WAIT!!!  I cut the tangerine colored one today for another Archer!  See how fast I change my mind on these things?

Ok, so this beefy fleece from fabrics.com washed up so beautifully and I originally thought it might be a nice casual dress but it is so heavy it must be a jacket.  I really like this one from Jalie with the cute hood option.

So back to EOS and this lucious grey sweater knit and this Jalie Cocoon cardigan.  Isn't it just cute?  This pattern called for two way stretch, not four way so this knit will be the perfect choice.  Plus, the knit is fairly light weight which will be perfect for cooler fall days with a sleeveless top and a great layering piece with something heavier this winter.

I've had the Victory Ava dress cut out and ready for ever and with this pretty woven from Fabric Mart and a stash fabric, I think it will be cute!

This Rosie top was a free pattern when you ordered from Style Arc last winter.  I think the lines on this top are really cute and the reviews of it on SPR are pretty good.  I've had this fabric in my stash for a very long time and think the colors will work well for fall.  

Yep, another Lady Skater in a fabric that is left over from a Lekala top.  The print is rather big but I like all the purples and plum colors.  Plus this dress is a winner!

 This pretty knit is left over from a Lady Skater and the photo doesn't do it justice!  I am not sure I'll use this pattern, but it is one I'd love to try in a sleeveless version.

Ok, another sweater knit and two choices!  The left is a Jalie pattern that has dropped pockets and it a cardigan and the right is my first big 4 cardigan from McCalls.  This cardigan from McCall's resembles an uber popular cardi from McCalls that light up SPR with hugely favorable reviews!  I'd like to try this one as well since it has similar styling and is darn cute!

Last but not least is a vintage fabric from a local antique store.  I have purchased numerous fabrics from them and have been very pleased!  I found this Jalie pattern in my stash fro an easy fit, elastic waist pant.  I figure if I don't like the pants, they will make way more stylish pajamas than the current old gym shorts I currently wear!

This is a pretty ambitious list for late summer/early fall, especially since I return to work full-time next week!  I will do my best!  Any comments/suggestions are always appreciated!

Thanks for reading!
Sue