Faux Shaved Lamb Fall Coat - Burda Style 7028

I finished this months ago, and it was just in time for the midwestern mild winter.  

I've wanted to make View A for quite some time, and I knew I would make some changes.  Starting with, adding a collar.  And in this case I did just that.  Anyway, here is a quick pattern review of this coat project. 

Pattern Description:  Coat and jacket.  That's all Burda Style indicates on the envelope.  Their descriptions are just as vague as their sewing instructions.  But I must admit, they always have interesting styles.  So, I will add that view A is a cocoon style coat with waist darts and in-seam pockets.  Both views are lined and have drop sleeves.

Pattern Sizing:  The pattern comes in  sizes 10 to 22.  I used a size 16. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Pretty much.  I made a few minor changes.  Instead of one button, my coat has three. 

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were typical Burda.  Nothing difficult or confusing.  I did make a few changes in how I constructed my coat.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  

 

Likes:

• The cocoon silhouette of the coat.  I've never made or had a coat styled like this.
• The front in-seam pockets. 

Dislikes:

• Construction of the lining and how it is sewn to the coat.  I followed this step.  After I completed it, I tried it on to see how the coat would lay/hang on my body.  The hem was all wonky.  There needs to be at least an inch hem in the coat to help it hang better, which I did around the curve from one side to the other.  That improve the hang of the coat. 

Fabric Used: This coat is made with Theory black faux shaved lamb (#313222) from Mood Fabrics.  It has been in my stash for at least four years.  So Mood may not have it in stock anymore.  It is soft to the touch and has a knit backing.  It was easy to sew.  For the lining, I used a crepe back satin that I purchased at JoAnn's.  The weight of it adds a bit more thickness to the medium weight coat. 

 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I really didn't do much in the area of fit alterations.  I used size 16.  But I think size 14 would have been better.  The sleeves were extremely long (Cut them to appropriate length) and the neckline is a little too roomy.  I did take in the sides about one inch for a slightly closer fit. I added buttons.  One button isn't enough.  Lol  And, I used the crepe satin to make the button loops.  No other changes other than the hem construction that I mention above.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I really think that I may sew it again.  Maybe next time with a detachable collar.  Just for fun.  I do recommend it to others.  You may want to make a muslin before cutting into your fashion fabric. Wink, wink.

Conclusion:   I like how this coat turned out.  It is quite different from any other coat that I've made.  So that’s it for now.

 

Happy Sewing!

C

 

 

Winter Is Coming!

"Winter is coming."  That's a famous line from the "Game of Thrones".  In the movie it means that something bad was about to happen.  In this instance, it literally means "winter is coming." Lol

It's time to start making "our" winter coats.  In my effort to "get ready", I decided to take a look at some of the coats that I've made over the past 15 years.  So this post is to take note of my coat making journey as well as inspire others. 

So here goes!

Butterick B6244 (2016)

Butterick B6385 (2018)

Burda Style Mag 10-2008-101 (2016)

Burda Style 6462 (2019)

Burda Style 6462 (2019)

Kelly Anorak Jacket (2021)

McCall M7254 (2019)

McCall M7480 (2017)

Simplicity S2057 (2020)

Simplicity S2508 (2021)

Simplicity S2812 (2011)

Simplicity S4356 (2011)

Simplicity S9388 (2021)

Simplicity S9388 (2021)

Vogue V1060 (2012)

Vogue V1216 (2011)

Vogue V1262 (2013)

Vogue V8212 (2016)

Vogue V9037 (2016)

Are you planning a coat project? How many? What fabric and color? Please share.

Happy Sewing!

C

Simplicity Accessories S2508 - Tackling UFO's in 2021 - Part I

In the past six months I have made so many hats!  This next post adds two more to the list of completed toppers.  I'm pleased with getting off to a good start with accomplishing my sewing goals for 2021.  I'd like to complete at least one UFO per month.  So for January and February, I finished three things:  two hats and a scarf.  

Oh, it's so amazing how time flies.  These projects were cut and stored from over seven years.  Incredible..,  It only seems like yesterday.  

Often I'm so excited about sewing, and I want to make everything.  Then I see something on social media that inspires me to try even more things.  Thus, I end up with so many projects to make and/or finish.  This year, I'm making an effort to slow down the excitement and focus more on the project before me and get it done.

Simplicity S2508

This pattern is out of print.  It's loaded with goodies: jacket, scarf, hat, shawl.  Nice accessories and coordinates to try.

I made view E and F  The pattern has grouped sizes 6-14 and 14-22.  The hats come in sizes small, medium, and large.  I made a large.  The fabric I used is anti-pill polar fleece.

My hats and the scarf look like the illustrations on the envelope and guide sheet.    The instructions were typical and easy to follow.  Nothing confusing.

I found the construction of the hat interesting.  The brim has cording incased to form a ridge.  I like the affect.  I didn't follow step 5 for the bow.  I just machine stitched it to the hat.  I enjoyed making the flower and leaves for the scarf.  I do like making those little extras.

Overall, there was nothing to dislike in the construction or the finish projects.  I enjoyed making both the hat and scarf.  It took me less than two hours to make all three pieces.  

I like how these accessories turned out.  Really quick projects.  Good for all level sewists.  And I do recommend this pattern if you have it.  

My UFO bind is getting smaller.  wink, wink. I have to figure out what will I finish next.  So in the meantime, I hope you are having a great day.  Do something that brings you happiness.  It's the little things that seem to count the most these days.

Parting Shots:  Facial masks - I apply at least one per day.  During these cold, blustery winter months, stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of water and keep you skin moisturized too.  Masks are a great additional to my facial routine. 

Enjoy and Happy Sewing!

C

Vogue Skinny Leg Pants 8859 - The Third is a Charm/TNT

I made my first pair in 2017 (pictured above) and never posted a review.  I basically wear this pair around the house.  They are the best for working out-doors  especially in the fall and winter.  Why I never posted, I can't say.  But since I made my third pair at sew camp, it was about time to talk about how great these pants are.

Vogue 8859 

This is a Marcy Tilton Vogue pattern (OOP).  Vogue describes it as close fitting pants that has elastic waist, three construction methods for pleats in knew area, back yokes/pockets, and stitched hems.  The suggested fabrics are two-way stretch knits and stretch wovens.  Sizes 8-22.  I used a 16 with a few minor modifications.

These are super easy to make taking only about 1.5 hours to finish. The instructions very easy to follow.  Nothing confusing in them. 

What I like most about them is that they are not your typical pull-on legging pants.  They are sturdy and have some attractive details:  tucks, back pockets and yoke.  Love them and because I've made them three times, the pattern is now stored in the TNT basket atop of the other patterns that I own.

Below are pictures of all three pants side by side.  The Fabrics I used for each:

• Heather Purple double knit from Vogue Fabrics
• Marcy Tilton ponte knit from her online store
• Teal scuba knit from FabricMart purchased during sewcamp 

I enjoyed making each of them for different reasons:

• As I said, the purple ones are for working out-doors in fall/winter season. 
• The Black ponte knit ones were part of my beefing up the wardrobe.  The medium weight fabric allows me to wear them in spring, fall and part of the winter seasons.  
• The most recent pair, were made in between two dress projects started at sew camp.  They helped me through the challenges of the McCall's 7890 dress.  The other dress I haven't completed.  

I made only a few minor changes:  I extended the hook on the back pant leg about 3/4" and I lengthen them about four inches.  Because the back has three pieces:  yoke, upper back and lower back, I added  length to both upper and lower back pant legs so that the joining seam at the knee will fall where it should.  For each I did different top-stitching.  For the black I drafted a lower leg for the front and back repeating the same top-stitching.

I really like the comfort and style of these close fitting "legging" like pants.  I can see myself making them in several colors.  Try them if you have the pattern.  So, that's all for now.

Happy Sewing!
C

Coats in March!? Burda 6462 Boyfriend Coat

Yes, I decided to make coats in March!  Who does THAT?  After all the fuss, "When is Spring going to get here?  I'm tried of the cold."  After all the whining, I chose to sew two coats for my March sewing projects.  The thought didn't suddenly pop into my head.  These are two of the coats I planned to make in the fall 2018, but never got around to it.  So, better late than later, chuckle, chuckle..,

Spring might a better time to make coats.  When fall rolls around, all I'll have to do is reach in the closet and pick one.  I cut out both coats at the same time, using Burda 6462.  I started the construction of this one first.  Once I had the body of it assembled, I started on the second one.  That post will following this one.

I bought this pattern January 2018, in preparation for making at least one coat in the fall.  My eye was drawn to view A.  I love long, sweeping coats.  This one was a bit over-sized and I'd hoped to by-pass the all full bust adjustment process.  But in retrospect it would have fit better in the chest area if I had.  And I could have gone down a size.  There is a lot of style ease throughout the body of the coat.  In some ways this is very good, especially in my neck of the woods.  Plenty of room to add layers.  Secondly, it is a great example of a boyfriend coat.

Today, the sun was super bright (Temps in the 40's).  So bright that many of the photos were washed out making the actual color of the coat appear to be muted.  When, in fact, the color of the fabric is a dark green with some dark gray under tones.  It also has little white specks in it.

The Burda Style 6462 description is vague as usual.  It simply states AB: normal welt, semi-fitted.  That's it!   The style is NOT that simple.  The coats are lined, over-sized with notched collar.  Collar and sleeve variations.  Patched pocket or welt pockets.  View A is belted with a detachable collar.  This is a better description.

More details to come later in the review.

The pattern includes sizes: 8-20.  I used 16 with a few modifications.

My coats do look similar to the ones pictured on the envelope.  This view A pictured on the model, looks like it could be slightly longer in the back, but the drawing does not indicate that.  Both modeled coats do show a dropped in-set sleeves.  So I think the pictures are pretty much how my coats turned out.

Burda's instructions are not the best.  They do not give enough information.  This was not a challenge for me.  Because I've had some experience with making coats.  Burda's instructions start with view B on how to assemble the welt pockets.  There is some skipping around.  I just followed my own way of constructing the body and the lining.

There were so many little details about the coat that I liked:

• I love it when the pattern includes separate pattern pieces for the upper and under collars.  It looks so much better when the upper collar rounds slightly under.  So you don't see where the two pieces meet, especially along the center back.
• There are two different patterns for the front and the front facings.  The inside center front looks so much nicer when the coat is open.  And the front isn't overly heavy due to the facing and the front being the same size.
• There is a shoulder dart just beneath the lapel.  Easy to adjust for the hallow area above the bust.
• The center back seam.  Always a plus for me. 
• Welt pockets.  This is something that I want to include in my 2019 sewing.  

  My dislikes:

• The thread loops for the belt.  I think carriers would have been better.  So that's one of my minor changes.
• There was almost no ease in the sleeve cap.  Maybe because the sleeves fall below the shoulder bone.  

My fabric is from my stash.  It's from FabricMart Fabrics.  I've had it about 5 years or so.  Again, the color is a dark green/dark gray under tones with white specks throughout.  It has a very nice, soft hand.  The pile has a velvet feel to it.  Love it.  The lining is from Mood.  It is called sycamore green twill viscose lining (#319547).  Another beautiful pieces of fabric.

I did not make my usual full bust or sway back adjustments.  I figured that this is an over-sized coat.  Who would notice?

• I did lengthen the sleeves by 1"
• Lengthen the coat by a few inches
• I didn't make the detachable collar of the knit cuffs.
• Instead of thread loops, I made carriers.
• For the upper body and hems, I interfaced them.
• Along the fold line of the lapel, I added stay tape.  (I should have taken a picture.)
• I followed, Diane method for hemming the coat.  This is something I wanted to do for the longest time.  She also has the template on her blog.  This one is not perfect, but I think I'll keep using this method.  It looks so nice.
• Added bound buttonholes instead of regular ones.  (Do more in 2019)

 

This is the hem of the second coat. I forgot to take a picture of the first one.

I like this pattern, but I don't think I will use it again.  I have dozens of coat patterns to try.  I do recommend it to others, though.

Next up is will be my review on my second coat, View B, Burda Style 6462.

Happy Sewing,
C