Every Fall I choose a cold weather coat or jacket to work on. My goal is to take my time and apply various coat making techniques normally above and beyond what is mentioned in patterns. I easily get bored if I work too long on one project and will begin to cut corners. In order to avoid this I came up with a plan a few years ago. Once the coat fabric is cut and ready for construction, I cut out another project. I work on the jacket between projects unless I’m on a roll with the jacket.
My most recent jacket is made from a wonderful wool coat fabric from Fabric Mart. I underlined the jacket with Kona cotton and lined it with a printed polyester from Jo-Ann Fabrics. I like the stability of the Kona cotton when underlining coats.
The directions were typical for Burda i.e. sparse but fine if you have made a jacket in the past. The pattern called for large snaps for the closures. I substituted the top snap for a button and bound buttonhole. The best tutorial I have found for bound buttonholes is Gertie’s. Her tutorial is the one that finally got me to successfully make a bound buttonhole a few years ago. Here is the link:
Gertie’s Bound Buttonhole Tutorial
The other changes I made were to add a back stay, shoulder pads and sleeve heads. I like to refer to Jackets For Real People from Palmer/Pletsch. The explanations and illustrations in this book are very well done and easy to follow. I also used this book to help me line the back vent. It was my first time doing this on a jacket. I had considered getting rid of the vent because I had never done one on a lined jacket. I’m glad I pushed myself to give it a try. I think it turned out well.
In conclusion, I like the simplicity of this jacket. I found the pockets interesting because they wrap from the front to the back. I’m happy with the result and I know I will get a lot of wear from my jacket. This jacket is perfect for cooler weather here on the Central Coast. I have begun the process for next year’s coat. Stay tuned…
From the magazine:
I’m a late follower of your blog…. Moving forwards now. I love the idea of working on a jacket in between projects as I have a terrible problem of getting bored with things that take too long. I will finish them (mostly) but find, like you, that I will speed to the end. I will try your way of doing things, next winter.
I hope it works out for you. I’m just finishing up this year’s coat and already planning next fall’s.
I love your jacket, really beautiful! One of these days I’ll get my courage up for bound buttonholes. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Elizabeth. I highly recommend trying Gertie’s method. Her tutorial explains the steps in a way that makes it easy to understand and execute.
This is a beautiful coat and I will try Gertie’s tutorial. Bound buttonholes still scare me!
Thank you Lori. Bound buttonholes are not my favorite thing to do but Gertie’s method works for me every time.
I am so happy to learn you now have a blog! The online sewing world is in for a treat now that you are sharing your fabulous skills and talent.
Great jacket, Lucy!
Thank you!