Most of the shawl collar coats I've been seeing this season look like wool bath robes. Which is fine, if that's what floats your boat. But because of that I had kind of skimmed over all shawl collar designs. Until now. Behold! The beauty that is Simplicity 1254 by Leanne Marshall. I'd link you to Simplicity, but apparently they can't be bothered to post their own patterns to their own web page. So to PR, you go!
I still adore my Minoru jacket. In fact, I put it on the other day & my husband said "It's pretty warm out, you won't need your coat." I softly replied, "But I love her," as I tenderly stroked her sleeve...
Ahem.
My Minoru is the perfect casual coat, but I'm going to be needing a dressier wool coat this winter. I bought one 4 years ago at a thrift store and the lining is ripping out and the shoulders are too narrow for me, so it really is (past) time to move on.
I ordered this pattern from Hancock's earlier this week (for a total of $7, the shipping cost about what it would cost to drive to my not-so-nearby store) and in a moment completely lacking of self control I ordered 3 yards of a "Heathered Purple Wool Flannel". I was originally just looking for a nice grey, but I couldn't resist the purple in this fabric. Mood also suckered me into buying the lining when it listed it under "Related Products." Don't mind if I do, Mood. That's one stop shopping for you. Wanna see what my coat will look like? Of course you do.
I'm slightly concerned about this project for a few reasons. One: I've never sewn with wool. Two: This is the most expensive fabric I've ever bought. Three: The pattern was just released so there's no reviews of it yet. Despite those concerns, though, I'm really very exited to get started on it!
That's a really nice design for a coat! I hope your version comes out just as nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanessa! I sure hope so, too!
DeleteThis is going to be a beautiful winter coat! I cannot believe the Simplicity website....are they trying to go broke?
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to this project! I cannot imagine what is going on at Simplicity that would cause them to be the very last ones on the internet to post their own patterns. It's a bit...pathetic.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous pattern! I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, especially with that purple fabric. Oh goodness, I want some of that wool!
ReplyDeleteI have a wool coat I started YEARS ago and never finished. Why didn't I finish it? Because I was stupid and lazy and didn't do bound buttonholes. And no matter what I try, I can't machine stitch them in. So they'll have to be hand stitched, and sweet mother of diamonds why am I so lazy that I can't be bothered to spend a couple of hours stitching buttonholes by hand and why oh why didn't I do pretty bound buttonholes to begin with?!
Ahem.
What I'm trying to say is that for the love pete, bit the bullet and do bound buttonholes (if the pattern calls for buttonholes, that is), because wool can be thick and bulky and won't take to machine buttonholes at all, and leaving your coat hanging unfinished in the closet for years because you can't be bothered to hand-balm them is stupid.
Of course, I just looked closer at your fabric, and I don't think it's as thick as mine. STILL, things to be aware of. (Plus bound buttonholes are so pretty!)
Oh Heather! No bound buttonholes here! LOL. I'd rather insert a zipper than do buttonholes (by machine or otherwise) any day! I do hope your wool coat gets finished or is put to it's final resting place. LOL.
DeleteA zipper...OOOHHH OH OH OH!!! Forget buttonholes, I'm going to sew my damn buttons to the front and use snaps! AAAAHHHHH!!! I've been so hung up on those buttonholes, I didn't even think of doing something else! :D THANK YOU!!!
DeleteOkay, why am I still stuck in camp?! I wanna go home and FINISH MY COAT!!!
*cough* Wow, that's a lot of caps and exclamation marks. Sorry for the spaz? lol
Snaps! That's brilliant! Can't wait to see your finished coat! Tell those boys to cover your duties at the works site; you gotta get home and SEW! ;) LOL
DeleteI've already gushed about this pattern (at least from what I can see from the envelope photo) on my own blog, so I'm with you on the awesomeness of this coat. I'm picking up this pattern as soon as Simplicity is on sale again at JoAnn or Hancock, and I REALLY want to make it for this winter.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling the sewing community is going to be inundated with this coat this season & for once, I might actually get in on something while it's popular instead years after. LOL
DeleteJenna, I'm planning this one too! It will be my November project!!
ReplyDeleteI think sewing with wool is nice. Sure it can get bulky but it cuts and presses (SO NICELY!) and sews well.
That purple is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous!
I'm making this coat too! I'm using a green plaid wool and navy lining. If it turns our good I will be blogging about it as my first post! Best of luck!!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings! I found this when I did a search for this pattern review. I have to first say, I have sewn since I was 8 years old, and my grandmother took me to the Ben Franklin in her small town and said, pick out a pattern and material...to which I was told, there you go...here is the machine and I will be downstairs if you have questions! (BEST way for me to learn!) For the last 47 years, I have made just about everything. My nieces would send me a pic of a dress they wanted for prom....and I would make it! But I do have to admit for the last 15 years, I have been more into quilting and baby blankets. I saw this pattern and I thought it would look so great on my 31 y/o daughter! I have worked on this for 2 days now (granted not constant)!! I am not sure WHO is writing patterns now....but I am not sure they have been through the American school system! :/ This has one of the more "unique" (and I am saying that kindly!!) zipper installations that I have ever read!! I read, read and reread, and then had my hubby come and read it too. Then I pinned the (2nd side) zipper in the way they stated so that I could see if the zipper would even work this way. I have to say........it didn't. I ended up sewing to the underside of the (2nd) side. (you will understand if you read the pattern why I say it that way, you put in the first side in the very beginning.....2nd side is at the end!) I haven't gotten the cowl neck/hood on it yet......that is to come. As I said, I have not sewn garment patterns for many years....but I felt like this could have been that first one that I did with Grandma 47 years ago!! I think with all the alterations and changes I have made, I pray that my daughter will like it........or else she will have a "run around" coat! :/ LOL Best of luck to those that try this pattern!!!
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ReplyDeleteCurrently making this coat, thanks for the advice!
ReplyDeletehttp://natsewing.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/simplicity-1254-leanne-marshall-coat.html
Currently making this coat, thanks for the advice!
ReplyDeletehttp://natsewing.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/simplicity-1254-leanne-marshall-coat.html