Tuesday, October 13, 2020

WHAT?! Another coatigan?

 Yup, but hold on -- there's a good reason for yet another coatigan. For one thing, the climate here is well suited to a light-weight coat or jacket and it could see wear far into December, then again as Spring approaches. But really, I mostly wanted to use up a length of boiled wool that had been hanging around the stash closet for a while (a couple of years? Maybe). Even though I find cool toned colors more flattering now that my hair is a silver/dark grey combo, I still have a goodly amount of warmer colors in nice fabrics from before -- and what better use than an outerwear garment that can go over the more flattering colors and then be removed when you go inside? See, reasons!


So, once more -- McCall's 7476 in view D, a nice shawl collar (a favorite of mine) and patch pockets for those necessary items when out for a brisk walk in the autumn air. Which is pretty much my only reason for leaving the house these days. 


The pockets were upsized just a bit, and given a slightly slanted top. Instead of a raw edged finish on the sleeve and bottom hems I did three rows of top stitching on a turned up hem. The collar also has the same topstitching, as does the top edge of the pockets. Shoulder and side seams were sewn conventionally, not lapped, and were topstitched on either side of the seam in order to hold down the seam allowances. Only one row on either side of the seam though, not the triplicate of the hems. By some feat of serendipity I found a vintage button in my collection that nicely matched the color of the boiled wool, and instead of a buttonhole I made a simple thread chain to loop around it.





There was some pants sewing also, but not pictured. Nothing much to be seen from navy pants on a hanger. The pattern used was Vogue 8909, an athletic style pant for woven fabrics. So -- sweatpants with pretentions. The fabric used was a Tencel twill from Stylemaker Fabrics. As you would expect, it frayed fairly easily, but was pleasant to sew. 

I'm a bit "meh" about them. They fit, and will get worn, but they won't be a favorite reached for again and again. I made view B, which has self-fabric elasticated cuffs and I knew sewing them up that they were slightly cropped (i.e. above ankle length) but I was hoping to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. Umm, no. That length just doesn't feel as comfortable in this style of pant (to me). Well, live and learn. 

Still hoping to get started on the slacks block pattern from Connie Crawford, but I keep putting it off for other things. I think because I know this block/sloper pattern will require much more work than the two shirt patterns of hers that I just made up.