I'm So Warm!!!!

 In my new coat.  I started this coat (Burda 9/2009 #122) back in January of last year and for the life of me I don’t know why I didn’t finish it. 

 I guess it was procrastination or fear of it not coming out right.  Either way, it has been a labor of love from start to finish.  I first saw this jacket made up on Tany’s wardrobe blog back in November of 2011 and knew I had to have it.  I had never done a coat before so I was a little apprehensive. 

The original coat is unlined and it comes with a nice HUGE collar.  I think this is what attracted me to the coat in the first place.  

 My first challenge was to draft the lining which was pretty much straight forward.  The lining fabric is from Jomar that I had in stash.  Is it not amazing?  I LOVVVVVE it.  The actual coat fabric I purchased from Joann Fabrics.  I originally saw it and fell in love but did not feel like paying the original price.  I went back a couple of weeks later and it was like 50% or 60% off.  I knew it was a sign that I had to buy it.

 I only had to cut each coat piece in the lining fabric.  The only change I made was on the back piece (sorry I don't have a construction picture of this.  I don't know why).  I added about 2 ½ inched to the center back which was cut on the fold.  I then placed a pleat in the center back at the top to put the neckline back to where it belonged but the 2 ½ inches added some extra ease in the body of the back for extra movement in the coat.

I underlined  the coat with a gray cotton flannel that I picked up at Jomar.  If you ever see it in the store, grab it.  This stuff is awesome. 

I worked on the lining when a group of the PR ladies got together for a sewing day last year.  After that I didn’t touch it again.  This coat has been a learning process and I’m loving it. 

The original coat has ¾ sleeves as you can see from the picture above and in tracing the pattern out I added about 4 inches to make the sleeve longer.  I wasn’t really thinking about it then, but now I guess I could have added a couple more inches as I want my arms covered.  To rectify this I added bands to the ends of both sleeves, and I LOVE the look.   

 You never know how the slightest change can totally alter the look of the coat. 

I originally wanted a short car coat, but now wish it was longer with all of these cold days we’ve been having.  I figure I’ll rectify that with just making another coat, but this time I’ll make sure it’s much longer and warm enough for these cold days.

Anyway, here is my coat in all of its glory. 

Here is a break down of what I got accomplished last week to get this puppy done before the end of January.

Monday when I felt up to it I added the lining sleeves, finished the sleeves off with a band and then sewed front edges of the coat up. 

Tuesday night got the clapper out and gave the coat edges a really good press and steam. 

Made four large covered buttons (OMG the teeth of those buttons are brutal, especially when you’re working with a heavier weight fabric.  Dang button drew blood.)  

Wednesday night I bagged the lining and did the final stitching through the opening I left in the sleeve lining, which you can see above.  This give the coat more of a ready ot wear finish.  I then finished sewing the sleeve lining up. 

Thursday night I sewed the buttons on and added the snaps.   

As I said before, I don't know why this took me so long to finish, but I'm so glad I finally did it.

All in all this was a great project and I learned to work with shoulder pads and sleeve heads, and I did my first interlining or is it underlining installation.  

Before I sign off I want to thank everyone who has stayed with me and left comments on my last posts.  I appreciate every single one.  You guys are awesome.