Mastodawn

Working on my coat this week. Yesterday I cut out the fabric and got as far as sewing the three sections for both fronts, and the six sections of the back together. This morning I'm working on fitting the pockets. No-one will ever see them, but I went for a touch of whimsy for the pocket material, digging through my stash for something picking out the colours of the lining. Almost colours that I can have port and starboard pockets.
#sewing #LongBlackCoat #dressmaking

Rebecca Banner Feb 14

#LongBlackCoat update. After a couple of days of head scratching, sewing a mock up using an old bedsheet, and testing the fit of it, including moving stuff out the way so I can get to my full length mirror, I think I'm happy with my adjusted pattern pieces. Even going up a couple of sizes to allow for a thick lining, and a thick jumper being worn underneath, the waist still felt rather snug. I'm obviously not the shape of person the pattern was intended for! I've also reduced the fullness of the skirt, so it is still a bit flared but will be a more efficient use of fabric.
Just put the fabric on to wash. It's a waterproof cotton cambric. Feels a bit like wax jacket, but washable at 30°. Should have done this step earlier, then I could have been cutting out today.
#sewing #dressmaking

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Rebecca Banner Feb 2

So after a good night's sleep, where the sensible part of my brain pops out and says "have you thought about. . . ", I've decided I don't have the skills to do what I was planning with the coat. More precisely, I don't have the skills to create an end result that I would see as successful enough to warrant the amount of time, effort, and general brain wrangling required to get there. Effort in =/= good enough end result.
So I'm going to buy new fabric to make the outer as well as the lining, and just make a new coat. I'm looking at it as a fast forwarded ship of Theseus/Trigger's broom/the Low King's father's axe (select myth according to taste). I was going to change the lining, I just haven't quite got around to doing that before I'm changing the outer too!
#LongBlackCoat #sewing

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Rebecca Banner Feb 1

Well, that's the excess fabric cut off. Decided I do need to fiddle with the shoulders. I should at least have enough fabric to widen everything I want to widen.
#LongBlackCoat

Rebecca Banner Feb 1

Scary bit - working out where I can take extra fabric off the skirt.
I'm going to put a disclaimer here that I have no idea what I'm doing! I've only ever followed a pattern, never altered anything to fit or drafted a pattern. I'm also not taking the coat completely apart, trying to keep seams intact if I can. I'm hoping to leave the shoulder seams alone - it has one of the bodice seams going through it front and back. Although I'm trying to make more wiggle room across the broad part of my back, the shoulders felt wide enough for me, so I don't want to change where the bodice seam meets the shoulder as I'll have to do the same on the front, which has more complicated shaping.
Yes, I realised a long time ago it would be easier to make a new coat using a larger size pattern.
#LongBlackCoat #sewing #dressmaking

Rebecca Banner Jan 29

Started work on updating my long black coat. Here are some pictures of when I first finished making it, back in 2019. It fits me as long as I don't wear anything too bulky, but the fitted princess seams don't allow much wiggle room, and it's too tight across the back when driving. It's also too thin, so despite the style isn't suitable for winter weather.
So, new lining, take out some of the width in the skirt panels to gain fabric to increase some of the bodice seams, and a seam on the sleeves. Reposition pockets (they could do with being one seam further to the back), and put in bigger pocket bags. New buttons, and maybe a faux belt on the back to add interest. Pondering adding some embroidery too.
Made a list of what needs doing - I'm basically taking most of it apart just so I can put it back together again!

#sewing #dressmaking #LongBlackCoat