Yall how is everything? I’m doing well; woke up and had a slight crisis but everything seems to be on the up and up again. I’m usually super organized and I just want everything in order. Sometimes things just happen and I promise you it drives me insane! I have to remember that life has lemons, but I love lemons and lemonade! Bring on all the life! Now let the ranting about my new coat begin!
Now y’all know that where I it’s usually always very warm and sunny but I just love, love, love making coats and other outerwear. Yeah I hardly get to wear them but when I do they are soooo darlin’ and actually keep me toasty too! I’ve made a few coats before; I have a trench coat that is fully lined and a shorter trench that isn’t. My new coat is fully lined too and it’s only because it looked cuter that way. I make a lot of mods to my projects because of where I live. I used silky lining fabrics on both versions of this coat.
I’ve made this pattern before years ago and tbh I literally just winged it. I hadn’t made a pattern as extensive as this one at that time and the coat showed it. I loved it so much despite its many mistakes; in fact it’s up next for some mending to fix it up. I knew I would make the coat again and I knew exactly what modifications I wanted to include when I did even back then. Sifting through my fabrics is how this coat came to. A new dress was up next but the fabric I used for the coat was standing out. Of course, just like that my whole motion was changed and a new coat idea was on my cutting table. My Lolita pattern had been on my mind for a couple weeks too so I suppose my new coat was meant to be.
When I made the coat originally it was kinda too big for me. If I was able to layer in the cooler months it would be perfect. But when I took photos wearing the first coat I was wearing thee thinnest knit top this side of the strawberry patch! No layering necessary! (it was in December too) This reminded me that I could take the coat in a bit to make it more fitted. The pattern is designed to look more tailored already which helped a whole lot. The length was another thing I remembered I wanted to modify; I shortened it quite a bit by taking almost five inches off the hem. (I want to wear a mini dress with thigh high boots with the coat). I also changed my mind, probably too many times about the closure. I added a smaller button but when I put it on I wanted a much bigger button. Just today I finished the new button/buttonhole mods with a bigger button/buttonhole. Tried it on and let me just say I LOVE it and the mods were exactly what the coat needed to fit me how I wanted it to. Now I do want to add that the pattern sizes are super inclusive with the smallest size being a 2 and the largest being a 24. The flounce is the star of this coat; it’s the flounce pattern piece for me! I already gave it the final press and hung it up in my closet.
The pattern of the hour is the Spearmint coat from Lolita Patterns; pattern #5013. It debuted in 2013 and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. On Pinterest I had pinned a wool baby pink coat that looked exactly like the Spearmint before I knew the Spearmint coat existed. I went looking for a pattern to make a similar one for myself. The indie patterns companies did NOT disappoint. I sewed up view A and size 16 again; that size eliminated the need for me to worry about the bust area fitting well. The coat pattern has 18 pieces though *gasp*. I must include that this pattern is not beginner friendly either; it’s rated four out of five for difficulty (the difficulty of the Lolita patterns are measured in skulls and this one has four out of five skulls bolded) This pattern has some of the coolest pattern pieces though. I’m glad it’s in my stash and it’ll remain one of my faves to sew up.
Okay I’ve rattled on and on and I still have a whole lot to say but I’ll stop myself because y’all know how I am about sewing! As always if you have any questions or comments share em with me. I can talk sewing any day, any time and I never get tired! This was a slower sew so I was able to get a lot of progress shots. I can’t ever include them all but I always share the process of all my makes on my other video socials. Let me know if you wanna join me elsewhere; I share my handles!
LOVE,
LOLA
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