Comments on: Confessions of a Coat Pattern Addict

By: Marcy

Marcy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:25:00 +0000

I too am a pattern addict, and I especially love coat and cape patterns. (Maybe has something to do with the fact that my last name is Coate?) I even brought a bunch of patterns over with me when I moved to Italy. (I’m an American married to an Italian.) It’s hard to find plus-size patterns here, so fortunately I was able to take a design course that taught me how to make my own patterns. Now I can draw my own pattern to my own measurements whenever I see something I like. Saves a lot of money (patterns have gotten SO expensive!) Unfortunately I hardly have time to sew anymore.

Love your blog!

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:16:33 +0000

Karol -Ann, snap! That's the one I'm really hanging out to make…. it just looks so versatile, you know? Like you could be a bit arty in it or close it quite conservatively.

By: Chriss

Chriss — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:53:29 +0000

For me, the Rio is just you, it has style and class and is not the norm!! I would wear it myself! What a good collection of coat patterns….

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:21:00 +0000

Chriss, I adore the Rio, too – and because it’s such simple pattern pieces, it’s apparently quite easy to “enbiggen”, as George W (the bloody idiot!) would say.

It’s also quite unstructured and the instructions aren’t scary.. all good points…. and – I’ve shrunk enough that my measurements are closer to the LG than the XL – Oh yeaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:19:21 +0000

Roo, I reckon you’re right – unstructured is good for the next year to 18 months, I reckon!

What a SCORE on your op shop coat! Well done! And since you live in such a foggy chilly place I bet you get a lot of use from it.

Hmmm, quirky pin – that’s sounds like my kinda thang, huh?! Was going to try to get to the local craft markets in the morning if it’s not miserable and raining looking for exactly that… there’s a local enamel artist who does amazing stuff.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:15:37 +0000

Sue, Vogue 2949 is the only one of these patterns not physically in my stash – yet! It’s probably sitting in a freight terminal in LA or Sydney right now…. but I only paid $US 5.99 for it, so that’s ok!

By: rooruu

rooruu — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:25:17 +0000

Ah, Caity, I have some of those patterns too – equally unused…

I notice, however, that many of them are what you could call afashional, not specific to a year or season, based on interesting shapes, so they don’t date.

As to what to pick – if you’re shrinking as you are, wouldn’t you be better to go for one of the more unstructured ones, so you can still wear it for a while? By moving the quirky pin closure in a bit, you can have it not sagging or bagging, but still looking stylish. Maybe one of the kimono-inspired ones, or the less fitted Marcys.

The universe sent me a coat, so I didn’t make one. Found it in an op shop, classic black, cashmere/wool, fits well, one dryclean later (it was in good nick, but even so) and done! Oh, did I say $25 all up, including the dry cleaning? Bargain!

By: Karol-Ann

Karol-Ann — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:21:25 +0000

Hi Caity, I love the Vogue pattern by Sandra Betzina. Don’t really know you, but that’s the one I’d make myself

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:07:35 +0000

Vogue 2949 – that’s the one Iwould like to see you make. Don’t know about its reviews or anything but I think it would look great on you… from my point of view – it looks comfy but still interesting and stylish..