Check out my blog for more pictures and random, slightly offensive ramblings.
Pattern Description:
YOU GUYS. It's a little red riding hood coat. Need I say more?
(Ok. Maybe I do need to say more. It's a lined wrap coat with a flouncy circle skirt, pockets and a collar or a hood.)
Pattern Sizing:
A5 -- 6 through 14, or EE -- 14 through 20. Sizing runs on target so cut your McCall's usual.
Side note if you're sewing your first coat: You don't need to cut a bigger size than usual to make this fit over your clothes -- with this or any pattern. The extra ease is built in.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Indeed it did. High five, self!
Were the instructions easy to follow?
These instructions suck!
Seriously, what the whaaa? They have you do a bonkers amount of slipstitching, and way too much of the garment would be attached at the waist. Too much bulk, too much stress on one seam. That circle skirt gets heavy! Plus, slip-stitching the arms of the lining to the fabric sleeves? Yeah, let's go with no.
The fact that the skirt portion doesn't have a separate facing but folds over instead makes things a little tricky, but the way I put it all together is still pretty simple.
Construct the entire coat out of both the fashion and lining fabric, leaving the facing part on the skirt sticking out. Put the lining and outside fabric right sides together and sew up and around the perimeter of the facings, bodice and hood, all in one seam. (To put it another way, start at the inside edge of the facing and sew up and around to the other inside edge. The hem should still be open, as should the sleeves, but everything else will be sewed up in one tidy seam.)
Clip/grade seams and understitch if you like. (I'd skip it on the bodice facings and pick a thread that coordinates with your hood lining, since you'll be be able to see the understitching on these areas when you wear it.) Turn everything right-side out. Tack the lining sleeves inside the outer sleeves, hem everything, and flip the facings over on the skirt. (You might want to baste the lining to the fashion fabric so it stays.) Slip-stitch the facings down, and BOOM. YOU DONE. GO YOU. YOU ROCK STAR.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Apart from the obnoxious instructions, I'm a fan of everything.
Fabric Used:
Scrumptious wool/angora coating from Kaplan's in Kansas City. Silk/wool challis lining from Fabric Mart. Flannel/nylon underlining (two different fabrics sewn as one) as interlining. I lined the sleeves with some leftover silk charmeuse so they'd slide over my clothes more easily. The trim and hood lining is a BEAUTIFUL silk/rayon velvet from Fabric Mart.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Lined the hood in a contrast fabric instead of opting to line it with the fashion fabric. Same thing with the cuffs. That's all.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I don't think I need more than one vaguely elf-like coat, but I definitely endorse this.
Conclusion:
Great pattern, not-so-great construction methods. The instructions aren't hard to follow though, and they WILL get the coat put together … so if you're hesitant or new to sewing coats, don't let my review deter you from this one.
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very cute!
1/21/13 3:08 PM
Your coat came out gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! And you went the extra mile to make sure it would be warm, good for you!! I made this coat last year and do remember the directions were kind of ridiculous, your way sounds much better.
1/21/13 5:56 PM
Wow! You did an awesome job inspite of the lousy instructions! Love the color too!
1/21/13 6:17 PM
What pretty fabric! The color is great on you and your sewing skills are great!
1/21/13 6:42 PM
Your review prompted me to check out your blog...both coat and blog very impressive...Good work
1/21/13 6:50 PM
Haha this coat is stunning! Its the exact opposite of the yeti pimp coat!! Love it.
1/21/13 7:39 PM
On your slender frame this coat is fantastic! Very young and fun! Love it on you. And your choice of fabrics is MMMMMMMMM. Velvet hood lining - sumptuous.
1/22/13 12:18 PM
Nice job.
1/22/13 1:54 PM