SewLongSummer

Welcome to my stop on the Sew Long Summer Blogtour hosted by Melissa of mahlicadesigns, it couldn't have come at a better time for us here in the UK as we've definitely seen a change in the seasons in the past week or two! 

As we say SewLong to Summer, my thoughts are turned to Autumnal sews and keeping the cold, wind and rain at bay whilst being able to remove layers on those days where the weather can't make it's mind up!  (Yesterday we had everything from 23°C bright sunshine to 11°C with thunderstorms and gale force winds!) 

Whilst I've been keeping up to date sewing cardigans, sweaters and hoodies throughout the Summer, I now need to think about heavier, warmer and drier functionality garments so where better to start sewing for Autumn than a coat!? 

Having browsed through all of my favourite pattern designers websites looking for patterns and whilst I came across several I liked none were quite right until......I found Jalie 2680 Stretch City Coat for Softshell, PERFECT! Lightweight, warm, wind and water resistant, exactly the Coat layer I need for the transition to Autumn.

Softshell is a fairly new fabric in the UK although it is very quickly gaining popularity and fabric companies are striving to find a great variety of patterns and solids. It's water and wind resistant and has a fleece backing built in so no need to line it until you want to!  This beautiful grey with silver foil swallows is from Splashings of Fabric and has a black fleece backing although they stock several other designs too.   {I will be uploading another post very soon with more info on softshell, how to sew it and places to look for it in the UK, follow me oninstagram or subscribe to my newsletter}

The Stretch City coat has an option of a hood or a collar and is exceptional value as the single pattern includes ALL sizes from Age 2 child to Ladies US22 (Approx a UK26!) so you literally could make from this pattern for years to come as well as making Mummy & Me style matching coats very easily!   

The pattern is also available in both PDF and Paper versions so whichever format you prefer, they've got you covered! (International shipping is available, was CA$9 for 1 pattern to the UK on blog publish date)  

I opted for the PDF version as I'm more than comfortable with them and wanted to get started straight away! I won't lie, 42 pages to print seemed a bit daunting but with my {fast} laser printer, ruler, old rotary cutter, tape dispenser and Jalie's easy lining up markings, I had it all assembled and cut out within half an hour. 

As well as being lots of pages to print, there are also lots of pattern pieces, 16 in total, although you won't need them all as that includes both the hood and collar pieces so only 14 needed for each style, omit the in seam pockets and you loose the need for that piece too but I couldn't ever do that.....I need pockets in everything!!

The pockets were actually surprisingly easy to sew, much easier than I was expecting anyway.  Because they are in the princess seaming they came together really quickly {they did make me regret bias binding the seams though!} I was also pleasantly surprised at the pockets staying put due to being caught by the button and buttonholes, I had an awful feeling they would 'droop' down and frustrate me but I should have known better from Jalie, their patterns are always finished so well.

Choosing buttons and buttonholes was actually one of the hardest parts for me, both in terms of finding the 'right' buttons and the fear of sewing buttonholes on the softshell fabric which I hadn't ever done before.  I will admit I almost gave up on the button idea and bought the snaps to use instead!! I'm so very glad I didn't choose to use the snaps though, the buttonholes went in the same as on any other fabric and 'THE' buttons were eventually found on the haberdashery stall on our local market.

​I will also admit I made it even more complicated than the pattern asks for as I chose to bias bind all my seams.  This is absolutely NOT required as the seam allowances are topstitched down and very soft anyway, I think I just like to make things extra complicated?!  Reinforcing the seams with the binding should help the coat last longer though and because I used a satin style binding, should also make it a little easier to slide on and off over other clothes. 

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My favourite tools and secrets to even topstitching on this coat were definitely my blind hem feet! I used both versions of it depending which side my excess fabric needed to be but they really were necessary for the even distance from the edges and seams. If you don't have one {most machines come with one in the start up kit!}, you can pick them up for just a few pounds, I certainly wouldn't attempt this pattern without one although you can if you wish to.  

Alongside the blind hem feet, my automatic buttonhole and button sewing feet {remember to drop your feed dogs...ooops!} also came in very useful.

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I really love my new coat and I've already tested it out in the rain {in fact all of these modelled photos were taken in the rain...dedication ey?!} it has enough ease to fit over 3 layers, a cami, tee and sweatshirt and I will definitely be making another in the hooded version as soon as my new floral softshell comes through from Lulus Fabrics.

I hope you've enjoyed my stop and maybe I've helped inspire you to start sewing for Autumn too? Please let me know if you make this coat too, I'd love to see your versions! For lots more inspiration, please do go and check out all the other talented blogger seamstresses joining in this tour!

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Monday: Sewing by Ti, Sewing Vortex, Sewing A La Carte, Very Blissful

Tuesday: mahlicadesigns, My Heart Will So On, Couturious, Anne-Mari Sews, Adventures With Bubba and Bug

Wednesday: Tenilles Thread, Sewing with D, mahlicadesigns

Thursday: Indulging Mom, MeMade, Sewing with D

Friday: Little Heart Threads, Idlesunshine, Ronda B. Handmade, Tales of a Tester, Sewing à la Carte, Tales From A Southern Mom, Sew Haute Blog

Our awesome bloggers (links to homepage not to SLS posts)

Sept. 11th Sewing by Ti, Sewing Vortex, Sewing A La Carte, Very Blissful

Sept. 12th mahlicadesigns, My Heart Will So On, Couturious, Anne-Mari Sews, Adventures With Bubba and Bug

Sept. 13th Tenilles Thread, Sewing with D, mahlicadesigns

Sept. 14th Indulging Mom, MeMade, Sewing with D

Sept. 15th Little Heart Threads, Idlesunshine, Ronda B. Handmade, Tales of a Tester, Sewing à la Carte, Tales From A Southern Mom, Sew Haute Blog

THANK YOU to my post sponsors, Jalie for kindly providing the pattern and Splashings of Fabric for discounting the beautiful fabric!
Please do go and check out all their lovely products!