This coat is my last 2006 finished garment (actually I finished it on the 31st of December!!), but it won't be the last 2006 project reviewed here… Some of you might remember seeing this photo on my second blog entry; today I will make a detailed review.
Como de costume tracei o tamanho 38; não fiz qualquer alteração no molde, excepto aumentar 1cm nas mangas; medi-o todo para ter a certeza que o comprimento estava bem e que não ia ficar nem muito apertado nem muito largo, tendo sempre em vista que se trata de um casaco sobretudo, ou seja, deve ter folga suficiente para ser usado sobre várias peças de roupa. As mangas, por serem cortadas numa única peça em vez de duas, causaram-me alguma apreensão, perfeitamente infundada pois as mangas até ficaram a cair muito bem (mangas com duas peças, como as do casaco Orwell, costumam ser anatomicamente mais correctas e costumam cair melhor).
As usual, I traced a size 38 (European); no alterations except for the sleeve length (added an extra 1cm). I measured the pattern pieces to be sure of wearing ease and coat’s total length. I kept in mind that this coat is intended as an overcoat and not a fitted coat. Sleeves were a major concern: I was apprehensive for its one piece design (two piece sleeves tend to be more anatomically correct and to hang better than one piece sleeves) but I had nothing to worry about because they turned out really well. I managed to ease them smoothly (see lapels detail picture ahead).
Podem ver as fotografias do casaco original:
These are pictures from the magazine:
These are pictures from the magazine:

E o esquema:And this is the line drawing:
O tecido que usei é misto à base de lã (podem ver o pormenor na próxima foto, da lapela) e para forro usei cetim preto. O casaco é todo forrado e o forro está pregado à bainha (costumo coser à máquina o forro, depois de completamente costurado, às vistas da frente e do decote de uma só vez e depois cosê-lo à mão nas bainhas já costuradas, tanto do casaco como das mangas). Tive alguns problemas com o tecido: tive que o passar com muito vapor várias vezes até ter a certeza que tinha encolhido tudo o que tinha a encolher antes de o cortar e aplicar as entretelas.The fabric used is a thick wool blend (see the lapel/shoulder detail in next picture) and it ravels a lot (Grrr). I used black satin as full attached lining (I usually machine sew finished lining to front/back facings and then I hand stitch it on both coat’s body hem and sleeve hem; the way I do it, you won’t be able to tell the difference between machine and hand stitching). I had to take special care with this fabric, pressing it more than once with lots (and I mean LOTS!) of steam. The fabric kept shrinking and shrinking… I cut the fabric after being sure this wouldn’t happen anymore.
In the next picture you can see the lining and the closures; I decided to stick to the original closures (snaps under the buttons, instead of buttonholes) because of this fabric’s thickness and ravelling. I used large black snaps.
It’s very important to mind the pressing procedure while sewing (lots of pounding here). I also did everything I could to reduce seam bulk (I graded SAs, notched SAs at hem’s fold lines, etc.). The interfacing used was soft and knitted (fusible), I didn’t want to increase fabric’s stiffness). I used the same interfacing procedure as for the Orwell coat (see Orwell Coat #5).
Um pormenor que alterei foi a colocação das bandas dos bolsos: no original estas bandas são meramente decorativas e são colocadas à frente da entrada do bolso; no meu caso fazem mesmo parte da entrada do bolso, ou seja, tornaram-se funcionais, resguardando a entrada dos bolsos (que são bolsos metidos na costura):
I did a small design alteration: The pocket flaps are attached to the side and not to the front, so they can “guard” inseam pocket opening!
Next you can see coat’s back and side view; notice that I’ve matched the fabric’s plaids on every seam:
This coat turned out great! It’s warm and comfortable to wear; At this moment this is my favourite coat and I wear it very often!
Espero que vos tenha inspirado a costurar!
I hope this review inspires you on your sewing!

















