A very flexible pattern

So around the beginning of December I finally finished of my Eden coat. I originally started it early in the year after the pattern came out, and had thought I was happy with the result but the more I looked at it the more I knew I wasn’t. For such a long coat it was just too wide on me. I really wanted a belt but it didn’t work being tied up. The thing I kept coming back to was that whilst it’s nice for your coat to feel like a dressing gown I wasn’t happy that it looked like one!

After a lot of thinking (we’re talking months worth) I eventually formed a plan on what to do. So I entirely unpicked the main fabric from the lining and took it in considerably at the sides and added darts at the back and front so they look a bit like princess seams. I did do simpler darts of the lining, I still took it in at the sides but just simple tucks at the front and back.
I also took this opportunity to add belt loops and to reinforce the hanging loop in the neck line. The hem at the bottom is still a bit bouncy but I removed the top stitching there as it made it worse and just hand stitched it in to place at a few points and I think with wear it is starting to sit better. I also decided to remove the zip, I felt the coat would work better for me with buttons. I found some really lovely red vintage 30’s buttons which are gorgeous and a really nice 30s mother of pearl buckle for the belt. I really wanted to go vintage on my notions for this is didn’t want to be using more new plastic also I felt the coat would look best with these vintage details.

I am so happy with this coat it’s gone from being hidden in the coat stand as a needs dealing with to being my main coat. I nearly always grab this one now. I think it also shows the how great the pattern is. Very versatile and easily adapted to suit you!

for this coat I used a boiled wool for the main fabric and a cotton lawn for the lining.