Vogue coats & jacket 8346

‘Vogue 8346 has become my ‘go to’ pattern as it lends itself to different garments. I have made it as a dressing gown, coat dress and as an actual coat. This review is for the coat. The pattern really does live up to the easy rating and I sewed size 18 from some cheap wool/poly blend that I found in a Walthamstow fabric shop at £5 per metre. The lining is a gorgeous copper coloured faux suede from Woolcrest Textiles in Hackney at £2.50, and the collar is a wool waffle that I bought from the M Rosenberg stand at a Knitting & Stitching show (Ally Pally). I also slightly altered the pattern by adding a half belt trimmed with lace. The coat took me nearly two months to make as I am very slow and tend to stop when I hit a problem, but fortunately I have a sewing teacher to help me out. On reflection, the fabric choice was too soft and without the benefit of tailoring, it is not sufficiently robust. I also think that I could have gone down a size and generally paid more attention to the little details – I am not entirely happy with the improvised half belt at the back and belatedly realised that I didn’t need to sew it into the seams, doh. I was a little disappointed when I finally finished it, but people have said kind things. I am gearing for a new winter coat, which will be tailored, and at this stage I am considering boiled wool. Woolcrest Textiles, here I come.’