Here is the final (outerwear) garment in my One Year One Outfit challenge: a swing coat.
This coat was self-drafted with the help of Sarah from Workspace-FADS and was loosely based on the Tessuti Sydney Jacket (previous make here), but evolved to a point beyond recognition. Here is the only part from the original pattern, which I really like and which I used to make my brown bolero. It’s quite interesting that the edge of the coat aligned so perfectly with the top of the corset.
The swing part of the coat was then added as a separate piece.
When I started my felting journey, I really wanted to do some cobweb felting but all my efforts were for naught, and then Sarah showed me how and I made three small panels for my coat.
Here I am making cobweb felt in Sarah’s classroom.
I love the randomness of the cobweb felting and the drape and texture that it adds. I just sewed it on (by hand of course), allowing the edges to take their own course.
The shoulders on the coat are formed from darts (as in the Sydney jacket), which I hand stitched and then dry felted. This gives a very smooth finish. I was going to add cuffs to the sleeves as they are a little short for my liking, but I could not get them to look right so they didn’t get used.
OK, some flashing photos now because this coat really drapes and I like twirling it.
You will note that I am still barefoot. Yes, well. I have finally worked out how to put my shoes together without introducing foreign elements, but I’ve also been experimenting with glue and have discovered that the sap from Frangipani trees works pretty well.
So two more posts and I am done!
you look amazing! and frangipani sap?! I can’t wait to hear about that!
Amazing Sue. I love your coat the best. And I hope the Frangipani sap works. It certainly sticks my fingers together when trimming a tree and sap drips all over my hands.
It just gets better and better!
Sap? I’m learning something new everyday! (But I think I have said that before on your blog!). Your coat is beautiful. Those designers should be jealous. I love the webbing. It certainly does add texture to your coat.
Thanks Linda. The sap experiments are ongoing at the moment. I might do a whole post on them!
Sue, what an amazing outfit and truly wonderful sewing experience The WA Coat Route has been! The cobweb embellishment adds such great texture and interest… and the other layers are all gorgeous in their own right too. Such fun following along on the journey 🙂
Thank you Dilliander, I really appreciate your interest.
It was looking great before but that fabulous coat makes your outfit even better. Gorgeous.
The coat is lovely but the cobwebs make it truly unique. These are all perfect Winter Whites! It’s a pity you will have to wait until next Winter to wear them.. Your experiments in dyeing and felting have been really interesting. Thanks for writing about them.
OK, so you’ve made a coat that’s local AND super high fashion?!?! You, ma’am, are a superstar!! Amazing job!
Hugely impressed Sue. Overachieving again in an entirely new field!
Thanks Marilyn, it’s been a long project and I’m glad it’s nearly done (till next year!)
I am going to call this Genius, it’s nothing short of!
Thanks Gabi!
The cobweb details are awesome. Fantastic coat!
I have so I enjoyed reading about your journey with this project. Your outfit is fabulous and that jacket is to die for and the cobwebbing embellishment – oh my. You have outdone yourself.
Thank you so much Christine, it has been an amazing project but I’m glad to be nearly at the end.
this is just too delicious! The cobweb felting adds such flair to your jacket that people are just going to want to stroke you in the street! So glad the sap idea has been of good use! I really must see if I can convince husband to make some soles for me!
So many exclamation marks. I’m excited!
The cobweb felting adds a wonderful texture to your coat and I have to keep reminding myself that you have made every single piece from scratch.
The jacket itself is stunning but then with the cobweb feature, it’s truely unique and would be great to wear. Now the read about your shoes:)