Stellar title for this post folks so clearly I have run out of inspiration (only for titles, not for my sewing – luckily!).
I totally love my red raincoat, but noticed a few little things that could be improved, namely, a more substantial stormflap with something to stop it blowing up, and a better hood fastening. The red raincoat was really only supposed to be a toile of the pattern I drafted at my patternmaking class, but I have worn it at every opportunity so knew that a new one would be equally as useful. I bought the fabric for this one at Misan Textiles in Berwick Street, London. It’s the only place where I have found truly waterproof fabric that wasn’t plasticised or coated in some way, but the price was eyewatering. Having said that, I can’t remember exactly what it cost, which reminds me of my lovely Dad who always used to say that you remember the quality long after you’ve forgotten the price. No wonder I always buy expensive things! In the photo below I am outside the shop with the bag containing the fabric in my hand and wearing the red raincoat.
And here I am wearing my new, improved, raincoat standing under a magnificent Magnolia tree in Vancouver. Note the beanie and gloves – yes, it was a bit nippy!
I thought I’d take some shots of the inside, so imagine my joy when I got back to our apartment and found a Magnolia petal inside the hood; I had obviously been carrying it about with me all day!
As to the lining, it is some pure wool that I bought in an op shop at least a year or so ago. I got 3metres for $3 and at the time figured it was some sort of upholstery fabric as it was rather stiff. I washed it and it went really soft. I have been desperate to use this fabric for something so was thrilled when it went so well with the outer fabric, and the good news is that I enough left over to make myself some trousers should I wish to be matching. 
The sleeves are lined with a really well coordinating green silk that I acquired from Sarah’s stash, and the silk really makes a difference when slipping in and out of the coat.
I also put more snaps on the back vents as I found they blew up in strong winds.
I note that the colour of the fabric varies in every photo. It is quite a dark green grey, rather luscious really.
I was a bit concerned that I would drag this coat halfway round the world and not take it out of my suitcase, but Vancouver hasn’t let me down, providing enough precipitation to justify a raincoat. I can also report that the coat is both warm and totally waterproof. Result!
Here I am at the steam clock in Gastown, surreptitiously warming my legs on the steam.
The back view of the raincoat showing the hood and bigger storm flap, which I anchored under the arms with snaps. I am walking through the very beautiful Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Such a glorious place for relaxation and reflection. I took a gazillion photos of the gardens, but I shall spare you (perhaps). 
And a rather funny photo of Mark, also wearing clothes made by me, demonstrating the width of the skinniest office building in the world (allegedly). 
Another shot in the Chinese Garden with a stunning camelia. I have one of these in my garden but it doesn’t look like this.
My slouchy beanie is the Intuitive by Julia Zahle and is a free download on Ravelry. It is the perfect beanie for this weather and I like the fact that it can be slouchy or turned up for a more fitted look. The fingerless gloves were also knitted by me and they have proper fingers in them. You can find a similar pattern here. The trousers are grey ponte and I realise that I have never blogged them as I made them so long ago. They are in the style of jeggings and I basically took a jeans pattern, graded it down a couple of sizes and made the legs as fitted as I could. I have included all the elements of the jeans, including the coin pocket and belt loops, but gave them a faux fly. I might get round to taking some photos, although they are almost worn out now.
My shoes are by Birkenstock and are the only things I am wearing that were not made by me. This is particularly appropriate today, which is Day 1 for Fashion Revolution Week, which commemorates the Rana Plaza Factory collapse. It is the day when we ask “who made my clothes” and I am happy to report that “I made my clothes”. Having said that, I am careful about where my fabric comes from, and I am also quite fussy about the provenance of my shoes. I did buy a bag today (another one!), but it was made right here in Canada, on Gabriola Island to be precise, and I bought it from the maker, so my conscience is clear on that one!