I have never seen a Stokx Stadtmantel I haven’t immediately loved, so have been desperate to add one to my wardrobe for at least a year. I had a lot of trouble printing the pattern, so the lovely Lindy of Stokx Patterns sent me a hard copy all the way from Berlin. So generous! So kind!
I chose my fabric, a piece of wool from Knitwit Fabrics, which worried me a little as it didn’t have a huge amount of stretch, and I didn’t have enough fabric so was going to need to shorten the pattern by a lot. I procrastinated and procrastinated, mainly because tracing the pattern was giving me eyestrain, but also the thought of three different fabrics – the main fabric, a lining fabric and a facing fabric, was sending me down the path of indecision. I also fall between a size 2 and size 3 and was therefore worried about the sizing. Basically I was worried about everything! In the end I cut the paper pattern in a size 3, laid it on the fabric, took a deep breath and began cutting. I found some denim leftover from covering my sofas, and a piece of striped cotton given to me by my friend Jenny.
Once I began I didn’t want to stop – I have a few patterns that give me joy to make and this one is added to the list. It was interesting and so cleverly engineered that I loved every step (except the inevitable unpicking!).
I have worn the coat three times already and enjoy it more each time, and feel as though the size is perfect.
Worn here with my corduroy Stokx Square Pants, whilst waiting for a friend.
Then I again teamed it with the corduroy square pants but added the Tauko Louvre Beret designed and made by Liz Haywood. It makes a perfect dog walking coat.
I took it down south with me and it was perfect for the beautiful but blustery weather.
Tucked up in a coffee shop.
Playing on a suspension bridge. Have I mentioned how much I like the shape of this coat? Wearing it here with my Stokx Play Pants made from old jeans.
The coat has a slight A-line but with a bit of swish to it even though my fabric is quite thick.
This coat can be dressed up or down and I look forward to wearing it somewhere more fancy, although I do feel that nothing is fancier than a lovely forest walk near a lake.
A close up of my facing and the snaps that I used. I bought these in Iceland in 2015 so it’s nice to have used them, although I still have two other sets in different colours.
I mentioned that the sleeves are lined with yet another fabric and they have denim cuff facings. I thought I should put them on display for your enjoyment!
I found a couple of moth holes after I cut the coat out, so I used soap to mark them and then needle felted a tiny scrap over the top of each. After a good steam I can’t find either mend.
I absolutely adore the style lines on this coat. Some of them are created by darts, but there is also top stitching which holds down the back facing, which folds around to the front. The facing is denim and I think you can see that my join at the facing crossover just missed the centre back seam. By the way, how lovely is that facing with the crossover? So clever!
This meant that my stitching lines on the right side of the coat were slightly off centre, which I couldn’t live with. There is also a little flaw in the fabric which needed fixing.
I had two choices; I could unpick it all, or I could disguise it. I had already cut out a heart and was pondering where to put it, and here was the decision made for me!
and the full view of the back, I love the appliquéd heart hiding the crime!
The heart is to promote women’s heart health. Some of my friends are beginning to notice the hearts, which happily starts a discussion.
The back of this coat brings me so much pleasure.
As mentioned, the stitching line for the facing wraps around to the front and I love those two stitching lines.
I so enjoy wearing this coat and wish it was cold enough to justify immediately making another, although I do have some more wool fabric…
I thought you’d like to see Miss G decorating her new bedroom, and yes, it’s got a pink wall!
She also tried her hand at tiling, and wearing her ballet costume and a shoulder bag whilst doing so is definitely de rigueur!
