Classic Coat Time – Heather Blazer Review
Spring may be here but I am still obsessed with making a great coat and honestly, I think I finally did it! I’ll get to wear it for a short while this Spring but it’ll be out again in the Fall and I’m super pumped about that. I hacked the Heather Blazer pattern by Friday Pattern Co. What appealed to me to about this pattern was it being described as being “designed to be approachable for the beginner sewist”. Although I do not consider myself a beginner sewist, when it comes to coat making, I have a whole lot to learn. After all the work I put into my previous Chartreuse Coat, I needed a much simpler version to try.
Pattern Details & Size Made
The Heather Blazer is described as an unstructured modern blazer with a slight oversized fit. This pattern also features a two-piece sleeve and is fully lined. It is available in size XS-7X (32” to 60” chest). The best part about this is that there is a video tutorial for making the entire blazer which was extremely helpful.
Although the size chart body measurements put me at a size XL, I made a size L based on the finished garment measurements. This way, I still had a good range of motion while wearing the garment but with a slightly less oversized look.
Fabric Details & Care
I used a gorgeous wool blend coating fabric from Minerva (90% wool, 10% polyester). I was very impressed with the quality of this fabric and how well it sewed up compared to the wool blend I used for my Hunter Coat. This wool felt slightly itchy to the touch, which I read can happen but it’s nothing lining couldn’t solve. Before I cut into the fabric, I threw it into the dryer with some damp towels to avoid any shrinkage during my actual project. I also used a clapper through this entire project and it made such a difference! All seams were laid much flatter and looked sharper than I’ve ever been able to achieve while working with wool.
For the lining, I used a fun printed black and white rayon. Since the coat itself is plain black, I thought I’d add some fun to the lining.
Pattern Modifications
In order to achieve the look I wanted, I made a few adjustments to the pattern.
· Length – I added 10 inches to the pattern to achieve my desired coat length.
· Pockets - Instead of patch pockets, I sewed single welt pockets.
· Buttons – I changed the placement of the buttons for a more “double-breasted” look. I actually haven’t sewn buttonholes yet as I’m still contemplating button placement. In the end, I used 6 instead of the 1 button recommended for this pattern.
I love how I was able to achieve such a clean finish on the insides of this coat and for the first time, I had zero issues with the bagging/hemming process which felt so good!
Styling
The nice thing about coats is that there are endless ways to style it. Since it is Spring and it is only slightly chilly at the moment, I opted to pair it with my vibrant pleated RTW red dress and low-heeled sandals. I am positive I’ll be wearing this with everything I can possibly think of over the next few years. Gotta love a good staple like a neutral colored coat!
At some point, I plan to make this pattern into a blazer as well. Based on how well this turned out, I suspect my main worry will be trying to figure out the best fabric for the blazer.
Happy Sewing,
Sylvia XOXO
