When the winter weather begins to swirl outside, all you want to do is curl up under a nice warm blanket and sip a cup of hot cocoa. Yet you can't stay inside forever. If you are forced out into the cold to run errands, take the kids to school or head off to work, you want to be bundled up from the chill.
Winter coats and jackets come in a variety of styles, lengths and fabrics that can suit any type of winter weather. Before you break out the credit card and head to the clothing store, you can take out the sewing machine and create the perfect outdoor winter attire.
Sewing a coat might seem like a complicated process. Yet it's a lot easier than it looks. Here are some coat and jacket tips to keep in mind when you take on this exciting project.
1. Decide on how you will use the jacket
Are you just looking for a winter coat that can handle the daily wear-and-tear when you run your errands? Perhaps you are looking for a nice elegant winter jacket to use when you go out to special events or dinner parties? Deciding on how you will use the winter jacket or coat will allow you to select the length, fabrics, fastenings and hoods for the apparel.
Look at coats and jackets in magazines, in stores and on people that you see outside. This technique will allow you to narrow down the style,colors and design of the coat you want, colors. Then you can pick out the right pattern that matches the project you want to make.
2. Pick out fabric that is functional and warm
There is a wide range of fabrics that perform better in certain winter weather than others. You will have to decide on the best one based on functionality, warmth and comfort.
Some of the choices you may pick include:
- Wool: Wool is the most common material for winter clothes due to its warm and insulating characteristics.
- Melton: Melton fabric is made out of wool and can sometimes be combined with polyester. It is tightly woven and is felted as it provides rain and wind resistant qualities.
- Tweed: Tweed is another type of tightly woven material as this woolen fabric comes in a wide range of colors.
- Melton: Melton fabric is made out of wool and can sometimes be combined with polyester. It is tightly woven and is felted as it provides rain and wind resistant qualities.
Other types of fabric include denim, rayon, silk, velvet, tapestry, and whipcord. Go to the fabric store and check out how the fabric feels against the skin. You want one that is comfortably if you plan to make a coat or jacket that doesn't have an inner lining.
3. Select a lining that suits your preferences
For some beginners, they will skip the extra step of adding a lining. This is normally a personal choice. If you do decide on placing in a lining, you'll want to pick one that is lightweight and won't cause the coat or jacket to feel extra heavy on the shoulders.
You can pick silk and charmeuse linings for your coat. You can also select a silk lining that has a flannel backing for more warmth. If your winter coat will mainly be used in very cold temperatures where you will be outside often, you may decide on quilted lining to keep you extra warm.
4. Loosely fitted coats are great first projects
If this is your first coat or jacket, you may want to select a loose-fitting pattern that will drape over you as you improve your skills.
With the minimum details, you can practice on pressing the coat seams for a more finished look. Then you can move on to more elaborate coat designs once you build up your confidence. One of the simplest patterns you can work with is one that only has three pieces: the sleeves, front and back.
5. Finish off the coat with the perfect closures
Closures for your coat can consist of zippers, buttons, toggle closures, frog closures, snaps and belts.
One tip to keep in mind is that you want a closure that can be easily fastened through the buttonhole when wearing wet gloves as you don't want to struggle to open and close the coat. Skip the small closures that will be frustrating to use.
There are a wide range of designs available for winter coats. Expand your imagination and try out several different patterns, colors and styles to create the coats and jackets you will love to have during the winter months.
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