Mar Mikhael and a Coat Made by Me!
The coat is finally finished AND I’m finally getting around to posting about it! Actually, I would have posted about it right away but I was waiting to get some decent pictures first and to do that I needed a friend’s help. (Thanks, Imad!)
Making a coat is a huge undertaking and it’s kind of baffling, even to me, that this was pretty much the second garment I ever made. (Well, started. In the process of making it I completed quite a few others.) It goes without saying that I could not have done this all on my own as a first project, but luckily I had Layla to help me in her coat making class.
I started with an inspiration board on Pinterest and then decided on this pattern from Simplicity.
What I loved about the main image was the contrasting lines on the raglan sleeves and that it didn’t have a collar since that was one style of coat that I didn’t already own. The pattern didn’t come with a lining pattern so Layla had to help me figure that out, and I won’t lie and say it didn’t cause any trouble along the way!
I bought the fabric for the coat on October 27, so that gives you an idea of how long it took. (We worked one night per week and then I took two weeks off for Christmas break).
Apart from adding a lining, I changed several things on the coat. I changed the cuff on the sleeve and made a different type of pocket (both drafted myself), added piping where I think the pattern called for some type of sewn-on lace or rick rack), added a back stay, and added a panel behind where the eye hooks clasped. Needless to say, I learned a TON on this project!
One thing I wish I had known before I started this project was how much the fabric was going to fray over the course of making the coat because that caused me a ton of headache. By either interfacing certain parts or using a stay stitch, or even adding some length to the sleeves and coat itself, I could have made my life a lot easier. I’ll know for next time!
Here are some more pictures of the coat!
The back
The shoulders
The lining, cuffs, and eye hook panel
Saturday I took my coat out for a photo walk around Mar Mikhael and was joined by my friend Imad who took the pictures of me in the coat.
The coat in action on the streets of Beirut!
And some of the shots from my afternoon in Mar Mikhael.
If I make a coat again I’d like to try the Minoru from Sewaholic because I don’t actually have a casual jacket and I’ve seen some really cute versions of this pattern.
Have any of you sewists out there made a coat yet? I’ve been reading a lot of sewing blogs lately and it’s amazing how many accomplished sewers are afraid to make a coat. If I can do it as a total beginner (even with guidance) I think anyone with a little experience under their belt can!
The Present Perfect 
Dude. It turned out super super cute!!!!!!! Also your pictures from that day are very cool. What an interesting neighborhood.
Thank you, Carolyn! And it really is a fantastic neighborhood. Lots of old Lebanese architecture and cute bars, restaurants, and shops cropping up all over. So much fun for photo walking!
you are amazing!!! I am so impressed. now I want to learn how to sew… someday… when I have “free time” š
Thanks, Sophia! It is so much fun but it’s true that it can really take up a lot of time! I love it though.
Great job–very cute coat!