Help with Swing Coat and my desire to have a fake fur coat this year!

That's a lot of questions! ;-)

First, have you measured *your* body to determine what size pattern to use? You CANNOT depend upon Ready-to-Wear sizing for this, you have to measure yourself. There is a link here showing where and how to measure:

"Tech Center", then "Standard Body Measurements", and follow the directions. Having someone help you take measurements is a great advantage. Then select you pattern size, based on what *your* *measurement* are compared to the measurements given in the charts on the "Misses'/Misses'Petites" or "Women'sWomen's Petites link.Second, converting an unlined coat to one with a lining is certainly possible, but *not* something I'd recommend to a beginning garment sewist. The McCalls/Stretch & Sew pattern is very attractive, but meant to be unlined, and making that conversion is not as simple as "cutting out the lining the same as the coat and sewing the two together". If I understand the fabric suggestions, the scarf at the very least is a single layer with the "wrong side" exposed. That would not work at all well for faux fur. Third, the Butterick pattern has dolman sleeves, which in my opinion would be exceedingly bulky and as well as creating a problem with the nap direction. However, at least it has the advantage of being designed for a lining, so you would not have to tackle trying to draft the lining.

And, last: Just my opinion here: faux fur is great fun, but things you have written lead me to believe you are a "plus" sized person. Nothing wrong with that, so am I, BUT...it will add inches to your profile, and making it in a "swing coat" style is going to add LOTS of additional inches. Maybe that's what you are aiming for, and if so go for it, just be aware of that issue.

Here is some links to sites which have information about sewing faux fur:

the easiest project, and I advise you to make up your dream coat in some other fabric a whole lot easier to work with than faux fur *first*. Then when you've worked out the various difficulties, tackle your faux fur with gusto! Good luck,

Beverly

I did some additional searching, and found this:

A. It's a *lined* coat pattern, and made (with, one hopes, good instructions) for faux fur. I'd suggest taking a look at that pattern, it would be much easier to adapt that for a slightly more flared look than to make either of the patterns you are considering, and the pattern is drafted for faux fur and a lining. HTH,

Beverly

First of all you need to take some measurements. You'll find a handy chart and instructions on my website, here:

will help you to decide what pattern size you need. Don't be at all surprised if you need a size or two up from your regular RTW size: this is normal! RTW and pattern sizes are DIFFERENT! :D One thing you might want to consider is bulk: this is a bulky pattern, and will be even more bulky in a fur fabric. If you are an XL or larger, you might want to consider a slimmer looking coat, especially if you are on the short side. It's a lovely pattern (I love that 50's look), but this is a consideration...

Then have a look for a pattern designed for fur or fleece... These will have the right amount of ease in them for the fabric you want to use. B4928 certainly says it's suitable for fleece, so it SHOULD be OK with a finer fur fabric on a stable knit base. You might have trouble if you want to use a long pile fur...

I've been hunting around, and patterns specifically for fur are a bit thin on the ground! I'm still looking, so do not despair yet! :)

My, aren't we a couple of night owls on the same wave length. Although actually, I suppose it's early morning in GB. ;-)

I hope OP will take a look at the McCalls pattern I located, because like you, I'm very concerned about her trying to make either of the patterns she is considering in faux fur. As well, a novice sewist, trying to draft a lining...well, seems doomed from the start.

Beverly

That one is out on my work table to make for this winter. I have a snow leopard print polar fleece. My only problem is I want the hood *and* the lining so I shall have to experiment a bit. It does appear to be pretty straightforward as written.

Lizzy

Do you remember about 25 years ago, there was a small company that made faux fur that looked absolutely genuine, and they sold kits to make your own coat or jacket? About the time they went out of business, they sold off much of their fabric by the yard, and a friend of mine stocked up on it. She had been making the coats and selling them. I don't know if she still has any or not. She's sort of moved on to making boutique handbags with gobs of beading and embellishment.

Thank you all for the kind suggestions, guidance, and advice. I'm going to measure myself and check out the other patterns you all mentioned.

Let's hope I'm not in over my head!

That is cute, but I think I would avoid adding the self-belt in plus sizes.. As you previously noted, fur adds inches, and a belt would amplify this problem even more.

However, the walking-coat length would be flattering, as would the large collar.

my .02 cents me

That was breakfast time! :)

I thought that... Faux fur is a bugger at the best of times. I know - I've done some in my time! The lion suit, the donkey costume, a polar bear... Gotta love Reception class Christmas plays! :D The village school still uses those costumes!

HI All!

I ended up buying the pattern McCalls 4975. I have it all cut out and expect to get it sewn tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks again for everyone's help, advice, and suggestions.

dogloverpm

That will work nicely. Find somewhere to post pix for us, won't you! And yell if you need help - we're always happy to help!

Oh, I'm so glad you made that choice, I really think it will work better for you than either of your previous choices. Good luck!

Beverly

I have made the Butterick pattern you mentioned TWICE and it turned out HORRIBLE both times!! I used Boucle for the first one and even though I cut out each piece individually, it still shifted miserably. What I cut out didn't match the pattern piece at all! My mistake in choice of fabric. So I moved on to a nice microfiber, pinning like crazy. No shifting. So far so good, but it didn't last. I still had many of the same main construction issues with the second that I had with the first. First, the pockets are very low! I couldn't even get my hands into them. Had to move them up. Second, the length on the sides was drastically longer than the front. Third, the back was higher than the front. In essence, the darn thing wasn't even all the way around! The sleeves puckered under the arm, even though I pinked right up to the stitching line. The lining may as well have been for a separate coat! The sleeves didn't hem to give the proper give, and the bottom was all over the map! My daughter is a fashion student and pointed out several design problems with this pattern. It would appear that someone drew the "flat" (that picture you see on the back of the envelope) then just drafted the pattern without making sure the thing would ever work! As I said, I made this coat twice and both times encountered the same problems. I have been sewing for over 20 years. This is one of the worst patterns that I have ever run across. Stay away from it.