Coat finishing

Well its taken absolutely ages for me to finish this but finally here is my coat. Its the Burda Style cape coat I began making here.

Its actually over a year since I started to make this. I got severely held up by the need to hand sew the button hole as well as the hem. But its done. Thanks really to my machine needing a service which is also now done so I should have some new things to show in the next few weeks. I say things because I have a few ideas and not everything is wearable but we will see how it goes once I get back to proper ( as in sewing machine) sewing rather than hand finishing such as this. It has kind of inspired me though to finish my other half made coats because really this did not actually take me long to finish off. I just do not enjoy hand sewing!

Its a shame though to not finish some of my half made coats. One is actually in red velvet. I really should get round to that one.

So this coat is the cape coat from Burda Style magazine 128,12/2002. So its been on ly list for years. I also had it on this years to make list as well so at least I get to tick something off that. 

And it turns out its nice to wear. Warm, stylish and swirly too...............

This is it done up- it has just the one button to fasten

The original pattern does not have a hood but living in the Uk I really do need one so I added that as an extra. You can find out all about my alterations and plans for this in the original post. I won't waste time here repeating all that. 

OK so the finishing:

 

In the end I changed the button from the last post where I had added the bakerlite round button. I just found the large bakerlite one too big. 

This rectangualr button is also vintage and from my Great Aunts' stash just like the larger round one. This one is a browny black though looks more brown here and goes very well with the brown flecks in the black fabric. I reckon its also the only time I might consider using it so best to do so when it actually works on something. Its a nice strong thick button so will work well on my coat and hold the weight of the two heavy fabrics I made it from quite well and having a hand embroidered button hole using embroidery thread also makes this a good choice.

I actually pulled out quite a few buttons. The original large round one is shown here too. 

My sewing machine being out of action has meant I had time when normally I don't for fiddly things like sewing on buttons and hand sewing hems, and I finally got round to doing some hand sewing on my coat. I have been trying to get round to this for well over a year now. I made the button hole by hand the old fashioned way that I was taught at school ( all those years ago - I finished on May 22nd 1980!)

And I am reasonably happy with how my button hole turned out. And the coat overall. Just wish I had actually finished it earlier really. But still everything in its own good time. 

My partner helped with some of the pinning and fitting - ignore the messy room please. I think he did a good job because once actually sewn up the hem is perfect and I probably could not have achieved such a good result without help.

The dress here is the dragon scale sweatshirt using the pixie dress pattern and theres info on that here.

Have a lovely week and thanks for popping by to visit me,

Bracken