#letssewthistogether September is Outwear Month

Who is ready to sew up some warm, cozy outwear?

I am writing this right now while sitting outside on my patio. It’s nearly 80 degrees outside and humid today. I tell you this to say I get it if your instinct is TOO SOON for coat making. But heed this warning: if you wait until it’s chilly outside and you are shivering at the bus stop in the morning, you will regret not making a coat way back in OUTERWEAR MONTH! So let’s do this (sew this, actually) together!

So, what should we sew? I have a few (million) ideas.

First, I have already started working on Butterick 6385 Misses’ Coat with the pointed collar. I am documenting the sewing of this coat on my Instagram account @makerheart if you want to follow along. Look on the main page of my account for the story highlights and you can see it from the beginning there. I’m using a worsted wool blend fabric from LA Finch Fabrics that I purchased as an end of bolt piece a few years ago. I was able to cut the entire pattern flat out of just under two yards of fabric! There are only tiny scraps of the wool left so there is no room for error. No pressure or anything!

Loni, my #letssewthistogether co-host, is still shopping for a special piece of fabric to transform into a Sapporo coat. I support this pattern choice 100%! I can’t wait to see what she decides to sew up as this is an extremely special pattern.

Also included in outerwear month are cozy layers like cardigans, coatigans, and hoodies. Pretty much anything you would throw on to venture outside on a cold(er) day. I’m really interested in seeing some makes of the new Madison Cardigan by Style Sew Me because that length and flowy front drape are really amazing.

Since I’m a novice at coat making, I asked on my instagram account for some coat, cardigan, and miscellaneous layering piece recommendations by my fellow sewists. Here are the outerwear patterns that are highly recommended by people that I trust:

Blackwood Cardigan by Helen’s Closet

Cascade Duffle Coat by Grainline Studio

Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns

Halifax Hoodie by Hey June Handmade

Driftless Cardigan by Grainline Studio

Lola Coat by Sew Over It

Joy Jacket by Chalk and Notch

What have I missed? I don’t have any vests on my list, but I think a Lonetree Vest or Magnuson Vest would be a useful transitional wardrobe item. And I’ve been planning a Luzerne Trench Coat for over a year but I’m not sure fall is the right season to make it. Trench coats are extremely popular right now so maybe I should do it anyway! Let me know in the comments if you have an outerwear pattern that you would personally recommend.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope you visit again.