Another Oval Coat (Yuko Takada)

Ages ago, well two posts ago (which is ages, we’ve been a little slow with blogging around here this winter), I promised to post some photos of the toile I made of this Oval Coat, my favourite winter make. I wanted to show the same pattern in quite a different fabric – mainly because I love it when sewists do that as I helps me to decide on whether I should commit to a pattern. Fabric can make such a difference.
So here’s my quick and dirty toile of the Yuko Takada Play with Patterns Oval Coat. Hastily sewn because I just wanted to get the darn thing tested so I could move on and make my ‘real’ version out of my beautiful fabric. So this coat was a toile very firmly destined for the school fete box.
The fabric is a vintage wool from Crossley Job Lots, which has been waiting patiently buried in my fabric stash for years. It’s densely felted and works really well on an unlined jacket – it sits well and holds its shape. I suspect this fabric was made for a line of men’s dressing gowns in the 1950s, which makes me quietly smile. Old man dressing gown – a good look, right?
I made the largest size and lengthened the sleeves because I always do. Am I a monkey or do patterns have short arms? Don’t answer that.
Regrets? I have a few with this one…. Firstly, why didn’t I hem on the edge of the black check and cut out that little bit of awkward grey that runs along the hem and the sleeves? It bothers me. Secondly: my mid check pocket slash. I so wish I’d positioned those slashes on the edge of a check. However after a little lament on Instagram, lovely Insta-sewists counselled me through that one. So thank you friends – it’s no longer a regret, I’m embracing that slash.
This pattern is such a good one – I wear this old man all the time (when I’m not wearing the other one). Even in the face of sewing regret and school fete guilt.
Another winner! Such great coats! I am still of the opinion that I love the mid stripe slash of the pocket. Isn’t it weird what can come to annoy us immensely?
I think you were one of those kind internet commenters that helped me accept/embrace my mid stripe pocket slash. I thank you!!
Pretty fab for a toile! And yeah embrace those pockets!
I usually don’t like something about a garment I’ve made, wear it anyway and eventually forget about my regrets! Lucky otherwise I would have given up sewing long ago! And thank you.
Personally, I like the edgy mid-check pocket and I bet Yuko would approve. I didn’t notice the hem at all until you pointed it out. I love the length too–I mean who doesn’t covet a three-quarter-length coat?
Oh I shudder to think if Yuko inspected my coat up close. She is such a perfect sewer. Really. Not a stitch out of place. Thank you for your encouragement. And finally yes I think you’re right a three quarter coat is the warmest and most comfortable. x