It started with a vague excitement for my very small but very pretty faux fur stash. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be so unnecessarily sophisticated and chic to make a fur-trimmed wool coat for K?” I’m all about unnecessarily sophisticated and chic.
Alas, faux fur is NO FUN to work with. As soon as I came within an inch of it, it started to shed all over the place. In my crazy deadline-ridden state of being and due to my slightly OCD personality, I just couldn’t hack it. So I resorted to an un-fur-trimmed coat dress like so:
Do you like her butterfly tattoo on the cheek? I realize it’s hard to see, but it’s super cute.
This coat dress may look familiar if you’ve been stopping by here since the beginning of time. I made a bouclé version eons ago in blog years, which, like the fur, was a shedding nightmare. I had powered through, and interestingly, that coat dress is probably the single most complimented sewn garment. It’s from this book. I seem to be repeating every aspect of this week’s outfit, and had used the same beautiful wool houndstooth fabric for this little jacket. Those pleather elbow patches held up surprisingly well.
But I was still stuck on the idea of a fur trim. “We’ll fake it!” I instructed K, “Wrap it around your neck like a scarf, honey”.
She offered up a belt option and a hood. I gave up. Oh, my little babushka.
Can you see the flurry of furriness taking over? Also, blurry photos are what you get when the photoshoot lasts precisely two minutes and ten seconds. We almost made it through the “Let it Go” song from the movie Frozen, but then she shot off to go play with her friend (warning: the song will start to play – we’ve listened to this song non-stop for the last couple of weeks. She’s obsessed).
I did make some minor changes with this coat dress. Okay, one change: I fully lined it. However, I tried to cut out a lining without the pleats (the pleats, by the way, look much better with the wool vs. the bouclé) but my pattern adjustments didn’t work out so well for some reason so I just sewed up an identical version for the lining. The lining fabric is some thin polyester from my thrifted pile, and it’s a refreshing mint polka dot.
Even though the fur trim didn’t pan out, I still love the coat dress. So does K. For a truly impressive feat with fur trim, check out Kristin’s gorgeous coat. Girl has serious skillz.
P.S. In case you’re wondering why in the world I would be sewing if I’m so overwhelmed with deadlines (you’re probably not wondering, but I’m the type of person who would wonder), the answer is simple. I love to sew. It helps me relax, and I’ve found that when I’m stuck creatively with drawing/painting, it helps me think through the problems. Sigh. Sewing rocks.
Hi Sanae,
a sweet little coat, i especially love the farbic for outside and lining. Dots and Houndstooth compliment each other very well!
I have a hard time to find this book in an translated version (most of the books you show are available translated in french). Can you give me a hint of the (probably) english title or the name of the author? You recommended this book so often and i would love to give it a try, but japanese originals are so hard to find here in europe and the shipping costs for those books from asia are ridicilous!
Sending you greetings and wishes for a wonderful and inspired new week
Marit
Hi Marit,
you can get it via etsy, it is called STYLISH GIRL’S CLOTHES – Japanese Dress Pattern Book, it is about 15€, the shop is called pomadour24. (I did not want to leave the shop link here) I have orderd from her and delivery was pretty fast.
Hallo Ute,
thank you!! Dankeschön.
Marit
Hi Marit! Sounds like Ute answered your question for me (thank you, sweet Ute!). I imagine the shipping costs are pretty steep. Wishing you a lovely week too 🙂
Even without the fur the coat dress has a bit of a “Doctor Zhivago” vibe! Love it! And K´s tattoo reminds me of one of my favorite books by Christine Nöstlinger that I read when I was young ; one of the main characters has a real butterfly tattoo on his cheek!
Ha, thanks Ute! Love the Doctor Zhivago reference! I haven’t heard of that book, but now I’m intrigued. I’ll look it up!
I have been to afraid to attempt sewing with fur yet so you get points for courage. I’ve heard that you should brush it several times during the sewing process to make it easier, but like I said I’ve never tried it.
Brushing! Excellent suggestion. I’m still thinking of adding the fur as a detachable collar. I figure it probably won’t fly at school, but I know that K would love it 🙂
Sewing helps me calm down and relax too… alas perhaps that’s what I should get to this afternoon. I have one sick kid and we’re day two on the Paleo way of eating… and I’m having a sugar/carb craving headache… yuck! Yea, maybe a some happy sewing endorphins would help!
Aw, sorry to hear about your sick little one. No fun. I’m very familiar with that sugar/carb craving headache since I’ve been trying to really crack down on my sugar addiction :-). Good luck, Kristi!
so cute, and i love her babushka look, what a little character. thanks for the sweet shout out on my coat! my machine was pretty mad at me trying to sew those layers too, but i wrestled it through. and my sewing room needed a good vacuuming when i was done though, i’ll tell ya that. 😉
I hope you’re doing well, Kristin! Your little guy is ADORABLE! You’re a brave woman for working with fur!
Adorable! The coat looks like something perfect for a winter (or fall or spring) princess. I find that multi-tasking with things I love is the perfect way to recharge and get inspiration for deadlines. And your sewing always yields such beautiful results, both in the garment that results and in the other-inspiration!
Thank you, Tegan! So lovely to see you here 🙂 Yep, I’m constantly on the hunt for inspiration!