Simplicity 4403 Hack: My first winter coat
I’m a little late with this one but I wanted to share my latest project- My very first winter coat!!!!
As with most of my projects, this coat was inspired by a practical need and a vision that could not be met with what was available in the stores.
On my wish list:
Calf to ankle length
Warm
Fashionable, could be considered “dressy” and work well over dresses for formal events
Pop of color
Zipper closure
High standing collar
I already have a long puffer which is great for casual events but it just didn’t check the box for being “dressy”. I didn’t have a pattern that I could use and I was super intimidated because I had never made a coat. So I sat on the idea for while.
Then waaaaayyyyyy back in January 2020, I found a black Michael Kors wool cashmere blend for a great price at FabricMart. At $17.50/yard, it was an absolute steal! It was a sign that I needed to get off my butt and get this project done so I could have a fabulous coat to wear to all the fabulous events I was planning on going to. But then came COVID so we all know how that went. . .
Fast forward to earlier this year and I finally decided to let the intimidation go and dive into the project. By then, I had found a pattern that I could alter and an absolutely gorgeous fuchsia silk crepe de chine for the lining. Between the wool/cashmere blend and the silk lining, I knew this was going to be a luxurious and special coat.
The construction started with figuring out the design. I wanted a high neck and a zipper closure. The toughest part was figuring out the placement of the zipper as this would definitely require a coat with front princess seams. I found Simplicity 4403 at Upcycle CRC, a nearby creative materials reseller.
It’s a Threads Collection pattern for Simplicity. So as you can imagine, it is very well made, the instructions are amazing and it taught me a few new techniques. I altered it to be able to add a zipper and added 5 inches to achieve the length I wanted.
I used the collar pattern piece from Butterick 6104 view D to make the collar.
With all the alterations I made to the pattern, I didn’t want to risk screwing up the beautiful fabrics so I made a muslin. Because I was altering the pattern and the fabric was something I did not want to risk, I went ahead and made a muslin. I hate doing things twice and almost never do a practice run but I wanted to get this just right. I’m glad I did because I found some adjustments that needed to be made to the shoulder fit. Once that was perfected, it was on to the real deal.
The instructions are pretty straight forward and I made adjustments for my alterations as I went along.
Because I am absolutely extra, I also put an embroidered monogram pocket on the interior.
At the end, I decided the black was a bit flat so I added some buckles and studs to left over fabric to create straps for the sleeves.
I’m so pleased with the finished product. With the high quality fabrics and the construction details, it will last me for years to come. I would definitely consider making another one but the next time around I’m going for a super bright color!
Photo Credit: Images by Bolu