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The two coats I have already sewn (the blue Lagan coat and the grey Lagan coat) are both slim-fitting.
I wanted to try another shape so I used Waffle Patterns’ Bamboo coat.
A new pattern used with boiled wool, a fabric I had never sewn.
- Bamboo coat
- boiled wool*
- lining*
- suitable interfacing
First time sewing boiled wool
As a Minerva brand ambassador, I was keen to try this fabric. It’s a rather expensive fabric so Iwas a bit anxious to cut into it.
It’s a thick fabric and you will need a powerful machine, especially for the welt pockets.
Don’t try to use erasable pencils on this fabric. Instead, use tailor’s tack.
It’s a bit longer, but worth it and you won’t lose your markings.
I didn’t pre-wash the fabric. Instead, I steamed it. Steam, let it cool without moving, repeat. Long, I know, but necessary.
I also cut my pieces as a single layer to minimize distorsion due to the thickness of a fold.
A bit itchy though!
Well, the feel on the skin is…itchy. And it has a tendency to get caught in the presser foot. So i used my trusted walking foot on my Janome 6700P.
The instructions were…not great. Was it a translation problem? I don’t really know, but I disliked them.
I used Itch to Stitch’s Acari welt pockets instructions to sew the Bamboo coat’s pockets. Same for the back vent.
I did change the back vent instructions because it involved a lot of hand-wesing and I wans’t so keen on that, due to the nature of the fabric.
According to the size chart, I was a size 42. Oh gosh, it’s really oversized. I can wear two handknitted sweaters underneath and add a snood with no problem. Good for layering, but I live in France, so not *that* cold!
I enjoyed the hidden button placket. A nice feature I had seldomm seen on coats. That was fun to sew and the instructions were great.
Will I sew another Bamboo coat?
Well, I like it, but I can’t say I love it. It’s way too oversize for my taste. The price of coat fabrics will probably deter me from sewing another one.
I didn’t find the instructions to be that good.
So it’s a nice coat, a nice color with a fabric new to me, but there’s something off with it. I’m not fully sold.