Pattern and wool coating fabric samples

Harris tweed love-fest

I’m itching to start on Mr Ginjer’s pea coat. The thing that is exciting me most is I will have the chance to work with some Harris tweed.

When we started discussing the project I had visions of a classic navy wool melton, and he offered a preference for herringbone grey. But the more I searched for inspiration and added images to my Pinterest board, our initial ideas seemed a little tame.

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Rear view of winter coat

Another winter coat!

I’m planning to sew another winter coat. What! Another? Did I ever finish the last one?

In short, yes. But by the skin of my teeth. I wore it on my trip to Louisville, USA. The coat, now dubbed the grey poodle, is super snuggly. I felt incredibly warm – yet smart – as snow flakes drifted in the chilly Kentucky air.

But, the night before my flight, I was up till 2am in my hotel room at Heathrow Airport, hand stitching the lining hem to the coat.

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Winter coat sample board

Winter coat deadline

It’s been a balmy 9C on the Isle of Wight so far this January. Yes, it’s been raining pretty much since the end of October, but it has not been that chilly. Why so much weather info on a sewing blog?

I went to Hamburg for work mid month, where it was sooo cold my face actually hurt. I’m off to Louisville, Kentucky, at the end of February and I’ve yet to finish my winter coat.

Yikes! I have been gently stitching away, really enjoying learning some tailoring techniques, since the autumn, without much sense of urgency. Now there is a race on to finish before it gets too darn warm to wear it.

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