The Easy Coat – DIY/Sew Your Own Winter or Spring Coat
This is the easiest coat you'll ever sew.
Sherry, in our Easy Coat, Maxi Length Wool/Cashmere Unlined version. Sherry's own boots and Scarf provided by Ann, our Stylist
It is truly what we say it is, an EASY coat to sew! With patch pockets and our easy jacket construction methods, including stitched down facings (no floppy facings!), lining or not (optional) and easy fit, this coat is perfect for even beginners to make.
The Easy Coat has both maxi and knee length versions, or you can customize the length for yourself. It’s a great spring, fall or winter coat – make it in a coated linen or cotton print for spring, sew it in a home dec brocade for fall or a gorgeous cashmere and wool coating for winter. Our Styling Tips at the end of this article will give you a lot of great ideas of how to sew, style and wear your new coats.
Click on the photographs to see them larger and in greater detail
Coat Options
The Easy Coat, Maxi-Length Unlined Version in Charcoal Gray:
This coat is made long, a maxi coat, in a gorgeous wool and cashmere coating fabric. It's not lined, and it's amazing to wear! It feels as soft as a bathrobe. Some of the highlights of this coat are that it's constructed on your serger, for easy, fast and clean finishes on the inside. All of the facings are stitched down from the top side, leaving the inside clean and stable. Christine hates floppy facings, so all the jacket and coat patterns in the collection feature stitched-down facings that don't buckle or pucker. The coat has deep patch pockets and a wrap and tie belt. As you can see in the charcoal cashmere, there are no buttons and buttonholes; this version simply wraps and ties.
The Easy Coat, Knee-Length Unlined Version in Taupe:
The lighter taupe cashmere Easy Coat is luxurious and fun. This coat is also unlined, and is made in a heavier weight coating fabric than the maxi version. Unlined and without a belt, it's a perfect toss-on-and-go coat. The Hollywood glamour of a thick brushed coating fabric, an open front and a shorter length works very well over a dress.
The Easy Coat, Knee-Length Lined Version:
The Easy Coat has an optional lining. The denim knee-length version has a printed cotton lining (made from old curtains!) The Easy Coat is versatile as both a winter coat, as you can see from the wool and cashmere coating versions, and a spring/fall coat. The denim version is a spring / fall coat. This coat would look wonderful in a bright print, a leopard print or even a dramatic red or turquoise, to shake away the rainy spring blues. For spring showers, try a coated cotton or linen, or even a Supplex nylon, as the coat still needs some drape. We've used buttons and buttonholes on this version.
Go ahead, even you can sew this coat!
Coats are one of the 'big scary projects' that many sewists have. Right up there with sewing your own jeans, blazers/jackets, swimwear and wedding gowns. Have no fear! Even a beginner can sew this Easy Coat, and it's a perfect canvas for embellishment for those sewists looking for a challenge.
Have an entire wardrobe of coats. Here are some possibilities
Coating weight wool, cashmere
Coated, printed cotton and linen
Supplex nylon
Denim and canvas
Home decorating textured and printed fabrics (including brocades and jacquards)
Tartans and directional prints will need extra fabric to match their directional motifs, but offer a relatively easy canvas upon which to learn to sew matched plaids or prints.
Getting Started:
If you're new to coat sewing, choose a good coating fabric for a winter coat. If you want it lined, you can use satin-backed flannel (known by the brand name Kasha in North America). There are even Thinsulate fabrics you can use to interline the coat. The Easy Coat's roomy and forgiving shape (cinched with a belt) means fitting challenges aren't going to be a challenge.
Styling the Easy Coat:
Classic and Elegant:
This coat goes over everything, but we especially love the Easy Coat maxi over wide leg dressy trousers in a wool jersey and a classic fitted turtleneck. Trousers in a camel wool (try the Trouser Pant #1010) with a cream funnelneck turtleneck (Travel Trio Two, sleeve lengthened to long sleeve) with heeled boots. You'll need a big scarf, so try an oversized infinity cabled cowl in a contrast color. A cozy slouch or beret hat will finish the classic look.
Youthful and fun:
The Easy Coat in a leopard print coated cotton over skinny jeans and ballerina flats is a look that coeds across the country were sporting this past spring. The youthful combination of a fun print and slim leg jeans with a flat rings of Audrey Hepburn in Paris in the spring. Wear this over a striped bateau neck tee (the #1010 Keyhole tee without the keyhole is the perfect style)
Hollywood Glamour:
For evening, make the Easy Coat in a brocade or brushed cashmere and omit the closures. Over the Pleat Front Dress (knee length) in black, with your fanciest jewelry and heels, you'll be ready for the opera or music concert, holiday party or work event.
Weekend Casual:
The Easy Coat, sewn knee-length in a canvas is a perfect weekend coat. Over jeans and Wellie boots, with a chunky plaid scarf, this coat can go to farmer's markets and antique shops. If you're looking for a classic weekend look, try a Fisherman or cable sweater knit made into a slouchy turtleneck (Three Tees turtle) over rolled boyfriend jeans and hiking boots. Make the coat in a neutral taupe canvas with metal buttons. For an edgier look, try it in army green canvas, slightly above the knee, with faux leather and ponte leggings (BaseWearOne) and a printed knit tunic (Cowl Neck Tunic e-pattern) with ankle booties. Finish the coat with metal or toggle buttons.