Sewing a Vintage Style Wardrobe: Pendleton Style Plaid Top Coat from Vintage Pattern, McCalls 7027

The Pendleton jacket that I showed in the previous post: Plaid Top Coat by Pendleton is a classic, but finding a sewing pattern in the same shape can be difficult. This vintage pattern: McCall's 7027 is exactly the style to make a look-alike coat. It dates from 1963, and even shows what is probably a plaid mohair coat on the cover.

This simple back view shows how clean and straight the silhouette was designed.

This view of the pattern pieces shows clearly how this pattern was drafted. The side seams fall straight from the underarms, with the front having a bust dart in that side seam. The center front edge is straight, so the lapel is not extended or pointed. The back is equally straight, with shoulder darts for fit. The sleeve is cut in one piece. The collar is nearly flat, with only a slight curve.

Overall, this pattern seems to be cut in similar style to a lab coat or a long shirt, and that is a possible pattern to use when drafting or creating your own pattern for this style. It might even be cut from a pajama top pattern, if the sleeve is not too baggy or low cut in the armhole.

Another thing great about this pattern is that the style can be made in so many fabrics. Imagine a denim version with contrast top stitching!

Pressing Wool

This is the second post on my wool coat project. I show the fabric and sketch for my coat sewing project (here) and I thought I would stop and demonstrate how I like to flatten 'puffy' seams in wool. It's lots of fun too!

First off, here is the bodice front dart. The shadow of that seamline shows up, and it would be nicer if it didn't, so I need to press it flat.

I use a water mister to dampen the wool fabric. How much water? Enough to bead up on the fabric surface should be fine.

Next, I cover the area with a linen tea towel. If you have a press cloth, you can use that too, of course. I have used different linen or cotton fabrics as a press cloth, even a handkerchief can work in a pinch. You should be able to feel the sewn seam under this cloth.

Now I set my hot iron on top. I use the wool setting. This method of pressing wool with water and press cloth is great for any type of wool garment, even sweaters. A vintage garment can be pressed this way and hung up damp to dry and it will look new again.

To continue flattening a seamline, I look for steam rising from the wool under it as it heats up. After maybe 15 seconds, I lift the iron and....

SLAM a brick down over the dart. Really? Yes!

Actually, I also have a nice wooden 'clapper' made for this task as well. You can use a short length of a pine 2X4, or a brick. Slamming down this instrument forces the steam through the wool fabric. It also flattens the seam.

Here you can see the brick imprint (hahaha)

When I lift the linen, notice how nicely the dart has flattened down. It looks so smooth and clean now. You may have noticed that this is a different seam. I used this technique for all darts and seamlines on this wool coat.

I hope you get a chance to try steaming wool. It is amazing how nicely wool will press, if you take the time to get it damp and use a press cloth too.

MATCHING woven lines in a diagonal seamline.

When I sew with pinstripes, or any fabric with woven lines, I pin baste along the seam line first. Then I open it up like you see here to be sure the pin stripes meet up. If they match, the lines will create a chevron down the seam line. This is the shoulder seam for the kimono sleeve. I won't be able to match the side seams because the geometry changes and the grain lines are not equal.