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Description

Angela picked up her new coat last Sunday. It's a bit difficult to photograph the black velvet clearly, but the smile says it all.
The coat was made from black silk velvet, with a purple acetate lining. The pattern was based on Simplicity 1732 with a few adaptations and adjustments. The back has extra fullness with corset lacing to allow size adjustment, and because it's cool. The bodice and full length of the sleeves were interfaced for support, but the skirt was left without interfacing so that it could swish. A deep piled uphostery fabric was used for the collar and cuffs so they would be hard wearing, and had to be dyed black (it was originally a black & white Cruella DeVille leopard spot pattern).
To finish it off we used the remnants of the upholstery velvet to make a muff, with a phone pocket inside.
Tips for anybody wanting to make something similar:
- go for it - the results look so cool
- don't do it - the velvet is horrible to work with, it needs special treatment and squirms around whilst being sewn
- for fusible interfacing and pressing seams you need to avoid crushing the velvet pile. There are special pin boards available, but we used a deep dense piled upholstery velvet as a pressing mat and a LOT of care with the iron and the steam press (no pressure at all)
- pin, pin, pin, pin everywhere before sewing, then add pins
- use a walking foot
- evict children out of earshot, the language gets fearful
- fluff and dust goes everywhere when cutting the velvet. Do not attempt if you have any breathing problems
- lots of testing and practice on scraps
- when cutting out you cannot fold and cut both sides, the velvet layers move. Layout the pattern seperately for each side and only cut as one layer.
- allow twice the normal time
Feel free to download the image for personal use (eg desktop, screensaver, pinterest, facebook, tumblr, etc) as is, but no derivative works or commercial use please.

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Fancy Togs is a small dressmaking and embroidery business run by Clare & Lawrence in Shepshed, Leicestershire, UK. Together we make our range of original art wear, made to measure clothing, custom embroidery and Irish Dance Costumes.
Website: fancytogs.co.uk
Shop: fancytogs.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FancyTogs

Description

Angela picked up her new coat last Sunday. It's a bit difficult to photograph the black velvet clearly, but the smile says it all.
The coat was made from black silk velvet, with a purple acetate lining. The pattern was based on Simplicity 1732 with a few adaptations and adjustments. The back has extra fullness with corset lacing to allow size adjustment, and because it's cool. The bodice and full length of the sleeves were interfaced for support, but the skirt was left without interfacing so that it could swish. A deep piled uphostery fabric was used for the collar and cuffs so they would be hard wearing, and had to be dyed black (it was originally a black & white Cruella DeVille leopard spot pattern).
To finish it off we used the remnants of the upholstery velvet to make a muff, with a phone pocket inside.
Tips for anybody wanting to make something similar:
- go for it - the results look so cool
- don't do it - the velvet is horrible to work with, it needs special treatment and squirms around whilst being sewn
- for fusible interfacing and pressing seams you need to avoid crushing the velvet pile. There are special pin boards available, but we used a deep dense piled upholstery velvet as a pressing mat and a LOT of care with the iron and the steam press (no pressure at all)
- pin, pin, pin, pin everywhere before sewing, then add pins
- use a walking foot
- evict children out of earshot, the language gets fearful
- fluff and dust goes everywhere when cutting the velvet. Do not attempt if you have any breathing problems
- lots of testing and practice on scraps
- when cutting out you cannot fold and cut both sides, the velvet layers move. Layout the pattern seperately for each side and only cut as one layer.
- allow twice the normal time
Feel free to download the image for personal use (eg desktop, screensaver, pinterest, facebook, tumblr, etc) as is, but no derivative works or commercial use please.

-----------------------------

Fancy Togs is a small dressmaking and embroidery business run by Clare & Lawrence in Shepshed, Leicestershire, UK. Together we make our range of original art wear, made to measure clothing, custom embroidery and Irish Dance Costumes.
Website: fancytogs.co.uk
Shop: fancytogs.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FancyTogs