Whether you are looking for a heavier coat that will take you through the winter, or you have an interest in a lighter jacket that will be perfect for fall and spring, a pea coat might be precisely what you want. These fashionable coats are perfect for casual wear or for more formal situations. Sewing a coat is usually more complex than sewing standard garments, but with a little time and effort, you can make yourself a handsome jacket.
Things You'll Need:
Things You Will Need
Take your measurements. At the very least, you will need the circumference of your hips and your chest, the width of your shoulders, the length of your arm and the length that you want your coat to be. These measurements will help you determine how much fabric to buy and which pattern is going to be best for you.
Find a pea coat pattern that suits you. Pea coats originally came from sailor's uniforms, but today there are many different styles. Some terrific pea coat patterns include Burda 7731, Vogue 8550 and McCall's 5717.
Select your fabric. When you are selecting fabric for your pea coat, coat wool is always a good choice. These coats have a fair amount of structure and require a stiff fabric. Corduroy is another terrific choice for a pea coat because it has a fair amount of body.
Launder your fabric on the hottest setting available. This will help you take out any materials that have been added to stiffen it, and it will also preshrink the fabric so that you do not get any nasty surprises later. This step is essential when you are working with wool.
Cut out your patterns. Because patterns will contain a number of different sizes on one panel, remember to pay attention to what you are cutting out. Cut along the lines that delineate the size of the pea coat that you want to sew.