For the momentous occasion of my mom turning 80, I made her a patchwork coat! A toile was made from a thrift-store purchased quilt to double-check the size because I knew I wouldn’t want to make this twice, lol. For her coat, I created quilted panels for each pattern piece instead of cutting up a pre-made quilt. Did this take forever? Yes….but worth it in the end.
The fabrics are 95% Ruby Star Society and all cut specific for this coat. I cut into some precious scraps from when RSS was still Cotton + Steel. I bought the new 1-800-Notions line but for the most part all the fabrics were already in my stash 🫣.
As for pattern alterations: I cut a size medium and then shortened the body length by 2 inches and the sleeve length by 4 inches. I also rounded the edges of the front bodice at top and bottom. The collar is just the front and lining with no batting. The upper collar is interfaced but I didn’t want any more bulk than necessary so I didn’t even quilt or topstitch it. Pretty proud of getting that “delicious” aligned on the collar point.
I opted to leave off the pockets because positioning them on the front was too busy and if I moved them to the lining then you’d see the stitches on the front side and I just couldn’t tolerate that. I was also going to add buttons, but I didn’t want to buttonhole through that many layers and after trying it on I think it works without any closures.
My mom was a newspaper reporter in the 1960’s so the lining typewriters and pens is a nod to that. I love the “Happy Birthday” label and ribbon used to finish the collar.
The armscye got really bulky so I sewed that seam together using my industrial machine, then I serged the sleeve and body together instead of binding that seam. That’s the only seam that is not bound.
- Pattern: Patchwork Chore Coat (size medium) by Patchwork & Poodles
- Fabrics: From my stash, mostly Ruby Star Society
- Linings: Typewriters in Golden Canvas by Melody Miller for Ruby Star Society, Eye Candy Lollies in Natural by the Ruby Star Society Collaborative Collection, Pens in Natural by Melody Miller for Ruby Star Society, and Selvedge Magic Novelty Text by Ruby Star Society
- Batting: Stitch In Time, Simply Bamboo
- Binding: Starry Mini Black Gold Metallic by Alexia Abegg for Ruby Star Society
- Labels: “Happy Birthday” by Sarah Hearts and my own
- Twill Tape/Ribbon: Catnap – Measure Twice in Neon Pink, ⅝” by Alexia Abegg for Renaissance Ribbons
- Thread: WonderFil Konfetti 50wt (piecing), Glide 40wt (quilting)
- Needles: Organ 80/12 (piecing), Organ 90/14 (quilting)
- Machines Used: Juki TL-2010Q (piecing & quilting), Juki MO-654DE (serger), Juki 1541S (armscye)