Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: A Faux Fur Coat by Kathy


I sewed a faux fur coat!! I really wanted to challenge myself this month working with a fabric that is brand new to me and my sewing machine... but working with faux fur was shockingly easier then I ever expected.  I chose a rabbit-like fur from Fabric Mart, (now sold out, sorry!)  It's really nice.  It's quite heavy and has a very warm, heavy knit backing.  With a thick pile, it measures a little over an inch thick.  


I love the movie star/rock star look of a fur but have always been a bit grossed out by the real deal-- I won't even touch a real fur if I see them in a shop.  I wanted a cropped one with very simple lines so I chose a BurdaStyle pattern #113 from 12/2011 issue.  It's a collarless, short coat with 3/4 raglan sleeves.



I traced out all of the pattern pieces without the seam allowances, then placed the pattern on the back side of the faux fur and went on to trace it.  I used a white tailor's chalk and added my seam allowances as I marked out my pieces taking care to follow the pile of fur. I then cut along my lines on the back of the fur, being as careful as possible to only cut the knit backing.  But of course there was still fur being caught in the scissors, I couldn't help it. I vacuumed all my pieces with my little hand-vac, no problems!  


I pulled out from my stash a dark brown twill polyester for my lining.  The coat doesn't have any clasps or closures on the front, and I prefer that. The coat is cut quite full-- I actually had to remove about an inch to the sleeve width and bodice.  I cut a straight size 42 for everything, where normally I would grade up almost one size at the waist.




Once I sewed my seams following the direction of the fur's nap (downward), I went back in and picked out the fur bits that got stuck in the seam line. I used this mega sized, blunt metal needle that is probably as old as me. Below you can see the difference picking out the fur fibers from the seam with the before (left) and after (right) pics. The material is super thick and I made sure my stitches were quite long, about 3.0-3.5 depending on the layers of material I was sewing through. I used the walking foot on my machine to help move it along. I also found I had to help gently pull the material through as it was being sewn because it was so thick.


This coat is wayyy warmer then I thought it would be. There's no underlining. I was out today on a blustery day and was warm, except for my hands which were icicles. A long length version of this would have been crazy warm.


Sewing with faux fur ended up being a great experience!  It can be a little messy but nothing a vacuum can't handle.


Happy Sewing!!
~Kathy

Comments

  1. Nice! I love a good faux fur vest/jacket.. You did a wonderful job. I need to find more places to wear mine.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Pattern Emporium’s Lyrical Top Featuring Fabric Mart Fabrics

 Sewn in a lightweight  rayon challis , this top combines style, comfort, and fluidity. There’s one thing I love in a summer sew: effortless drape—and the Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium delivered just that. This pattern is a new release, and when I spotted this dreamy rayon challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect pairing. Lightweight, breathable, and with just the right amount of movement, the fabric really brought the pattern to life. Today, I’m sharing all the details—from fabric choice and construction to styling and fit—plus a few thoughts on why this top might just become a repeat sew. Pattern Overview: The Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium The Lyrical Top is a relaxed-fit design with bloused sleeves and a gently flared frill cuff. It comes with three sleeve lengths and two neckline variations. I chose the tie-neck view, but there’s also a collar option for a slightly different vibe. I’ve been looking to add more stylish tops to my wardrobe this year, a...

Made By A Fabricista: A matching set and a happy error.

 Hi sewing friends! Today I’m sharing a new outfit I made inspired by looks I’ve been seeing pop up in my Facebook and IG feeds a LOT this year. I’m talking about those monochromatic matching top and bottom outfits, sometimes in linen, sometimes in a flowy knit - the ones that advertise they go effortlessly from loungewear to office wear to going out wear. So I decided to “sew the look” using Fabric Mart fabric and a few patterns I already in my massive pattern library. First, let me share that I have very few solid color pieces in my closet. I’m so taken in by whimsy and geometric prints that this is still a gaping hole in my wardrobe -  a matching solid color set was actually a practical addition for me.  So let me walk you through how I created this look, and also tip you off to an error I made while cutting that worked out pretty well after all. Can you spot the error? Hint - it’s somewhere in the top: Here’s how I went about building my matchy match outfit. And here’...

Made By A Fabricista: Oversized Jenna Shirt for Summer Fun

 I may or may not have had several meltdowns during the making of this Closet Core Jenna Shirt… But let’s back up first. During the month of May, I promised to wear handmade garments every single day for the popular sewing challenge “Me Made May.” I really enjoyed thoughtfully putting together my outfits each day. While I was doing this, I was taking notes of the gaps in my wardrobe. Particularly, I don’t have many transitional shirts that could work for on-camera work attire and be comfortable for the weekend. When I saw this delicious cotton lawn on the Fabric Mart website, I knew that I wanted to make a button up shirt that would be both work appropriate and a nice overshirt for summer evenings over my tanks and tees.  I have made a few button up shirts before using a vintage Stretch & Sew pattern but I decided to try my hand at the Closet Core Jenna Shirt (up to a 60” chest) which has had rave reviews on social media and pattern sites for being a great pattern with e...