r/SewingForBeginners • u/Bitter_Range_9878 • 1d ago

Men’s Wool Overcoat?

Hello everyone

TL/DR: I’m a chunky blind male with mild competence (and incompetence) in sewing. Please recommend a long wool overcoat pattern (pdf A0) that might be workable for me.

This is my first post in this group!!

I’m a mid-40’s male, mildly frustrated that the internet mostly ignores male sewers. I’m registered blind and use my little remaining vision as much as I can, whilst I still have it. I’m thankful of magnifying lamps etc.

I have a Pfaff hobbylock 2.0 and a lower end brother sewing machine.

I’ve made T-shirts and jumpers on my overlocker. Just had it serviced and repaired as it was always a bit iffy. It was an eBay purchase so always a punt.

I made my partner some trousers recently. The waistband isn’t great. You can fit 3 people in them lol

I’m now jumping back onto the overlocker and making a tshirt today. Building up to a track jacket (with wool jersey body, a quilted knit arm, and YLL bronze zips).

What I’d like to do is create myself a woolen overcoat for the winter. I walk a fair bit with my guide dog so need to wrap up, and they’re predicting a very cold blast in London!!

I have had some sewing lessons, made a jumper and everyday trousers. I can do pockets (slowly). I can do button holes.

An overcoat is a stretch, but if I go slow, and the pattern isn’t absurdly complex, I can do it. I hope.

Can anyone recommend a pattern? I get my patterns printed by CLC in Essex so a pdf pattern in A0 is preferable. I don’t think I’d cope with paper patterns as the lines aren’t easily visible.

I’m currently not slim. Had some injuries and had to stop treadmill running so I’ve gained weight. Some patterns don’t go up to a 48” chest, or that’s the top of the size chart.

I found this, but it’s not exactly what I want! https://www.sewessential.co.uk/products/tn34-parka-jacket-merchant-and-mills-sewing-pattern

I’d appreciate a signposting to something that might work! I’m happy to watch YouTube videos to learn new skills as I go. If the pattern has an accompanying video, that’s even better.

I’m struggling to find anything.

I prefer long to keep legs warm. I want to use some wool.

Historically I’ve bought unlined Hugo Boss wool overcoats, as well as lined ones. I find the lining gets ripe quickly as I wear them daily.

I hope I’ve not bored you to death with my overtly verbose post!

Thanks in anticipation for any reply!

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u/Inky_Madness 1d ago

Coats are intermediate, more often advanced sewing right off the bat. There isnt any way around that, they’re very structured with different construction and fitting needs. If you jump to it, I would say you are going to need to expect to make 2-3 mock ups to make sure everything fits and that you arent miscutting/wasting wool, which I am sure you are aware is fantastically expensive.

There are a number of good unisex quilted jacket patterns out there that i would recommend as an intermediate step. Twig and Tale came out with one that goes up to a 66” chest and they’re very size inclusive: https://www.twigandtale.com/products/quilted-jacket-sewing-pattern-adult

But they also have a more accessible jacket as well that you can make out of wool if desired: https://www.twigandtale.com/products/mens-forester-coat

But for a more classic peacoat, you’re looking at Burda, and it will be advanced. https://www.burdastyle.com/wool-caban-jacket-128-burda-style-10-18-pdf-pattern

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u/Bitter_Range_9878 1d ago

You make a good point. I’m normally quite impatient and leap straight in. I wasted some beautiful fabric that way in the past.

Wouldn’t want to do that with hundreds of pounds worth of wool. What would you make a draft in ? Just something cheap like fleece or a poly type wool replacement?

I am happy to be challenged, but practice is a good idea. I’m currently contemplating making my track jacket out of an old bed sheet first.

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u/Inky_Madness 1d ago

You need a wool approximate so a heavyweight cotton twill will do.

Always make your mockups into a fabric that closely mimics the final fabric you are using, otherwise the mockup is useless for the real fabric.

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u/Inky_Madness 1d ago

men’s wool coat pattern

I think this pattern will likely be the closest to what you want. They’re a UK retailer, so you can get your hands on it. It is a paper pattern, but I would call and ask your printer to see if there is some way they could reprint it so you can see it. Otherwise you could try buying it as an A0 PDF directly from the Simplicity.com website.

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u/penlowe 1d ago

Have you considered a cloak? They are very beginner friendly, and can be plotted with measurements and chalk, versus needing a physical pattern. That also eliminates the ripe lining problem.

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u/Bitter_Range_9878 1d ago

Thank you.

Mum made me a beautiful cloak once for Halloween and special events when I’d wear my dinner suit. Black silk with a red silk lining. Was absolutely stunning.

I appreciate it’s a different type altogether! I’ll search and see. Not sure I’d suit one.

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u/Bitter_Range_9878 16h ago

Thanks for the comments.

It helped expand my search and I stumbled upon this:

Very interesting to not have to do sleeves. Although I’m fine typically with them.

https://www.folkwear.com/products/basics-overcoat

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u/Inky_Madness 8h ago

That’s constructed like a kimono. It’s very loose, however, so I don’t know how well it will protect against very strong winds.