Vogue 8626 Coat

Lined coats A, B, C in two lengths, A-line with or without collar, close fitting with princess seams, back pleats, long sleeves with elbow darts, and top stitching trim.

Pattern Sizing: (8 10 12 14)- (16 18 20 22 24) with pattern pieces for ABC&D cups.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, I think the drawing was fairly accurate.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It went together easily with no particular issues.

The sleeves as drafted are tiny. I spent quite a bit of time redrafting them, and I'm still not sure they are exactly how I want them.

I muslined this coat twice before I cut into my wool, as I was a bit iffy on the sizing. 

Looking at previous reviews, it looked HUGE, so I tried a size down from my usual, which fit fine for a dress coat, but was going to be a bit tight made up in the wool. 

I re-muslined in my usual size, with the re-drafted sleeve and that was much better! 

I think it is the deep pleat in the back that makes it look quite billowy.

Fabric Used: A grey wool coating, with a blue, grey and burgundy patterned lining which was silk (I think?!)

The coating was lovely to work with, and sewed together beautifully.

The lining was a complete pain - fraying, slipping .... aaaagh!! It looked pretty though 

I liked the idea of the knee length coat, but was a bit concerned it would swamp me, as I am only 5'2". I originally muslined the shorter length, but didn't like it, so ended up with something in the middle which was 3" shorter than the longer view (or 3" longer than the short view)

As mentioned above the sleeves were tiny - so I redrafted them as a 2 piece sleeve to add the extra width.

I sewed down the insides of the back pleat to hold the pleat and also try to stop the billowy back.

I lined up the smaller side pleats with the princess seams in the back by making them tiny box pleats.

I attached smaller buttons on the inside of the coat behind the larger buttons to stop the thread pulling on the coat when I am buttoning it.

I probably won't sew it again, as I have other coat patterns I would like to try, but would definitely recommend it as a good pattern to start on.