24 Tips to Sew Corduroy Sport Coat
Corduroy Sport Coat: Sewing Corduroy Sport Coat requires basic machine sewing skills.
Although it may appear to be difficult, most coats have few pattern pieces and are easy to fit because they do not hug close to the body.
When selecting a pattern to sew, look for simple sleeves and a plain front.
Stay clear of coats with darts or fancy seam lines.
Think of it as a big “T” shaped garment that may or may not have a collar.
Simple coats from polar fleece or heavy wool may not need lining.
Linings are not difficult to insert, and will add to the comfort of the garment.
In this article, we’ll examine the steps to take in this project.
Corduroy Sport Coat
1. Invest in suitable fabric:
Be prepared to spend a minimum of $10 per yard for wool fabric.
If you want to use a fleece, you may find that at a lower cost.
Cotton denim and corduroy are also suitable for most coats.
2. Choose a good lining:
Costs for this type of fabric can vary.
Consider selecting silky blouse or skirt fabric instead of the usual plain lining sold by most stores.
A printed lining is a fun addition to a solid colored coat.
Stay away from stretchy fabrics, knits, and crayons.
3. Get some good interfacing:
Often the pattern instructions will require fusible interfacing.
This is an iron-on type of fabric ‘stiffener’.
Interfacing is a light-weight product that is ironed to the back side of most collars, lapels.
And some coat fronts to help them keep their shape.
Corduroy Sport Coat
4. Choose some nice buttons:
Have fun finding vintage buttons at thrift shops and yard sales to create a unique look.
5. Research your pattern:
Shopping for your coat pattern online will help you find a style you like.
Do have someone measure you first so that you buy the correct pattern size.
6. Be sure to assemble the correct notions:
If you want to add double stitching (like you see on denim), consider topstitching with a double needle. This shopping project can be done at home in your free time.
Corduroy Sport Coat
7. Buy a pattern.
8. Select a pattern with a skill level that closely matches your current skills.
9. Consider how easy or difficult it will be to modify the pattern to your own inspiration or requirements.
10. Select your material.
11. Open the pattern envelope and lay out the complete pattern on a large table.
Corduroy Sport Coat
12. Cut.
13. Cut out only those pattern pieces you will be using.
Corduroy Sport Coat
14. Follow the pattern instructions for sewing.
15. Fit your coat.
16. Get the best Sewing Machine:
Be sure you have your size #14 needles, and load several bobbins with the matching thread so you don’t have to stop to fill them as often. Use a larger stitch for sewing thick fabrics. Increase the stitch length so that the stitches are visible. Tiny stitches may cut or ripple the fabric.
17. Find inspiration.
18. Consider an inspirational scrapbook of all your coat ideas.
Corduroy Sport Coat
19. Preshrunk Fabric: Most wools or cottons will need to be pre-shrunk.
For wool you can send it to be dry cleaned, or steam it all over with a good steam iron.
Cottons can be pre-washed, then pressed with steam.
20. Buttons:
Corduroy Sport Coat
21. Lining:
This is sewn and inserted into the coat after the sleeves are sewn.
If you follow the instructions, it should be easy to do.
The lining will ‘cover’ the collar seam and create the lapel.
Hem the lining to the wool at the very end of the project.
It’s OK to use an iron-on hem tape instead of sewing up the hem (they use this in commercial tailoring)
22. Topstitching:
You can use double thread and big stitches for top stitching.
Just put a bobbin with thread on the 2nd spindle of your machine, and thread it along with the original needle thread.
This double thread will have a heavier look to it.
Bigger stitches also look nice. Make a sample first to set the stitch length.
You can use the presser foot edge as a guide to set the top stitch width from the edge. 1/8″ and 1/4″ are popular widths from the edge for top or edge stitching.
23. Be familiar with your sewing machine before you begin this project.
Be able to sew a straight line with an even seam allowance, 5/8″ from the cut edge.
If you are not able to make buttonholes, be prepared to have a tailor or dressmaker do that for you.
Although this is not a beginning-level project, a sewer who has used purchased patterns in the past should be able to complete a simple coat.*
Always have a good sewing book handy.
The “Reader’s Digest Guide to Sewing” is an old fave.
You can use any good sewing book and vintage publications can be especially helpful.
Singer Sewing Library published a book on Tailoring that is great.
Corduroy Sport Coat
24. Iron.
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