This is obviously a tricky question to answer, as it largely comes down to personal taste and preferences. However, to help make your search for the perfect pattern a little easier, here is a list of suggestions. All these suggestions have an A0 format available, which means we can print it for you- especially helpful because coat pattern pieces can be quite large (who wants to stick together that many A4 pages?).
Cashmerette Canton Moto Jacket and Auburn Blazer
Closet Core Jasika Blazer and Clare Coat
Fibre Mood- Hunter long coat, Elba waistcoat and Rya shacket
Friday Pattern Co- Heather Blazer
I AM Patterns- Re duffle coat, Merlin overcoat, Mimosa poncho and Harry cape
Merchant and Mills- September coat
Muna and Broad- Mallee jacket and Shoalhaven shacket
Papercut- Nova coat and Stacker jacket
Sew Over It- Frankie jacket, Jessie coatigan and Dahlia coat
Stokx Patterns- Marion Hoodie and Stadtmantel coat
The Assembly Line- V-neck Coat and Cropped Jacket
The Modern Sewing Co- Darcy coat
Thread Theory- Goldstream peacoat and Belvedere waistcoat
And if you still need inspiration, try The Fold Line as a great starting point to search across lots of great independent sewing pattern brands. Their site is filterable which means you can sort quickly through the enormous number of options presented.
Must have coat and jacket making tools
For the best finish on your coat and jacket projects, the following tools can help elevate the quality of your finished garment.
Pressing Tools
For precision seams, consider using a pressing ham and sleeve roll. These tools allow accurate pressing of curved areas without squashing them flat against the ironing board. A pressing cloth will protect your wool fabric from heat damage caused by the surface of your iron and a Rajah cloth can help set permanent creases where these are wanted. Other useful tools include an ironing ruler for accurate measurement of hems and a sleeve ironing board. Holding a tailors clapper over a just pressed section of your garment will help it retain heat and steam for longer, allowing superior flattening of bulkier areas such as facings- a small block of smooth timber (old hardwood is excellent!) can do the job nicely- just make sure there are no sharp or splintery bits to damage your fabric.
Buttonholes
Buttonholes are an area of your project where a little extra effort can vastly improve the chances of getting a beautiful result. Practice on a scrap with the same number of layers as your finished garment- do a few practice attempts to be really sure. A simflex can help you to very quickly and accurately determine the placement of multiple buttons and buttonholes. Fray check is a good idea to stabilise and seal the buttonhole prior to cutting. And speaking of cutting, you might like to try a buttonhole chisel or buttonhole scissors.
Stabilisers
Your choice of stabilising fabrics (interfacings) can have an impact on the look and feel of the finished garment. We are happy to provide advice specific to your fabric and pattern, and we have a range of interfacings suitable for projects such as coats and jackets.
Other useful items
Remember that you may need to do some hand sewing to complete your project, so remember those hand sewing needles. This may be a project where you are trying to push that needle through multiple layers of fabric, so you might like to consider a thimble to protect yourself.
Making your own coat or jacket for winter is challenging but incredibly satisfying. It is a garment that can last you for many years, so it is definitely worth the effort. And when you are done, share your makes - remember to tag us and the pattern designer - we all love to see what you have come up with!
