Having made the Orchidee dress for the wedding, I still wanted to make the duster coat from my original choice of pattern – Simplicity 8731. As the style of the coat is very loose fitting I felt I could get away with the size 14.

I looked on line for some linen, I was originally thinking a raspberry pink would be nice, but I spotted on the Fabrics for All website some lovely linen in both raspberry pink and a duck egg blue. I decided a trip to the shop was required. Fabrics for All is in Armley just outside the centre of Leeds, they have some gorgeous fabrics so it is definitely worth the two-bus trip to get there. The linen felt lovely and as soon as I tried the dress fabric against them, the duck egg blue won hands down. I also felt I was more likely too wear a duck egg blue coat again, it’s not so in your face as pink! I then called into Samuel Taylors in the centre of Leeds as I knew they had some jacquard lining fabrics. They had a perfect match, duck egg blue shot with raspberry pink! It was all meant to be…

The coat has a yoke on the back with a central pleat. The sleeves are unusual as the front sleeve is cut out as part of the front, whereas the back is a separate piece. The yoke has a broad trim on it’s lower edge, I lined the trim with the linen as instructed by the pattern, if I make this coat again I’ll line the trim with a cotton as it is quite bulky and stands a bit out from the coat back. I debated whether to add the bow, I was tempted to add some embroidery instead but I decided that would take too long. Having attached the bow I’m happy with it, it holds the trim a bit flatter too.

I love the pink lining! I hemmed the coat with some patterned bias binding. I bought the pretty bias binding from Freya & Friends on etsy, it’s 3cm wide and made to order. I stretched it slightly as I was stitching it on and then pressed it into the curve of the hem. It gathered up just enough ‘ease’ to allow the hem to sit flat. I hand-stitched the hem to make it as invisible as possible. I also hand-stitched the coat lining hem with a simple running stitch in pink embroidery thread.

I think it’s a very elegant summer coat, it feels lovely to wear as the linen is quite weighty and drapes beautifully.