My dear Watson

A while ago I decided to join The Monthly Stitch. A new challenge is posted every month, and you can join in the challenge or not. The challenge for August was 'CAPES' and since I had this pattern in my stash since June, I decided to hop on the bandwagon and join. 

I finished just in time, August 31th, still got 22 hours left!

The Watson coat... When you lay eyes on the pattern, you will want one too!
The only thing that was a bit daunting, was the fact that there are 15 pattern pieces, and since I didn't want to cut in my original pattern I traced them all... :-(
I cut a size M, but in hindsight, it was a bit to big. I eliminated about 2.5 cm from the bust-area, took in the sides 1 cm and eliminated 1 cm from the shoulder, but now it fits really well. 

I was really surprised at how fast this coat came together, it was finished in about 3 days (not counting laying out the fabric and matching up those plaids), it helped that the directions were very clear with lots of pictures!

The fabric came from Le Chien Vert in Brussels. I thought the plaid was perfect for a Sherlock-inspired garment. I saw another Watson-jacket with 2 different fabrics, and although I liked it, for mine I wanted just 1 type of fabric. The lining came from the same store. 

I did have a bit of trouble with the cape. The lining kept peeping out from under the cape. To solve this I topstitched the bottom of the whole cape piece and after that I had to 'stitch in the ditch' in the side seams of the cape through both layers of fabric. Now the lining does what it should do; be invisible from the outside...

I got the buttons covered in one of the many Mercerias around town, because I always mess up with those DIY-kits. The coat closes with snaps because my buttonhole-foot isn't big enough for these buttons, and I didn't feel like making bound buttonholes, because that was just to much trouble.

If I make this again, I will probably leave out the cape (2 cape jackets might be a bit too much) but will insert in-seam-pockets. But I probably won't make another coat for the next 5 years or so, I bought a new one just last winter and my last coat lasted me at least 5 years, so I'm pretty much set.

Taking pictures in this coat while Summer is still going strong was a bit weird...

This is my favourite picture, inside the port of Bilbao, in front of one of the huge cranes. My husband had a job there and I went along to assist. Yes, in my polkadot dress (made by me 3 years ago) and sandals, because that is appropriate attire for a cargo port.

The next challenge is VINTAGE patterns. Since I have quite a few of those, I'm ready to go for it again!

So what's the weirdest place you ever took pictures?