As July rolls around, I realize many of you in the U.S. are probably sweltering through a heatwave. Meanwhile, folks in the southern hemisphere are starting to feel the chill creeping in and thinking about layering up—perhaps even pulling out their coats! It’s funny how different climates can inspire such contrasting thoughts. Some of us are already dreaming of future sewing projects for the upcoming season, while others simply enjoy contemplating colder weather as a way to cool down. Anyway, today we’re diving into a truly remarkable creation by the talented Shelley: her stunning Barnyard Coat! Grab yourself a refreshing drink and take a leisurely look at this masterpiece.
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The Barnyard Chaval Coat
There’s something magical about finding a fabric that feels destined for greatness, even if you're not quite sure what that means at first. That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon this designer wool fabric back in 2016. The shop was closing down, and this Dolce & Gabbana designer-printed wool coating caught my eye on sale. I couldn’t resist buying it and tucked it away for later use.
Fast forward to when the Chaval coat pattern came out, and inspiration struck. With an upcoming family vacation requiring coats, I decided it was finally time to bring this project to life. Once I paired the fabric with the pattern, I realized my 2-meter cut fell far short of the recommended yardage. But I’ve always enjoyed a good puzzle, especially when it comes to cutting layouts. This reminded me of a forum thread where I challenged the technical prowess of Oliver + S’s cutting software. If I'd planned around the pattern, I might have bought more fabric and achieved better alignment. Instead, I traced the pattern and tailored it to fit my fabric. At first, I thought I’d have to skip the pocket flaps due to the wrinkles in the unironed fabric. After pressing it, though, I managed to relocate the pocket welts to the crossgrain and still include the flaps. The only compromise I made was piecing together the bottom portion of the front facings.
Of course, there’s no room for perfectionism when working with limited fabric like this. But check out those quirky pockets! Who would have guessed that combining a rabbit with backward-facing donkey legs would result in something resembling a fluffy hermit crab? And if a pig-chicken hybrid isn’t already a thing, it definitely should be!
For added warmth, I lined the coat with a luxurious fabric featuring a Hermes-inspired motif and quilted it to some wool batting. Only the front and back lining pieces were quilted, while the sleeves remained unquilted.
I added a hanging loop using a small snaffle bit. It seemed so fitting, and a patch of interfaced main fabric plus a label completed the back facing. Was I tempting fate with the “finished just in time†tag?
To finish, I sourced some gorgeous variegated wooden buttons. With just 48 hours left before our flight, I regretted not planning ahead for bound buttonholes like Liesl did here. Fortunately, I was smart enough to abandon that idea and stuck with machine-made buttonholes.
Without making a muslin, I trusted my measurements between sizes 10 and 12 in Liesl + Co patterns and opted for a straight size 12. My only adjustment was adding shoulder pads between the outer coat and lining.
We arrived in Paris and wore our new coats out for dinner, only to get soaked in a sudden downpour. The coats dried mostly overnight on hangers, and we completed the process by cycling around the city the next day. Unfortunately, I didn’t find time to press the coat properly before snapping these photos.
This was the fourth and final coat I made for the trip. I saved it for last because I knew the Liesl + Co instructions and experience would ensure a smooth finish.
I absolutely adore my whimsical Barnyard Chaval coat. It’s funny, fancy, and has already garnered spontaneous compliments whenever I wear it. Considering how long I’ve cherished the fabric and how versatile it is across seasons, I think it’s safe to call it timeless, trans-seasonal, and yes, a little bonkers.
We’re thrilled with it, Shelley! You can snag your own copy of the Chaval Coat pattern in either paper or digital formats. Unfortunately, we can’t assist with the fabric, but I’m confident you’ll discover something equally stylish and reflective of your personality (humor included!).
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