Choosing the Best Patterns and Fabrics for Coats and Jackets

Choosing the Best Patterns and Fabrics for Coats and Jackets

We don’t know about you, but those early mornings are starting to feel a bit fresh and at Fabrics Galore we are thinking about making a new coat or jacket for Autumn.

Don’t get us wrong, we know a coat can feel like a hugely ambitious make, but trust us, there are some patterns which are suited to a confident beginner and even some without linings. From bomber jackets and coatigans to scarf coats and big checks, whether your style is casual or smart, there really is a coat or jacket pattern for every dressmaker.

Think about a coat or jacket which you will wear on repeat, and you can’t go wrong. So, sit tight and discover our pick of the best coat and jacket patterns with some amazing fabrics to make them in.

A leather coat or suede jacket

This pattern ticks the box for this season’s leather trend and belted trench style – be big and bold with this one. Sewing with suede or PVC can seem daunting but it’s easy to cut out and pretty simple to sew. Top tips are to make sure you use a PVC needle (available at our fabric shop in London, Battersea) and to use a slightly longer stitch because of the thickness.

VikiSews Gladys Coat Pattern

VikiSews Gladys Coat Pattern

Blue Faux leather fabric Black faux leather fabric

Blue faux suede fabric Black faux suede fabric

Fabrics Galore Faux Leather and Faux Suede fabrics

An Oversize Quilted Jacket

Vogue referenced the quilted shell coat at this autumn’s fashion shows and this pattern looks super comfy and cool at the same time.

Oversize Quilted Jacket Pattern Quilted coat pattern

Cheryl Oversized Quilted Jacket and Hovea Quilted Coat & Jacket Patterns

The quilted jacket has been on sewers' radar for quite some time, whether it be the Megan Nielsen Hovea jacket or when they featured it on the Sewing Bee a few season ago. The Hovea jacket is perfect if you are looking at quilting it yourself, which gives you plenty of cotton options to choose from.

However if you are looking for something to make from a pre-quilted fabric, our “Timmy” fabrics are just what you need to make a sleek jacket.

Quilted jacket and coat fabric

Quilted Polyester Jacketing Fabric

A Scarf Coat

We identified scarf dressing as one of the key autumn trends in our blog Sewing the Autumn Fashion Trends and we are not afraid to include this pattern again – it’s so perfect!

Scarf Coat Pattern

Simplicity Scarf Coat or Jacket

If you make it in a large check, you hit two Autumn trends in one. Make it from one our wool fabrics and this will be super cosy. Our wools aren’t too thick, so you can easily line them to create an even cosier coat. Either our Placenza wool checks for an elegant take or go big, go bold or go home with a red and black check with a flash of pink, aptly called the Menace.

Wool Check Coat Fabric Bold red check wool coat fabric

Wool Fabrics at Fabrics Galore

Bomber Jackets

We love that the bomber jacket is still a trend this year and The Foldline also featured this pattern in their top jacket patterns.

Bomber Jacket Sewing Pattern

Causeway Bomber Jacket Pattern

Recommended fabrics are flexible but ideally use a medium non-stretch woven fabric like twill or even a lightweight fleece.

For high evening glamour you can’t go wrong with our cotton velveteen but for a more casual day wear our denim hickory stripes would also look fab.

Cotton Velveteen Fabric Green and White Hickory Stripe Fabric

Cotton Velveteen and Hickory Stripe Fabrics at Fabrics Galore

A Peacoat

A peacoat is a bit of a classic and can be smart or casual depending on the fabric you choose. This peacoat pattern from The Makers Atelier can be lined or unlined or finished with raw edges. They suggest medium weight coating fabrics like wool, tweed, velvet or corduroy, meaning you can create a lighter weight one for autumn or a heavier, cosier one for winter.

Peacoat pattern

The Makers' Atelier Pea Coat Pattern

We are thinking it would look super smart in one of our herringbone wools or for a more casual look, what about one of our jumbo corduroy fabrics?

Herringbone Wool Fabrics

Wool Herringbone Fabrics at Fabrics Galore

Jumbo Cord Fabrics

Jumbo Cord Fabrics

A Smart Blazer

May we once again refer you to our blog on Autumn fashion trends and the oh so smart Vikisews Fernanda Blazer. You just can’t go wrong with a good blazer; they are perfect for that in between season, before you need to slip on a big coat. They are also just as good for smartening up a casual outfit.

Blazer Pattern

Vikisews Fernanda Blazer Pattern

Or for something slightly more modern and unstructured,  look at the Heather Blazer by The Friday Pattern Company, which is great for a beginner sewer, beautifully made up in one of our wool checks by @zoeandherstitches.

Heather Blazer Pattern

Friday Pattern Company Heather Blazer in our Dr Watson Wool Check

Subtle Animal Print Faux Fur Coat

We don’t think you can ever be more snuggly than in a furry coat and an animal print is always eye-catching and makes you feel dressed up, especially if thrown over jeans or black trousers. Try the Fibre Mood Roma Coat pattern in our subtle tiger stripe faux fur.

Faux Fur Coat Pattern

Roma Coat Pattern

Animal Stripe Faux Fur Fabric

Faux Fur Fabrics

If you are nervous about sewing with Faux Fur for the first time, it might be a good time to read our Guide to Sewing with Faux Fur blog for all the handy hints and tips you need.

And if animal print isn’t your thing, the cocoon-like Vikisews Faith Coat would look simply amazing in one of our coating bouclés currently available in no less than 10 plain colours and 3 checks.

Vikisews Faith Coat Pattern

Vikisews Faith Coat Pattern

Teddy Coating Boucle Fabric

Fabrics Galore Teddy Coating Bouclé Fabric

The Coatigan

We thought we should finish with an easier make with serious wearability and this Thrifty Stitcher coatigan pattern ticks all the boxes. It can be made in wools or knits, and we just have to recommend our bouclé coating fabrics again. Even easier is the Jessie Coatigan pattern.

Dawson Coatigan Pattern Jessie Coatigan Pattern

Dawson Coatigan and Jessie Coatigan Patterns

Discover the best coat fabrics online

If you have been inspired to make a coat or jacket, you will want to make sure you choose the right coat fabric. Our coat fabric collection is a good place to start but don’t forget our team is on hand to recommend the right fabric for any of your coat patterns.

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One stop fabric shop

Welcome to the Fabrics Galore London online store, packed full of beautiful fabrics to inspire your next dressmaking, patchwork quilting, craft or home furnishing sewing project. We stock a huge range of different materials alongside designer fabrics from Liberty, Cath Kidston, Orla Kiely, Laura Ashley, William Morris and Alexander Henry. We source the highest quality fabrics, so whether it be a cotton, linen, viscose, chambray, jersey or wool, we have you covered.Check out our dressmaking fabric for something with drape, fabulous Liberty cotton lawn prints, quilting fabrics for patchwork inspiration or the home furnishing section to pimp your pad. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get sewing!

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