The Berlin Jacket is one of my favorite patterns – I love the style lines on the pattern, I think it has a really impressive looking end result, and I don’t even have to tell anyone that it was one of the easier things I sewed this year. Or that it took me less than 2 hours. I can just humble brag that yes, I sewed my coat, and yes, I know it is awesome… And keep those other little bits to myself!
I have made two versions of this pattern in the past – a mushroomy greige version in a fairly lightweight boiled wool blend, and a thicker one in a gorgeous crimson. They both get regular wear, and they’re such an easy piece for me to grab on the way out the door. The style is versatile, and I can pair them with all types of outfits.
Despite how much I love these, I had it on my mind for quite a while to make one more version – specifically in a black, somewhat heavier weight boiled wool. So when I had the opportunity to work with this boiled wool from the Minerva Core Range, it was fate!
Boiled wool is such a cool fabric – it doesn’t fray, so you can explore some unique patterns that don’t call for finishing the edges of your seams. You could use boiled wool with any outerwear fabric, but the Berlin Jacket is made especially for this cool substrate, and is constructed with raw, overlapping seam edges. I can sew this up in one night after tucking the kids away to bed, from cutting out the fabric to the very last seam. In fact, I’ve done that twice now!
This version has turned out to be exactly what I hoped for! I finished it at the beginning of October, and spent the next 5 weeks waiting for the opportunity to wear a warm coat. I finally got the chance when we spent a weekend up in the woods in Broken Bow, Oklahoma and it was perfect! I’m excited to have a solid black (me-made) coat to pair with all my prints and florals for the cool months!
Coat: handmade by me
Pattern: Tessuti Fabrics – Berlin Jacket
Fabric: Minerva Core Range – 100% Boiled Wool Coating Fabric in Black
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Schmetz Jersey Ballpoint Needles – yep, you want to use ballpoint with this fabric!
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this pattern! The fabric used for this post was provided to me by Minerva in exchange for photos of my finished garments and a review of my experience with the fabric, to be posted on their website. The pattern used in this garment as purchased by me. All words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
