Taupe Berlin Jacket

I’ve been instagram stalking the Berlin Jacket for so long now. I follow the hashtag, and every time a new one pops up, I stare lovingly at it and admire what a cool, laid back vibe it offers while still making a very stylish statement. Over and over, I’ve heard other sewists talk about what a quick and easy project it was, but no matter how many times you guys said it, I just wasn’t buying it. How in the world could a sleek, fashionable JACKET be a fun, simple sew?? I finally decided that I was just going to do it already, no matter the time commitment, and I added some boiled wool to my fabric collection. And before the weather could turn too nice on me, I got started. (This seems like a strange statement, because as I am writing this during the first week of February, we’re currently experiencing a heat wave here in North Texas. Today, we hit 78’F! But cool weather is on the radar for next week… Womp womp.)

If you guys remember, I sewed my first jacket / coat in December – the Wiksten Haori jacket in a really great, bold, wintery plaid wool. Just like with this project, I was daunted by the Haori. The coat packed such a great visual punch, it must be pretty complicated to sew! Right? Wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with how easily and quickly my Haori jacket came together. And guess what? That jacket was 5 times more difficult than this one! Let me add my voice to the chorus – the Berlin Jacket truly IS simple and quick!! I think from start to finish, I completed this project in about an hour and a half. For me, this biggest chunk of time was eaten up by simply cutting the fabric – once you have your pieces cut and ready to go, this jacket is a complete breeze! The main factor behind the ease of this pattern is the unfinished edges. The construction is so different than what I am used to, because there is no folding under of your unfinished edges, no pressing and hemming, no concern about leaving a raw edge out open to the world. This is a huge time saver! Of course, in order to make this work, you’ve got to have the right fabric. The pattern instructions offer a few suggested materials, and I went with the classic – boiled wool. Hot tip though – because your raw edges will be showing, be sure to use your rotary cutter with a FRESH blade! I’ve linked to the ones I use down below.

This particular boiled wool is such a great neutral color, which I knew I would be able to wear with just about everything. I’ll hopefully be able to transition this into the beginning of spring, as well – it’s a good weight for cool spring days, and the color should pair really nicely with all kinds of nice springtime colors! It is a wool / viscose blend, and thanks to that viscose, is drapier than the other boiled wool I have on my shelf. I feel like in this fabric, I’d almost consider this more of a coatigan. My other boiled wool will give me more of a coat-like feel once I sew it up – I’ve already cut it out, after making sure that I loved this one as is!

Based on my measurements, I chose to cut and sew a size small. In all honesty, it is a little bit bigger than I imagined initially, but I think it is actually just the right size for layering over sweaters. I think the big-ness (not a word? Not worried about it.) is accentuated a bit by the drapey quality of this thinner boiled wool / viscose mix, but I think in a bit of a thicker wool that this will be just the size I am looking for. I think I’d love to sew another version in this same fabric in a winter white or black in the future in an extra small, though! Would three Berlins be too many?? Hope not… I’ve got ideas for at least four more.

I’m excited to add another outerwear piece to my handmade wardrobe collection. What is it about telling people that you made your coat or jacket that seems so much more impressive than when you say it about a dress? Seems a bit silly, considering I have quite a few dresses that took WAY more time and effort than this jacket did, but I still feel a total rush of pride when I say I made this one myself!

Jacket: handmade by me
Pattern: Tessuti Fabrics – Berlin Jacket
Fabric: Blackbird Fabrics – Boiled Wool & Viscose – Taupe
Earrings: Flying Cactus
Key Ingredients: Rotary Cutter with FRESH sharp blades! 

• XX Elizabeth