Behind the seams - laminated wool parka update

A parka is a knee-length cold-weather coat, typically stuffed with down or very warm synthetic fiber, and with a fur-lined hood. from Wikipedia

The good news is - IT IS READY! No, seriously, finished it today and already wore it out! Super warm. 

The bad news - I need to wait for a good weather to snap pictures, and my photographer needs to be available for that. Also, we have like three hour long days at the moment so... who knows when I can share the finished product! 

Insta round up - mismatched seams, faux fur, my lining and seam sealing.

I still have to sew the fur piece for the hood. Kinda dreading it. I do not like sewing fur. I dislike cutting it even more. I hope that He can stand with vacuum in hand next to me while I cut it.

I also made some research on the fabric. Pontetorto from Italy is making "tecno wool". In that line they have wools that are laminated with a thin water and wind proof membrane. My best bet is that I got  that same fabric from Abakhan. They do sell production leftovers. 

Alchemy Equipment is making some fine outerwear from Pontetorto tech wool. My fabric seems to be pretty damn similar to those...

I really hoped I can find some cleaning instructions for the fabric, but sadly no one is giving that info away on their websites. 

Also, seam sealing the whole thing was a bitch! The tape had a paper backing, that was too stiff, which made it real hard to get the tape over all the bulk that topsticthed seams produce. 

Future project - laminated wool parka

Long time no posting. Again. 

Its not that I haven't been sewing, I have. See my instagram feed. It's just that I haven't been feeling like snapping images. 

But I have been feeling like making plans!

And I have a plan to sew myself a fully water, wind and cold proof parka (I hope). 

Laminated wool - from left and right side

It all started with this fabric. I spotted it at Abakhan in the "buy by the kilo" bin right after I had started my pea coat(still not finished, practicing my button holes). I figured since one coat was already in the makings it was way  too soon for another one. 

And then I did some online shopping, which was a huge ass FAIL! The quilted down coat that I ordered fits me, sleeves are a little short as usual but...the description of said down coat stated that there IS A HOOD. There is half of a hood. That looks like a circumcision gone wrong. 

(The only reason I bought that damn coat was what if we gonna have another rainy windy winter that is not suited for a wool jacket?)

Fast forward to this week. I still had that laminated wool on my mind. Stopped by Abakhan, almost 100% sure that it is all gone. Lucky me, it was still there. YAY!

J Crew Chateau parka

I will loosely base my parka on the J Crew's parka above. Ok, it will be pretty damn similar! Sue me for liking J Crew.

I have been trying to plan all the sewing a head, I even wrote down construction order to make my life wee bit easier. I also will try to use up as much supplies from my ever expanding sewing stash as possible. I have the zipper, snaps, warm interlining... I might even use my crazy-ass scull print poly satin as lining. 

I do have to pick up a shit ton of seam sealing tape.

One thing I need to figure out is how to sew all those pockets to the fronts without using any pins... and decide - to do fur or no fur?