Designed for an intermediate sewist, we love the way this fresh take on a classic mac-style coat turned out in one of our deadstock non-stretch cotton twills. Styled over a cosy Cloud Sweatshirt and layers of merino, or with a floaty Make by TFS Teddy Dress, the Thompson Coat by Daughter Judy is a timeless wardrobe essential. A big thank you to Ella, from our HQ team, for modelling this week. Read on for our review!
Pattern Review
Chelsea Carson launched Daughter Judy in early 2022, offering modern classics in expanded sizes for home sewists. We love how Daughter Judy offers a pay-what-you-choose model, with 3 pricing tiers per pattern. They'll donate 5% of each sale (no matter your pricing tier) to a range of non-profits such as the Clean Clothes Campaign.
We're right in the middle of our southern hemisphere winter here in New Zealand, so the seasonally-appropriate boxy Thompson Coat, in mid-calf length is perfect for layering on cooler days! The Thompson Coat pattern is available in two size ranges depending on your sewing cup size. We chose a size M (DD size 6-10) for Ella, which matched her measurements well. The project took 2.7m of our Cotton Gabardine - Latte, approximately 120cm x 50cm of Fusible Interfacing - 50gsm / White, x4 25.4mm light recycled paper buttons, a matching spool of Gütermann Sew-All Thread, and a spool of Gütermann Recycled Topstitching Thread in colour 722.
We found this project well suited to an intermediate-level sewist. The detailed instructions were super helpful, especially for slightly trickier areas such as the welt pockets!
Double top stitching detail features on the raglan sleeve seams, around the welt pocket, and on the side seams, which allowed the bulk from the seam allowance to be distributed evenly for a smoother finish. The playful bell-shaped sleeves had us dreaming of a second jacket in one of our Upcycled Denims, and we thought it could look cute with binding on the inside seams too! We highly recommend taking the time to read the 'Choosing the Right Size' section in the instruction manual, as Daughter Judy patterns are designed with height and bust modifications in mind.
Download the Thompson Coat from the Daughter Judy website here.
Fabric Recommendations
Daughter Judy suggests using either a woven fabric like denim, twill, or canvas for a structured look. We chose a deadstock heavyweight non-stretch pure cotton twill, with a subtle sheen on the face and a matt reverse. We're loving how this coat turned out in such a classic fabric! Check out the recommendations below for coat-worthy fabrics, from top to bottom — 11oz Upcycled Denim – Natural, Heavyweight Linen - Dusky Orchid, Woven Stripe Stretch Cotton Twill - Cream Mix, Cotton Blend Canvas - Cinnamon Stick, and 11oz Upcycled Denim – Blue Fade.
We'd highly recommend this project for anyone looking to add a classic coat to their wardrobe! The handy printable envelope to store the pattern once your project is complete is also a bonus! Follow #ThompsonCoat for inspiration and don't forget we'd love to see your makes over on Instagram and TikTok!