Sweater coats? Long cardigans? Coatigans? What shall we call the trend that is taking RTW and the sewing world by storm? I am drooling over Stephanie’s long cardi…Named has a new “maxi cardigan“… Style Arc offers a few options… and I blame Michelle for making me NEED the new Hot Patterns coat! (I’ve never been all the interested in HP before, so truly, the coatigan bug has bit me hard!)
It all began so innocently… I got a hair cut, and wandered over to the discount fashion store nearby (Winners, for Canadians)… I bought a computer bag for work and causally looked through the cosy sweaters. Pretty soon, I was in the change room taking pics of me in 5 different long sweaters, a look that’s never really interested me before! To my surprise, I fell in love with one – a lovely French Grey (or that’s what my Prismacolour pencil crayons would call it, but I guess it’s taupe) merino wool sweater by Cynthia Rowley!
A few days later, I went back and it became mine.
Isn’t it nice? I like how clean the neckline is, and how the sleeves and shoulder fit perfectly. The width is just right, too – I can hold it closed over my hips and bust with no overlap, which means it looks neither too tight nor too baggy. It’s the first RTW I’ve bought in a year. For $50, you can tell I’m pleased! 🙂 Of course, I went straight home and traced it so I could make more!
This version is just a cheap sweatshirt knit. It doesn’t drape as nicely as the wool sweater fabric, but it’s not bad for a first attempt! I wasn’t really sure how to trace the sleeves, so these are in fact Renfrew sleeves with some slashing and spreading. I can tell the upper arm is a bit tight, and it pulls on the upper bodice, but that’s an easy fix.
(Sidenote: The little pink stone heart earrings I’m wearing here were some of my first earrings as a child. I have a really clear memory of looking at them in a glass case in the jewellery store while on vacation around age 10. I remember they seemed so special and indulgent, and I felt so giddy and lucky when my parents bought them for me!)
The neck and front are finished with a facing, which I top-stitched on the coverstitch. I was so proud of myself for carefully hand-winding matching thread onto a second spool so the top-stitching would disappear… and totally forgot that the taupe I left in the bottom looper would show whenever the coat opened!
Of course, a coat can’t be worn alone, so I’m trowing in a couple of other recent projects with it… starting with a second attempt to make these RTW jeans stay in place!
I bought them last year, and put in a few darts, but they always slide down. In a fit of wanting more jeans but not wanting to do topstitching, I pulled these out of the donation bag and attached an elastic waistband! It’s basically the same waistband I put on Ginger jeans or Elle pants – A long rectangle of fabric with the elastic zigzagged on, then topstitched on at the top of the pants. You can see I took the jeans button off because it was in the way – this method will only work if you can pull the pants on, of course! This method works well if you want to add to the rise AND have elastic to hold things up and in place… on IG some people suggested unpicking the jeans waistband and inserting elastic inside it, which seems like a slow but nicely invisible way to do it.
And next, a Comino Cap tee! But what’s far more exciting is – LOOK! LOOK! I took pictures on the street!!!!!!!
It felt so strange and I really had to psych myself up first. Most of these pics were taking in a little parking lot just off the street while I tried to bolster my courage… then as I walked back to the car, I had the camera already set and on the tripod, so I plopped it down and took 10 pics really fast. Baby steps, right? I really love the depth of the background blurring away in the distance – I can suddenly see why fashion bloggers love a street style shot!
(Let’s be real here – I chose a one-way street with very little traffic, in a particularly yuppie corner of my small city downtown. If it were anywhere more crowded I would definitely need a photographer so my camera would not be in danger!)
Are you interested in the long cardigan trend? Or is it reminding you too much of the last time it was popular- when was that? Late 90’s, early 2000’s? Have any other fall trends caught your eye this year?
ps. I have already bought fabric for my next version – it will be red jaquard double knit with knit trim!
Crafting A Rainbow 
I’ve bought a nice grass green knitted wool for a second one! And it’s actually your RTW cardigan that inspired me to make mine! I love your knock-off and I’m still crazy jealous of your coverlock! Long cardigans with clean lines are just perfect for fall!
LikeLike
Ooh, knitted wool? That’s going to be fabulous. I’m glad we’re mutually inspiring each other – hair, clothes, profession… we’re definitely twins from afar! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love long cardigans. I have 4-5 in different lengths and colours. I was actually looking at my longest one – a very long coral one, this morning – and will probably wear it tomorrow. I always find them comfortable and feel dressy in them.
Great shots too! And not raining! I will use a wide aperture when shooting outside to blur the background.
LikeLike
How long is your longest cardi? I’d love to have the confidence to wear a really long one – how fun would it be to walk through the work day with a billowing ankle length cardi on? Like a secret superhero costume!
LikeLike
Also! Your pics in the street a perfect! I’m trying the things I picked up in your last post to get nicer pics of my next makes!
LikeLike
… and I’ll be looking forward to your next makes – and your business endevours with Hanne! So cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YOU ARE SO SMART! Tracing off the RTW cardi and making your own – clever, girl! I LOVE the long cardigan trend – it keeps me toasty. You are rocking this look. Love it!
LikeLike
It’s started a bit of a dangerous obsession with going into Winners and looking for other things to knock off!!!! What have I started? 😉
LikeLike
What lovely clothes! I love a good cardi to keep cosy in when the nights start drawing in. And I really like your photos taken in the street, well done! I must try some more locations outdoors as the light is so much better.
LikeLike
I”m going to be really sad (and uninspired) when i have to go back to taking pics inside for the winter… it’s just so much easier to get nice pics outside! Let me know if you find any good locations and try them! 🙂
LikeLike
Cute pics! Being a lady of mature years [old biddy] I don’t need cardigans very often as I carry my own heating system. These are cute though. Beware Hot Patterns!!!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!
LikeLike
LOL – beware? Beware is in I’ll regret it, or as in I’ll never get enough once I start???
LikeLike
I have a deep and abiding loathing of HP- after diving in and buying quite a few when i first became aware of them on my return to sewing [well the line art is fab] I soon found that they’re badly drafted, and the instructions are appalling. I wrote a LONG description of my rather expensive battle with the ‘agostini jacket’ some years ago. I complained, raising a lot of points about incorrect and badly proof-reas instructions, and never got a reply despite several nudges. Dreadful company, avoid like the plague.
LikeLike
I am a huge fan of long cardigans, always have been. I don’t think I actually own a short cardigan.
Love the story about your earrings.
LikeLike
I”m such a hoarder – everything has a story and a reason I want to keep it! I just got into wearing earrings again lately (when my metal allergies apparently disappeared) so I’m exited to wear those old earrings again!
LikeLike
I’m definitely a fan of the long cardigans! Extra layers are always a good thing for me, and I like the versatility of being able to leave them loose or cinch them with a belt. Also, I’m a lot less self-conscious in skinny jeans when I have something long enough to cover my backside! Your knockoff of the RTW looks great, as do your street photographs!
LikeLike
YES to the excellence of butt-covering tops for tight-pant days! It also makes jeans seem a little less casual, I think. Or I hope… 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Firstly, I love the term coatigan and suddenly have the urge to make one, if not just to use the word repeatedly. It looks lovely and cozy too.
Your photos are great, well done for the bravery!
I really like your comino cap top. I’ve been trying to resist buying it because it’s probably hackable from patterns I already have but I really like all your versions.
LikeLike
Comino Cap is a great pattern!!!! I’ve used the skirt at least 10 times with different bodices, and the bodice with tons of dresses and tops. It’s my most worn pattern of the last 12 months! I think I sew my bodices blousier than it’s supposed to be, but I like it that way. Go for it!!!!
LikeLike
Very nice outfit, and good work tracing the RTW coatigan! I REALLY need to get in gear on my light jacket/coatigan/coat plans but I just can’t pick a pattern!
LikeLike
You’ve done so well on your fall plans so far! I’ll be curious to see you coat whenever it appears! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! What a steel for Merino wool! Both your cardigans look fantastic. I am so impressed with your traced knock off – it looks great! I imagine it might look really cool in one of those quilted knits too.
I also love your jeans fix – I wonder if when making jeans you could add a little elastic inside the waistband like somepeople do stay tape. Hmmmmm…..my pants are always falling down too! Even when I wear a belt. Ugh!
LikeLike
Oh and your street photos look amazing!
LikeLike
Adding elastic in as you sew would be a great halfway between my totally elastic pull on style and the look of a proper waistband. You should try it and let us all know!!!
Has it started getting cold out west? it’s back to being nice now, but it’s already been below 10c in the mornings when I leave for work… I’m not ready!!!
LikeLike
It’s definitely much cooler. The heat is on, and I want to wear pants and long sleeves, and socks all the time.
LikeLike
Fashion or not, I love long cardis. They are perfect when I commute to my yoga class, hiding butt and thighs gracefully! Your new haircut is wonderful. You know that you would also look stunning with a pixie.
LikeLike
Thank you! I had a pixie in university, and I never feel good about the cut when I look back… but part of my feels like I should try it once again before growing it longer again! We’ll see…. 🙂
LikeLike
I loive this trend! I have like 5 RTW which are just waiting for the temperature to drop just another few degrees so I can wear them with a light trench. I really love that blue colour you used it really suits you 🙂
LikeLike
Seems like everyone was on the long cardi wagon way before me – I can’t believe what I’ve been missing out all these years!
LikeLike
Nice job on the street photos! I certainly see the appeal of that sort of backdrop, it really looks great. Wise buy on the CR cardigan! It looks so cozy… and definitely a smart move to copy it. Might have to get the Named pattern after all, I could totally use something like this!
LikeLike
I really do think Pinterest street style pics have brainwashed me into thinking that street backdrops are more fashion-y! Not sure it’s something I’ll do often, but it was fun this time.
That Named cardi looks sooooo cosy – go for it!
LikeLike
You look so cute in these and the street pictures are great! I’m glad you’re enjoying the trend, but I can’t imagine it on me. I’m pretty short with sloping shoulders and I think something this long that’s so unstructured would make me look a bit droopy.
LikeLike
Hehe – I’m pretty short (5’2″) and I slouch like mad, so if you like it on me, you might like it on yourself more than you think? But you are right, I think it definitely calls so something snug under neath to avoid being totally shapeless…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coatigan! Love it. I’m all about layering pieces, especially if they cover my butt 😊.
Your street shots look awesome! But I would’ve be apprehensive to take them. Well done you!
LikeLike
Oh man, I was so self-conscious taking the street pics! I literally plonked the camera down in front of a nice gastropub, took pics as I paced 5 steps back, too off the cardi, took 5 more pics as I walked back tot he camera, and was done! 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be honest, I was a little sad when the coatigans went away last time because I only got to buy one before they went out 😛 So, I’m pleased to see they’re returning and am definitely planning to make a few! I love yours (and the rtw one – ah, merino)! And wow, your street photos look great!
LikeLike
It’s nice of fashion to repeat itself so we can enjoy what we missed the first time around!!! 😉 Maybe I’ll be into culottes or crop tops next time… maybe.
LikeLike
I love your cardis. They look so warm and comfy and very stylish. The grey is lovely and the blue is fab on you. You can’t beat a good cardi but then again I am Scottish so we learn to layer up for all occasions. I love the street photo of you in your beautiful t-shirt. The earrings are very cute and it is lovely that you have such good memories of buying them. Xx
LikeLike
We Canucks love our cardigans too! I’ve got three sitting on the passenger seat in my car right now – apparently I wear them to work when it’s early and cold, and leave them in the car when I get home. I’ll have a whole wardrobe out there pretty soon! 😛
LikeLike
Rock that Coatigan! It’s a good look on you and should come in handy when all the snow hits.
I’m so proud of you for taking street shots!!! They look awesome.
LikeLike
Thanks my darlin’! I might be sewing up a lot of these coatigans this fall… a nice lazy project!
LikeLike
I’m also seeing lots of the long line cardigans and yours looks very smart. I really like your haircut as well.
Impressive street shots, I am trying to get there!
LikeLike
Thank you! I’ve definitely gained confidence taking pics out and about over the last 6 months, but it does take time. Eventually we’ll all be stopping traffic for our photoshoots! 😛
LikeLike
I bet you will wear this alllll the time!!
LikeLike
I’ve worn the knock-off a lot already! It’s still a bit to warm to bust out the wool one though – don’t want to sweat into the hand-wash version! 😛
LikeLike
Those street shots rock. And why would you want a busy street anyway? Then your picture would have too many people and cars in it.
I love long cardigans. They’re like a warm hug. I also like short cardigans. I’m pretty much a fan of all cardis.
LikeLike
I like your reasoning! I definitely don’t need people getting in my shot. Back off people, magic is happening here! 😛
LikeLike
Hey Gillian, your coatigan turned out great! I do love wearing covers with that sort of shape. Your pictures are pretty awesome! Almost as if you had taken off a magazine! 😉
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m glad those rushed street pics turned out, because I was not about to stick around and take more! 🙂 Way too chicken for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 It’s funny how it gets weird when you’re used to taking pictures indoors and suddenly you get outside. It even felt strange to start taking pictures at the balcony. The weirdness dissappears after a few sessions.
LikeLike
I adore cardi’s! I have several RTW versions and I was one of the testers on the Straight Stitch Designs Laurelhurst cardi. I even broke my no new knits oath in my fabric haul specifically for a sweater knit destined to be a cardigan.
LikeLike
That Laurelhurst is really lovely! I want al the cardi patterns to be mine!!!!
LikeLike
This is the first I’m hearing of a coatigan trend — thanks for the heads up! 🙂 Love the one you bought, it’s absolutely perfect. Due to having a hoarder’s garage worth of junk in my trunk, I stay far far away from styles like this, so I’m looking forward to living vicariously through you. :-p
Also, good job on taking street photos!!! That had to have been very nervewracking, but the distant city background does look really edgy and fashion-y.
LikeLike
HAHAHA – “a hoarders garage worth of junk in the truck” is a fabulous descriptive turn of phrase. Too bad I can’t use that as an example to kids in class! 😛 Maybe you’d like some kind of belted cardigan thing instead?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeahhhh, maybe not the most school appropriate analogy. :-p We’ll keep it between ourselves.
I’ve found success (to my liking, anyway) with cardis that are shaped to nip in at the waist and then flare out over the upper hip area–also cardis that stop at the natural waist. But they lack the drama of this beauty, so maybe some experimentation is in order…
LikeLike
Congrats on taking photos on the city streets!! 🙂 I love how you’re really embracing this project and providing lots of inspiration for the rest of us. I love your long cardigans and this style in general. In fact, I still have a long cardigan from the early 2000s and have been wearing it ever since! I guess now I’ll actually be on trend again, LOL.
LikeLike
I”m honestly kinda surprised how much I’m loving taking photos these days! I find it really relaxing for some reason.. like it’s just a fluffy little activity to do that has no real impact on life, so who cares if it goes wrong? And I’m shocked how little people see around them. My next post pics were taken in a parking lot and no one even seemed to notice/care, which was great!
LikeLike
The taupe is so so pretty on you and has such a great texture! Long cardigans are awesome. I have a pattern for a long cardigan with a shawl collar and by far I get the most compliments from that over anything else I’ve made which is hilarious given how fall-off-a-log easy it is! I really the square neck on yours–it’s a great line and I can see it going with pretty much everything.
LikeLike
I got a LONG (like calf-length) cardigan for Xmas about 10 years ago that I lived in until it died—so warm and cozy (and black so it went with everything) I have considered replacing it from time to time… I’ll have to think about that. 🙂
Love your street shots! 😀
LikeLike
Fantastic! I once had a beautiful very long ( like to my ankles) gray cashmere sweater that I thrifted. I loved it! They feel and look so chic. I love that you topstitched the facings and can see the outline on the front. Go you! for taking pics on the street! It’s not so bad right!?
LikeLike
Well, I didn’t know I needed a long cardigan until now . . . Love these!
LikeLike