If I were to make the hoodless view, I'd add the drawstring waist. The lack of waist definition in View B reminds me of a fireman's jacket. The split cuffs will require meticulous pressing for a professional look.
Click here to discover more about Closet Case Patterns’ Kelly anorak.
Lonetree by Allie Olson
Fabric
Sew Lonetree with midweight wovens — corduroy, twill, chino. Wovens with a touch of stretch (less than 20 percent) are nice, too. If you’re playing the numbers game, aim for a woven that’s 7-10 ounces per square yard (how’s that for precision?). If you use a heavier fabric (such as waxed canvas), skip the interfacing.
Waterproof fabric?
There’s nothing explicit about making the anorak pattern with a waterproof/weatherproof fabric. Indiesew, which also sells fabric, does suggest
emerald waterproof canvas as an option.
Design options
Lonetree has two views: View A, a jacket with a hood or View B, a hoodless vest.
Hood
Gotcha covered!
Pockets
Lonetree features four patch pockets with flaps — two on the chest and two on the hips.
Notions beyond thread
Twill tape, snaps, zipper. Optional: buttons, cording.
Kit?
Here's where you can get a
Lonetree kit. Anyone who’s already bought the pattern will be emailed a 15 percent coupon code for a kit, per this
Lonetree blog post.
Tutorials
Here’s a blog post on
fit and fabric choice, and here’s a blog post on
Lonetree pattern testers. The Indiesew blog promises posts on hacks for Lonetree. The anorak pattern is part of Indiesew's
2016 Fall/Winter Collection, and, should you be interested, there's a
blog hop around these patterns.
What makes it a winner
I love how the zipper is a strong design element in this sewing pattern! You could have fun by inserting a zipper in a contrasting color. And in my book, the more pockets, the better.
Real talk
Chest pockets over the boobs sometimes get weird. Experiment with placement before making a pocket commitment. If you want full booty coverage, it looks like you’d have to extend the hem. (But maybe a shorter hem works better for your body’s proportions!)
Click here to discover more about Allie Olson’s Lonetree jacket.
Minoru by Sewaholic
Fabric
Sew a Minoru in light to medium woven fabrics, such as cotton twill or canvas. Sewaholic delivers tons of fabric suggestions: denim, corduroy, velvet, velveteen, tweed, wool, linen, sweatshirt knits, or polar fleece. The jacket is lined; poly lining, mesh, cotton prints (if you’d like to add more personality to your jacket), fleece, flannel, or Kasha lining (a poly lining with a brushed back) are options.
Waterproof fabric?
There’s nothing explicit about waterproof/weatherproof fabric on the back of the envelope. A Sewaholic blog post about fabric options suggests making Minoru in nylon.
Design options
Minoru has two views. View A includes a hood that tucks into an oversized collar. View B omits the hood.
Hood
You betcha! When you don’t need the hood, it zips away into the collar.
Pockets
The pattern features internal patch pockets with optional Velcro closures. There are no external pockets for this anorak pattern, but there are a
bunch of
bloggers who’ve
customized Minoru with additional hard-working pockets.
Notions beyond thread
2-inch elastic, fusible interfacing, separating zipper, closed zipper (for storing the hood in the collar in View A). Optional: Velcro.
Kits
You can find a
Minoru jacket kit on Craftsy.
Tutorials
Get started with a
multi-part Minoru sew-along, which covers, among many topics, why the jacket isn’t great for plaid fabric; fabric recommendations; and how to make a full-bust adjustment. And because this pattern has been around for a while, there are TONS of online sewists sharing tips and tricks for Minoru. #inspo
What makes it a winner
I’m a sucker for the hideaway hood. The oversized collar is dramatic and functional, blocking your face from cold and rain. I’m also fascinated by the raglan sleeves, which are easier to sew than their set-in counterparts. I also love, love, love lined garments; the extra mass feels luxurious.
Real talk
If I were to make a Minoru, I’d add external pockets. I need a place to stash gloves, my phone, tissues, used tissues from my children, etc. This
side-seam pocket tutorial for Minoru looks very promising.
Sewing an anorak pattern
