I was thrilled to take part in Sister Mag Patterns’ Advent Calendar Giveaway this year! For my project, I chose to sew the 32-4 Teddy Coat, and I couldn’t resist making it in a bold faux fur leopard print. I wore it to our family Christmas dinner, and it quickly became the star of the evening—everyone tried it on! It felt like a real-life version of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants… It fit everyone and looked amazing on each person. That’s the beauty of this silhouette—it’s flattering, fun, and incredibly versatile.

Why I Love This Pattern

Let me just say it: I’m in love with this coat. The shape, the fit, the vintage car coat vibe—it’s exactly my style. I’ve always adored the look of mid-length outerwear that combines both elegance and ease. The car coat, originally designed in 1950s America to be practical for driving, has remained a staple in fashion ever since—and this pattern gives it a modern twist.

This isn’t a complicated project, but it does assume you have some sewing experience. While there are no illustrations included, the instructions are straightforward for anyone familiar with sewing terminology. If you’re new to collars, I’d recommend checking out a Youtube video tutorial before starting.

The pattern itself is refreshingly simple. It includes three main pieces, plus a measured rectangle for the collar. The collar is folded in half, sewn at the short ends, and then turned right side out—creating a high neckline that can be worn up for extra drama or folded down for a softer look. I made a size 44 based on my bust measurement and only adjusted the length, adding 2″ to both the sleeves and bodice for a better fit.

Construction Notes

One of the lovely features of this pattern is how the bodice gently flares toward the hem, giving the coat a nice swing and movement. There’s a front yoke that attaches to the bodice before joining the back, and the sleeves are inserted into a dropped shoulder seam. Once that’s assembled, it’s just the collar and hem to go!

I stitched the undercollar by machine and hand-finished the top collar for a neater look. As always, I added one of my favorite woven labels from Kylie and the Machine – they add such a personal touch to any handmade garment.

While the coat can be fully lined, I opted to leave mine unlined because the faux fur backing was smooth enough to wear comfortably. To clean up the inside and give it a polished finish, I flat-felled all the seams. I increased my seam allowance slightly to 1.2 cm, which gave me more room to trim and fold one seam edge over the other before topstitching. This technique adds both durability and style.

Final Touches & Styling

To keep the front of the coat secure at the neckline, I added a large vintage snap that blends beautifully with the fabric. The coat still hangs open gracefully below the closure, which gives it a lovely drape. For a bit of flair, I added a decorative vintage button from my favorite local notions shop – Buttons and Bows.

The pattern also includes instructions and extra pattern pieces to create a patchwork version—perfect for using up scrap fabric or trying out unique combinations. It’s a bit more involved but a fun creative challenge for sure.

If you’d prefer a clean front with no yoke seam, you can easily merge the front yoke and bodice into a single piece. Just place the two pieces together with a 2 cm overlap for the seam allowance, and you’ll be able to cut one continuous front panel. I plan to try this approach for my next version so the fabric print can shine uninterrupted. I’ll be using a textile from my Museum Collection, which you can learn more about here.

A Go-To Outerwear Pattern

This coat has already earned a permanent spot in my pattern rotation. It was also my project of choice for the Design in December challenge, hosted by Nice Dress – Thanks I Made It.

If you’re looking for a chic, wearable coat pattern that’s as fun to sew as it is to wear, I can’t recommend this one enough.

After all… There is Sew Much to Design.