Rant: I chose a heavy wool over a tech fabric for a winter coat design

I was making a long coat and had to pick between a modern waterproof fabric or a classic 800-gram wool from a mill in Scotland. I went with the wool, thinking it would look and feel better. The final piece is warm and has great shape, but it's a lot heavier than I expected. Has anyone else found a good middle ground for a smart winter coat that isn't so bulky?

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3 Comments

irisg575mo ago

Guess you'll be warm and strong from carrying that thing around.

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wendy_park764mo ago

Been there with a heavy wool coat myself. What finally worked for me was lining it with a slippery fabric like cupro or even a polyester lining - it made the whole thing slide on and off way easier and somehow felt less weighty. @irisg57 is right about the trade off, but a good lining really helps balance out that Scottish wool density. Also tried adding a wider shoulder panel to spread out the weight better, which made a huge difference for longer wear. Sometimes just a small tweak in the construction can turn that weighted blanket feeling into something you actually want to leave the house in.

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ninabutler5mo ago

Ugh, I feel this so hard! Made a gorgeous wool cape last year and it feels like wearing a weighted blanket, looks amazing but I avoid taking it anywhere. I've been looking at wool-cashmere blends for my next try, they seem to drape better without all that crazy weight. That Scottish wool is no joke though, it'll last forever even if it wears you out first.

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