This beautiful wool suit would be as at home on the moors of England as it is in the forests and mountains of Oregon.

Maker Carol lives an active and rustic lifestyle and dresses accordingly; yet her functional clothing never lacks for style. Carol’s great taste and impeccable sense of design add just the right amount of panache to everything she touches, be it stacking wood, remodeling a cabin or stitching up a little wool suit. I always look forward to seeing what she is wearing when she comes to work in the ArtBarn.

The Merchant & Mills Foreman jacket, classic that it is, remains as hip, chic and practical now as it did in the ‘50s. The perfect pattern for what Carol wanted to make. Carol used Olive Wool Blend Herringbone, a softly woven suiting weight but we’ve seen versions of this style made in denim, linen, canvas, corduroy, jacquard, brocade and combinations of — from sturdy to soft, utilitarian to elegant.

Using a zipper rather than the conventional buttons adds just the right amount of zip (pun intended) and unexpected flair. Perfect how the gleam of the zipper contrasts with the matte of the wool.

Carol’s tips and changes:

• Fit the pattern to be slightly oversized so it easily goes over bulkier cool weather clothing.
• Lengthen the pattern 4”.
• Eliminate the buttons and add a zipper closure.
• Find the center front and use that as your seamline.
• Interface where the zipper is sewn to avoid the ‘wonkys’.
• Use lining fabric for the front and neck facings to avoid bulk.
• Run the facings around the neck so the wool doesn’t rub.
• Line the sleeves so the jacket slips on and off smoothly.
• Cut the sleeve lining 1/2”-3/4” longer than the sleeve length so it doesn’t pull.
• Machine stitch the lining at the hem and hand sew at the armhole.

There was just enough fabric left for Carol to self draft a simple A-line skirt. I can see her wandering the moors, can you?

To learn more about Carol please visit the About Us page on MARCYTILTON.com.