Sometimes a sewing project fills every moment so much that I go to sleep thinking about it.
This coat was that project. 



And part of that confidence has come from learning alongside my sewing blogging buddies, such as the lovely Mie of Sewing like Mad,  the master seamstress. Today, is 'Mie day' with a group of sewists, including me, celebrating what we've learnt from her skill and advice. 
For me, that has been that attention to detail really, really makes all the difference. This coat is testament to that. I've made a complete effort to sew every step perfectly, no short cuts, no quick half measures.



Missy chose the fabric - and if I'd thought for a minute longer, I would have said Noooo, don't choose the plaid, or tartan as I have always called it, as I'm a Scot . It might be a lovely Italian wool bought in a Boxing Day sale from the Village Haberdashery but doesn't it look so perfectly British? Just perfect for strolling in our lovely valleys.





This is Burda coat pattern 145. Look princess seams front AND back too for added cutting 'fun'! Extra skirt panels that are pleated! And on the back too! Faux pocket flaps! The perfect pattern for cutting in plaid ?  I was mad. Sewing like Mad perhaps, Mie?


But I did it! It would take me a whole evening to cut out just two pattern pieces. I would pin the plaid together at every 'crosspoint' of the check in order to get a perfect match on both sides. Then stare at red and blue lines for hours before taking the scissors to this.





And look - the checks match! Not just across the princess seams, but continuing around both pieces of the sleeve and across the back. I am soooo proud, I've been pointing this out to random non-sewing friends; "look! follow that red line round Missy's chest and back!" and they look at me like I'm mad.
But Mie, she would 'get it'. She would know that it's getting that plaid to flow, that 'makes or breaks' this coat as a project.




Now something very special has happened today - bloggers across the globe are showcasing their sewing skills, as inspired by Mie.
And you can see us all come to life, including a glimpse of Missy's new coat, with this incredible video created by Celina of Petit a Petit. 
And keep going to the end of this post for an extra little film of Missy, with her own special sewing tip, never, ever forget the Notches!


What I learnt From Mie from Celina Bailey on Vimeo.





And there are blog posts popping up all over the place today from my sewing buddies, take a look at some of the creations by my sewing buddies: