Okay, so I wanted to talk about this drover coat I’ve been working on. You know, those heavy-duty coats that are good for all sorts of stuff, whether you’re out in the city or the countryside, riding a bike or a horse.
It all started when I stumbled upon this old, beat-up drover coat at a thrift store. It was love at first sight! The thing was worn out, but I saw potential. I’ve always been a bit of a DIY guy, so I thought, why not try to make my own?
First, I started researching. I looked at a ton of pictures online, read some articles, and even watched a few videos about how these coats are traditionally made. I mean this coat seems like since steam replaced sail, it becomes popular. There are so many brands there making drover coats like Kakadu, and their prices vary a lot, from around 50 bucks to over 150. That’s a big range! I guess it depends on the materials and how fancy they are. One coat I saw had a cowhide leather collar and cuffs, which looked pretty sharp. But I decided to keep mine simpler. Learned a lot about different types of oilskin and waxed canvas, all that good stuff.
- I found a heavy-duty cotton canvas at a local fabric store. It felt just right – tough but not too stiff.
- Then came the fun part: the pattern. I’m no tailor, so I drafted something basic based on measurements from my favorite jacket. It was a bit of trial and error, I won’t lie.
- Cutting the fabric was nerve-wracking. I double-checked every line before making a cut. Measure twice, cut once, right?
Sewing Process
Sewing it all together was a whole other adventure. My old sewing machine was not happy with the thick fabric. I broke a few needles, and let’s just say there was some colorful language involved.
But, I pushed through. I added some big pockets, because who doesn’t love pockets? And I lined the inside with some soft flannel for extra warmth. That was a nice touch, if I do say so myself.
The finishing touch was waxing the coat. I used a mix of beeswax and linseed oil, heated it up, and brushed it onto the fabric. It was messy, but it gave the coat that classic, water-resistant finish. Plus, it smelled kind of nice, like the great outdoors.
After days of work, my drover coat was finally done. It’s not perfect, a bit rough around the edges, but I’m really proud of it. I’ve worn it out a few times, and it’s held up great. It’s warm, it’s tough, and it’s got that handmade charm that you just can’t buy.
So, yeah, that’s the story of my drover coat. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try making another one sometime, but for now, I’m just enjoying wearing this one.
