The folks at the Costume and Textiles Department at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)worked with Thomas John Bernard, a theatrical costume designer, to draft several men’s clothing patterns, including this man’s coat. Originally made in France of silk and cotton plain weave and silk satin stripes (c. 1790-95), we crave this in rich purple matte iridescent silk satin fabric….marvelous for a starry late night riverside tea party. Download this PDF for an annotated pattern.

Originally published in the BurdaStyle July 1952 issue, this car coat pattern 10/2012 #134 is both elegant and comfortable! Retro detailing included gathered raglan seams, a gathered back yoke, and snappy angled slashed pockets. We love the sweet rounded collar. Make it in this casual yet chic Italian black and winter white wool tweed, and get ready for relaxed Sunday afternoons whale-watching while sipping hot spiced cider and cruising the bay. Reminder: all Britex Fabrics’ online wool coatings are on sale through October 22nd!

A mock fur collar is an elegant and dashing way to spiff up a cloth coat. Whip it up with this luxurious foxy orange faux fur from Britex Fabrics’ 4th floor, line it with sleek satin, and snuggle in for a fashionable fall. This shawl collar pattern is made with BurdaStyle 08/2012 #103.

The talented Ms. Jessyratfink from Oakland, CA made a fantabulous tutorial on how to make a wallet from oilcloth fabric. This bi-fold wallet will hold cash and up to six cards – perfect for any free-wheeling person about town. We would love to make one from some of our snazzy laminated cloth from the 4th floor! And if that isn’t enough, she came up with this tutorial for an uber useful sewing needle case – great for any aspiring or polished sewist! Embroiderers, beaders, darners…anyone who arms a sewing needle and thread would find this a practical and charming gift.

Now that October and autumn is fast upon us, it is time to burrow in your nest, needle and thread in hand. And what better accoutrement to cool weather and hot spiced cider than this set of days-of-the-week Scotty dog tea towel free cross-stitch pattern from the folks at Tipnut. Our favorite is Thursday’s baking day – make my pie cardamom pear! Of course Britex sells tea toweling on the 4th floor. Stitch a set for your favorite canine lover.

Rice and Potatoes, two multi-talented gals who worked on the notions floor of Britex Fabrics stitched this up in time for Halloween. Using only a needle and thread, 3 items and our tutorial on Instructables, this easy to make flapper headband will transform you into a glamorous vamp in no time at all! Now you are well on the way to becoming the cat’s whiskers. Shimmy into a frock, pull up your silk stockings, get all dolled up, hussy on down to the Fairmont Hotel, and Bunny Hug the night away to the “Memphis Blues .”

At Britex Fabrics we get many fabric requests, from staid grey flannel, to wacky Burning Man blue fur, to romantic Chantilly lace. Today, someone asked us for fabric with eyeballs on it, which started a Britex mad quest for optically themed fabric. In the process, we stumbled across this nifty detailed tutorial from Ohioan Jen for an eyeball pincushion. Made with felt, floss, and pins (available at Britex), this might be the perfect Halloween trinket for your favorite seamstress or craftster!

Put a peplum on it! Peplums have been worn for centuries; the word originates from the ancient Greek garment, the peplos. We’re partial to wearing them in conjunction with elbow length gloves, elegant chapeaus, dramatically glamorous vintage suits, cobblestones, and Paris river walkways. BurdaStye has a detailed tutorial on drafting and adding a peplum to a garment…now all we need is Paris!

The superbly multi-faceted Gertie from Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing: A Modern Homage to Vogue’s New Book for Better Sewing [Published 1952] is hosting another coat sew-along! Join her and her online sewing community as they learn the intricacies of constructing a winter coat. The pattern for the sew-along is vintage-inspired (and designed by Gertie herself!) Butterick 5824 – a glamorous shawl-collared, double-breasted number. Britex carries everything you’ll need for this project, including luscious coatings, sublime linings, snazzy buttons, and Butterick patterns. We’d love to make it in this spicy Dijon wool coating – perfect for a visit to the upcoming Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance exhibit at the De Young Museum.

Delia made this nifty tutorial at IAmMomaHearMeRoar on converting a sweater into a cardigan. What a great idea for taking a beloved sweater that might be a wee bit worn, outdated, or ill-fitting and spiffing it up. Grab a few unique buttons and a bit of fabric (we like using grosgrain ribbon for a decidedly retro look!), and go to town. P.S. As we all know, cardigans aren’t only for librarians.