Glam up your Knitting with A Faux Fur Coat!

 

What really amazes me about knitting a coat out of faux fur is that it actually looks like a coat! Most knitted jackets and sweaters have that unmistakable loose drape of knitwear. The design may be called a “coat” or “jacket”, but nine times out of ten, a long knitted piece still ends up looking like a sweater! Take my Lana Grossa coat as an example:

 

This grey coat was on my needles for four years before I finally figured out how to make it come together as a wearable garment. I am quite happy with the result. As knitted coats go, I think this one is rather cool, but it really just looks like an extra-long cardigan. I will use it as a completer piece over other garments in complimentary colors, and I will likely wear it open most of the time:

The coat looks far better open than closed, doesn't it? That's because it is really a sweater. There is no coat-worthy structure here. The drape of knitwear is unforgiving and any knitted garment this long clings to the hips, emphasizing them. That is why I wear it open, over a blouse with a defined waist which really draws attention to the smallest part of my body. Notice that in the first photo of the Lana Grossa coat, where I am wearing it closed, you have no idea of the small size of my waist, as the width of my hips becomes the central focus.

 

After my experience with the Lana Grossa coat and others, I was amazed that my faux fur coat looked like, well, a real coat, with no cling at all!

 

 I actually saw an editorial in People’s In Style Magazine last month picturing a bunch of starlets wearing fluffy white faux fur coats, and I thought wow—their coats look a bit like mine!

The Olsen Twins, featuring faux fur

Boots (see more thigh high boots) Kate Hudson in a Cream Faux Fur Coat

 

It is exciting that anything handknitted can get anywhere close to the real thing. There is something about the Cincillà yarn that gives the coat good body and counteracts the insidious cling of knitwear. After my two successful experiences knitting with Filatura di Crosa's Cincillà, I am convinced this is the ideal yarn to add glamour to my knitted wardrobe! As it turns out, Filatura di Crosa has not discontinued the Cincillà. Instead, they have added new colors to the line, and I see many happy knitting hours ahead. I am going to get a lot of wear out of my coat. It is warm, fluffy and playful, all things I need more of in my life!

 

Why did I choose cream as the color? The key to this style of faux fur is that it is smooth and monochromatic, not droopy or shaggy. 

Alice and Oliver, fur vest

 

Was Alice and Oliver's vest stolen from Big Foot’s closet? Or did someone skin a favorite stuffed animal?

Kensie Faux Fur Vest

 

I personally think that the more faux fur tries to look like the real thing, the more it fails. Even with fur, we want a tailored look, and something that does not make us look like we just came from Planet of the Apes. Also, a fur piece that can be belted is most flattering to the figure, as it defines the waist in spite of the bulk.

 I am sticking with white and cream and black for my faux fur ventures.

Marie Claire's September issue published an editorial that also advises neutral colors for fur, in particular white, black, grey and brown. Marie Claire had a helpful styling section in which they suggested pairing bulky furs with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt, keeping the rest of your silhouette fitted to the body. As intriguing as some of these man-made furs are, if I want the textured color look of real fur, I am not going to "ape" the real thing. Instead, I will wear the vintage Cincilla stole which I inherited from my grandmother.

 

Comments

[Kristen]

I posted a comment last night but it didn't show up. Anyhoo, I love this post! I am so into faux fur right now and have tried on a few things in the shops but not bought anything yet. I like the idea of knitting a faux fur something instead! This jacket is beautiful!

[Kristen]

And one more thing, I agree with you about knitted coats. So many of them look like long sweaters. I hope the one at UT class will be coat-like.

[Maxi]

Your blogs are so interesting, I love reading them!

[Debby]

The September Bazaar did a feature on fur coats, most of them in odd colors like raspberry or blue...really not attractive or wearable long-term. But your coat can be worn indefinitely, such a classic style that really shows off your figure without making you look like the Yeti. What other fur styles do you have planned?

I'm wanting to make one of the chunky cable sweaters from the September People Style Watch, or maybe a fair isle at some point. I saw a sweater on the Knitty site today that has dolman sleeves that looks more fashionable than a lot of the patterns in the other fall knitting magazines, so that's a possibility too.