Last week it began to  downpour as I was getting ready to go out on the daily route of errands, library, groceries etc. and so decided it was a great opportunity to test the new raincoat design.  

Well, considering the intensity of the rain,  I should have realized it was, once again, Victoria mimicking her big brother Vancouver to show that she had what it took to raise eyebrows and umbrellas but did not have the wherewithal, or interest, to sustain it.  Rain mellowed to a mere drizzle and then stopped.  But the wind continued.  The raincoat is awesome in the wind: clothing as architecture, housing the body;  it provides a cosy shelter.

This does seem to be (finally!) waterproof (not just resistant!) fabric.

I wanted the coat as seamless as possible so a single piece of the 60 inch material is used (76 inches in all);   the width from wrist to wrist,  folded at the required length from hem to shoulder (for the back), cut off at waist length (for the front).

The material is then cut in from either side to form the sleeves above (which are sewn on an angle -the only inside seams- to make a 7 inch wrist opening) and to also form  the front left and right sides which are  layered slightly over  each other and stitched for the middle front seam.   The end of the material that ends at the waist is stitched  over and to the tops of the right and left front.  I may stitch the very end to the front to form a pocket or muff but so far it is hanging free.

There are no shoulder seams,  upper sleeve seams, side seams or front seam above the waist.

Two slits provide the neck opening and I may or may not add a collar/scarf.

I added an extension to each wrist opening which can be rolled up to form the cuff but  unrolled provides a nice protection for the hands which I usually find get wet in the rain with regular raincoat sleeves and gloves get soaked.  The extension also gives a good means of opening a wet car door or trunk etc. without wetting gloves or hands.

The hood is a simple style with depth that can be adjusted with the fold;  the crossover collar fastened and adjusted with a kilt pin.

That extra material is possibly for the collar to the coat.

The pull over design is loose enough to provide easy on and off .  

I look forward to the next downpour.  Hmmm, maybe a trip to Vancouver …..