Pech und Schwefel Bordeaux coat in cashmere coating

This is some sewing I did ages and ages ago, at the beginning of summer (May? Someone who knows more about flowers can probably date it on that basis), but it's been too warm to wear it. It's kind of still too warm for it now, I finally wore it the other day and was roasting. The fabric is a cashmere mix coating from Fabworks that I bought off Carol @cajuncupcake. It's very densely woven so although it's not boiled wool (which is what the pattern calls for) I used it in that way, all seams are unfinished. It feels lovely, nice and soft.

The pattern is the Pech und Schwefel Bordeaux which my sister bought me as a present. It comes together easily and quickly and the instructions were good (in German though, obviously).

However. There's a big issue with this, and I might get a bit ranty about. Which is that every single size of this is on a separate pdf. Thereby making grading pretty much impossible. I mean, why on earth would you do that?

I was actually lucky in that for once I was a single size on the size chart (usually I have a smaller top than bottom), so I cut that. Except as you can see, the body is too wide, makingf the collar not sit properly, while the sleeves are on the very verge of being too tight. If this was a normal pattern, I'd go down a size or maybe even two in the body, and up one in the sleeves. Except I can't do that, because single sizes. I mean technically I could by printing out the different sizes, and laying the pieces on top of each other, but (1) what a waste of paper and (2) who's got time for that? It's just ridiculous, it really is. Why would you take away one of the main benefits of home sewing which is that it allows you to blend sizes?

The instructions booklet actually says 'if in doubt, choose the bigger size, you can always take stuff off'. Well yes, I suppose you can but that's essentially redrafting the pattern, and that's the designers job, not mine. I'm not one for altering things after the garment has come together, I prefer to be as accurate as possible before I sew anything.

I have a couple of other patterns by this company but in all honesty I don't think I will attempt them. I would not recommend unless either you can be completely sure you are a straight size, or they rethink their pdf patterns.

Sorry this has ended up as a bit of wave of negativity, I do like the coat and will wear it but I'm just annoyed at the sizing/pdf thing because it's so unnecessary!