Wednesday, January 15, 2014

I Made A Coat

I have always loved toggle coats.  So when I decided I wanted to make Stella a winter coat it was very easy to find the perfect pattern.  And I had actually bought the Oliver and S School Days pattern at the Maine Quilt Show this summer.  I have a list I carry on me of out of print Oliver and S patterns in case I come across one.  I don't know why I avoid digital patterns but I do.


I used a wool blend that I think I found at fabric.com but it doesn't look like they have it anymore (unless I bought it somewhere else).  The lining is quilting cotton from Joanns.  I was really nervous about making the coat which is one reason why I chose a wool blend instead of wool.  And even though it came out, I am still happy with the wool blend (wool and polyester) I picked.  It looks like wool and feels like wool.  The seams were a little tough to press but not bad.  


I made a size 3 knowing it would be large and wanting her to be able to wear it next year too.  When I was first making it the coat seemed so huge I thought she would be wearing it to Kindergarten.  But once I put the lining in it fit better.  I guess I should have known that would happen.

The pattern was much easier for me than I thought it would be.  I didn't topstitch where it said optional and I probably should have.  The hood lining slides out a teeny tiny bit but I love the lining so it is not a big deal.  I was a little afraid that it would be difficult to topstitch because of the bulky seams but when I had to topstitch in later steps it wasn't really hard.  I became stuck at sewing the sleeve lining to the sleeve because I was trying to figure out to do it by machine and with a little help I realized that I couldn't and just hand stitched.  Since this is the first coat like this I have made, I wanted to keep it simple and not insulate it.  Next time I will.  I live in Maine and I think your coats can't be too warm here. 


Stella loves the toggles.  But purple is her favorite color and she has two purple coats so I think I am going to have to bribe her to wear this one instead.  Hopefully when I make Bitty Baby's matching coat she will be more agreeable to wearing it.



11 comments:

Little Crazies said...

Beautiful coat! I have a couple of coat patterns but am too afraid to tackle that big of a project. I really need to do it before my girls grow up :)

Sharon said...

Looks so cozy! This is one of my favorite patterns to sew.

Deb said...

The jacket looks terrific. You did a great job!
I just cut one out of pink melton this afternoon and will sew it up on the weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!

Deb said...

The jacket looks terrific. You did a great job!
I just cut one out of pink melton this afternoon and will sew it up on the weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!

Deb said...

The jacket looks terrific. You did a great job making it.
I've got a pink melton one on the go. It sure is a nice pattern.

Elizabeth said...

I love it-so snuggly and warm! Aand it was so much fun to chat back and forth as we worked on these coats. And Maine- I don't think I knew where you lived before. I've always loved Maine since reading (and rereading a million times) the book One Morning In Maine as a child and now with my daughter.

motherof5 said...

I am super impressed. What a lovely coat.

Hanka said...

Looks great on Stella. You did a great job!!!!!! :)

Cindy said...

The coat is lovely! Well done.:)

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful coat! She looks so happy wearing it :D

Masha said...

Ha ha - I love that you carry around an O+S checklist! This is one I don't have, but I would like to make it. Maybe next fall for the girls. Yours is lovely!