Finally sunlight

This coat needs sunlight for fine photo shoots. Today finally we had time and sun! So M took me to her favorite spot nearby along the Maas, where she use to play with her best friend.

What to tell about this coat, that M is wearing for weeks now. The wool fabric we bought together in Paris. For the pattern I had this coat in my mind. I used this Burda pattern as a base; a boy's leather jacket. No Burda misery like here! Everything was clear and I sure loved to make it. It's like magic every time you do the final step and turn the coat inside out. Hear me... every time... this is my third coat ever made!

Of course a lot of changes were made. I made size 158, but for the width I used 146, because I liked the coat to be slim fit. The border, the cuffs and the collar were enlarged. A hood was added, that can be press fastened to a low standing collar. Pocket sizes on demand of M (here my smartphone, here my cards...). I decided to make the zippered pockets red lined and waterproof, which M found a lovely touch.

Decorated with stitched red triangles to make the coat extra unique ;). And lined with a bright red color, her favorite. M asked me to make it large enough to wear it many years. I told you before she is such a grateful girl to make something for.

Stay warm, sweetheart!

Coat preview

Last weekend we went by train to Petra and M persisted in wearing her not yet finished coat. I only had basted the zipper; the border and collar were not yet sewn, plus the lining was missing. But she was happy to wear it.
Last Monday she left for school in her new coat and every day after she came home with enthusiastic words about her coat. She is such a grateful daughter to make something for!
This weekend the hood was finally finished. It took me quite some time to fix all press fasteners! Sadly we had no opportunity yet to make good pictures. For today this one, that will be followed by more (and better) next time.

Approved

The day before yesterday we went to the Plaswijckpark in the north of Rotterdam. Strange weather because, yes, L needed her new coat on her bike, but during the day it was on and off again. In the afternoon L was playing in her underwear because of the heat (she loves to feel the air upon her skin!), but some later she was very cold again.

We were glad her coat was finished in time!

Summer collection

Last week I just had to sew. My hands didn't take it anymore. Totally in the mood. A new coat for L was about to be born.
After a satisfying winter coat I decided to do the same trick again using this pattern (page 6) with a self-invented lining. This time no long search for the right fabric, but just a glance in my fabric stock, that was quite recently refilled with new fabrics from the Stoffenspektakel and from the Fragile fabric sale.

A bit more about Fragile. As I have some favorite dresses of Fragile I was keen on their fabric sale. So on a Wednesday afternoon I took half a day off to jump on the train to Antwerp, listened for almost an hour to a live band performing on the great station, went to buy Fragile fabrics and visited the city center afterwards, all alone and happy. Catch of the day were quite of lot of knit fabrics and this viscose.

But let's go back to the coat. At first I planned an ocher colored coat, but all of a sudden this plan changed and a Fragile fabric was used. It has a bit stretch, but appeared quite easy to sew.

Funny to combine a non-crease fabric on the outside and a crease one on the inside: for the lining I used a rose linen fabric, which I love because of the visible weaving. The peeping details were made in a Petit Pan leftover of this dress.

The back of the coat got a box pleat. The coat has a zipper to keep the wind out for my cycling daughter. To get an extra accent the front was finished with covered buttons and loops made of a bright cotton fabric.
Today was the first day of the coat into use. We discovered that the sleeves are a bit too long - so allow L to grow - and that the pockets could have been placed a bit higher. Wondering how it is on L? Come back later!

In her new mama-made-coat

Yesterday's photo shoot at the lake. Couldn't choose, sorry...

Lovely autumn light, isn't it? Lovely child, isn't it :).
(Btw, did somebody notice her hair is short? A little story about that: she did it herself a few weeks ago! Together with her neighbour girlfriend, who cut her hair away in the front! L did it aside, but a real lot! Later she said she actually wanted to cut the other side too to make it neatly. And big sister M said: oh, L, you cut it really straight, well done! Our hairdresser fixed the model in a creative way and now in the end we actually all are happy that L used the scissors.)

To warm my daughter

Just did it slowly. Searching a pattern that convinced me to give my daughter enough warmth during her cycle trips to school, passing the river and bridge, catching a severe winter. This one (see page 6) did: a hooded, zippered, high closed, simple designed one with nice long cuffs. Then reading the pattern again and again. I'm not a very experienced sewer; making a coat is a far away story for me! But at the same time an everlasting wish-to-come-true.

I decided to change the pattern, because of course it had to be lined. Plus the pockets had to be changed. Making these was also my first time and it felt quite exciting. But I just took it slowly as I said and considered everything I did as an autodidact sewing course. That helps.

Then looking around for the right fabric: preferably natural materials and perfect colors. After a long and critical search and some doubts it resulted in this green washed woolen fabric with soft olive green lining. Totally happy, but I wasn't finished yet, did the lady in the fabric shop tell me: I needed an extra third layer to keep the wind out. Ok, a common padded fabric was added. Don't start doing this to save money. I think this is the most expensive coat L ever had! As a matter of fact did I find in the same period a beautiful second-hand coat for L, so doubts were there again. F convinced me to go on and finish sewing. So did I.

It took me some evenings sewing the outer coat, then the inner coat and finally assembling these two, especially because I had to do a lot of thinking as applying a lining was not described... The cuffs were made in double fabric. The front, back and hood three-layered and the sleeves two-layered. Everything is ready in time to go back to school again after holidays.

Really, every step I loved, including the exciting beginners moments. I'm so happy now! The finishing touch was inspired by this great lady. Btw, the one and only button hole still has to be made. My simple sewing machine is not able to do a job like that :(. I'll ask my neighbour to use hers.
Curious how it fits L? Come back later!