Making M's Coat

The coat is coming along, although I made a big mistake and had to throw out the lining. I made a big mess tearing through my fabric looking for something else to line the coat with. (It's three weeks before Christmas, and so I decided I MUST have something else I could use, as this is not the time to be spending money on fabric.) I did find something else, a soft green silky cotton blend, and I actually like it better than the bright yellow I was planning to use.

Wool being expensive, I didn't want to just throw out the whole thing, so I'm working on a plan to make the coat bigger. Ha. Funny, I had the same problem with this jacket last year, so obviously I have an issue calculating how wide to cut my fabric. (See the extra placket in the front of that pink jacket? That was not planned. This coat with have a similar one, ha.)

Reversible Jacket, Patched Pants, Pajama Shorts

New jacket for M, reversible, finished this morning just in time for 75 degree sunshine. It's alright, there will be plenty of cool spring nights. I wanted it fitted, so I'm pretty positive it will not fit her by fall, but that's alright. I made it from scrap fabrics and buttons, so the total cost: $0. The pattern is based loosely on her favorite sweater. I know now not to try to put buttonholes through multiple layers of thick fabrics - kind of a disaster. I ended up making the buttonholes manually with a zig-zag stitch on the machine.

Patched a pair of pants. I threatened to pre-emptively patch all the boys pants next fall, as almost all of them have holes in the knees.

Pajama shorts from t-shirts. I sewed the waistband inside-out on the last one. Oh well, it'll probably be more comfortable that way! I actually started these for A last summer, but E will wear them now. Yet another advantage to spacing kids really close!

 Up this next week: Raincoat for M, knit socks for A and E, and shopping for fabric for Easter outfits.