Winter Coat Time - Simplicity 2534 completed

Some speedy sewing has transpired around here and I have finished the child's wool coat I started in this post. Some detailed info there on bound buttonholes if you have a coat or jacket in the works. I am happy to have it done in time for the recipient to wear it for this holiday season, even though I took a detour to make my Little Black Dress.  Hey, I am on a roll these days...I better start with some gift making while the sewing is on a hot streak.

Oh I love this little coat (children's size 6, Simplicity 2534)  and I had to give it a lovely blue lining. The collar and cuffs are from a piece of velvet (luscious quality stuff) I have had for ages. No idea where I bought it and the stuff I see available today is nowhere near the quality.  Maybe next time I go to Britex I will buy a yard of the good stuff, so worth it to have when inspiration strikes. The grey wool I bought at Stone Mountain in Berkeley, a lovely weight of wool and very cashmere feeling. I know - I petted all the cashmeres when I was there. Something on my lifelong sewing list, a cashmere coat.  One of these years.

This pattern does call for cuffs and I made them about 3 inches longer than the finished sleeve length I was going for, that way as my little friend grows a bit the sleeves can be made longer by flipping down the cuffs.  

                                  

I did quilt the bodice portions of the lining with fleece, just to give it some more warmth. Not really tricky, I cut out fleece pieces using the pattern, trimmed away the seam allowance, drew the stitch lines with pencil and stitched away.  On these tiny pattern pieces it took very little time.  The piece on the left has been sewn and on the right you can see my pencil lines.

When I sewed the lining at the hem, I first pressed the lining to get a nice crease, and then pull that back and stitch about 1/2 inch from the crease to get that nice bit of ease that you need in a coat lining.

Real leather knot buttons, because after all that work with the quilting and the buttonholes only the best will do. Actually I am crazy about leather knot buttons, always have been and they may be repetitive but I tend to use them often on jackets and coats for myself.  Classic and if I lose one I can find a replacement.  

As I mentioned this coat is going to a little friend who lives in Seattle but I did want a photo of the coat now, so my friend's daughter was very nice to model it for me and she did a great job. 

Another coat finished - my favorite thing to make. Strange, huh?  but it has been that way for ages, since I made the first one I don't know when. 

Up next, some more knit tops and and a couple of mystery projects.

Plus some planting - I went crazy at Home Depot today with the tulip bulbs which were on super sale. Which is great when you are looking at all the pretty pictures on the package, but they don't grow in the package - so I will be digging some holes this weekend. 

Walking out of the store - here was the view. I had a nice moment with 4 other shoppers who were all stopped in their tracks. Beautiful the way the autumn trees show up against the pink clouds.

Happy December sewing, Beth