Ottobre Design Pattern Hack: Easy Toddler Coat

My now 2yr old needed a versatile little jacket that could stretch from fall to spring.  Something that would keep the chill out in the milder weather, but could also comfortably fit with bulky winter sweaters and fleeces worn underneath this time of year.  So I did what us sewing moms do - I hacked a pattern to make one on the cheap!

I sifted through my pattern & fabric stash so I didn't have to buy anything new.  

For my base design I borrowed from a pattern I've used several times before, Ottobre Design's Funny Dots Coverall.  The last time I made it I used minky lining with an interlock knit outer.  I originally made it for my now almost 4yr old and he & my little lady each wore it for an entire season and it still looks almost new:

For this jacket version I used anti-pill fleece for the lining with a fun print corduroy for the outer fabric.  The fun colors mean it works for fall, winter and spring seasons:

Since my daughter was almost 2 when I made this, I used the largest size (74cm) and added an extra 1/2inch or so to size it up a bit.  The European shape always gives extra growth room too, which is a big plus when sewing for smalls.  

I turned the original "snowsuit" style into a simple jacket by cutting the pattern pieces just below the waist area and skipping the placket front of the coverall - instead just extending the length of the front pieces to match the back.  Then I cut those and the hood pieces out from both fabrics.  Since I didn't have to worry about direction for either one, I was able to easily cut everything from a single yard of fabric for each layer.

Assembly was pretty fast since you just need to stitch the front halves to the back from shoulder to sleeve cuff along the top and from lower sleeve cuff to hem at the sides.  No sleeves to set in!

The trick to easily bringing the lining & outer jackets together is to baste the hood (with both fabrics already stitch together at the front) onto the outer:

And then, with right sides facing, stitch together the outer and the lining all the way around, leaving a gap at the bottom for turning. 

To attach the sleeves, I use this technique of folding over the lining like this and inserting it into the corresponding sleeve opening of the outer fabric and stitching the right sides together.

It looks crazy, but when you turn it right side out from the gap in the bottom, it puts everything perfectly together.

I used plastic snaps to finish the front.  I had some cute heart shaped ones in my stash, which echoed the small hearts in the fabric print and in the perfect matching color too.  These durable snaps make it really easy to get a restless toddler in and out of it.

This little coat has been nice and roomy.  We turned up the cuffs at the beginning of the fall season, but I'm confident it'll comfortable fit her into the beginning of next fall by turning them down.  Not bad for a thrifty stash-bust!

Limited Time FREE Pattern: Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat

Saint Patrick's Day is coming up and now seems like the perfect time to share a little holiday pattern:  My Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat!

 

 

I've made one to give to my little nephew since this will be his first St. Patrick's Day.  I also took these latest photos with my own littlest lady leprechaun and we had so much fun with it, I've decided to share the pattern here so everyone can enjoy making their own.

It can be made in fleece or felt so it's soft and washable.   Worn as a hair clip or attach to a soft, stay put headband.  It's great for babies, kids and adults.  

 

It can be sewn entirely by hand or mainly machine sewing with minor hand sewing to finish. The pattern includes all the printable pieces plus 8 pages with detailed instructions, supply list and loads of step-by-step full color photos.  

 

The mini size and jaunty shamrock detail make it festively fun.  I can't believe 3 of my babies have now worn them!  

 

I sell this pattern in my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog, but I'm offering it here as a FREE PDF download for the next week (through March 16, 2021). 

 

Just click HERE to get the Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat Pattern for free until then!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Easy To Make Loop Trim Fleece Blanket

Let's start the year off with an easy project!  Something anyone can whip up fast.  Since the weather has turned wintery, let's make a cuddly Loop Trim Fleece Blanket!

There are lots of fleece blanket styles out there, so I set out to do something a little different, but still fairly easy.  Just some straight stitch sewing and you've got this fun loopy-trimmed blanket:

I think the trim gives it a more polished finish that cut ties or just seamed edges.

And guess what?  It's SUPER easy thanks to using loop yarn!

Materials:
- 1-1.5 yards of fleece fabric (depending on size desired)*
- Skein of loop yarn (Bernat EZ Blanket, Lion Off the Hook or Red Heart Loop-It)
- Small bowl or plate
- Hand sewing needle, heavy duty needle, rotary cutter/shears, pins
Optional: Walking foot

* The faith-themed fleece was from my shop.  It sold out fast, but I still have some other pretty faith fleece prints still available here.

Decide on the size of blanket desired and cut the fleece front & back accordingly.  I wanted to make a little throw to put over the car seat when outside, so I did a 30 in x 30 in square.

Take a small plate or bowl and use its shape to round off the corners with a rotary cutter:

Starting at the middle of one side of the front piece's right side, begin pinning the loop yarn, loops facing inward, with the flat edge right against the edge of the fabric.  Do this all the way around, overlapping about an inch when back at the beginning.  

Baste the yarn in place with a .25 in seam allowance.  Using a walking foot makes this a little easier since it keeps layers from shifting.  

With right sides facing, place the other piece of blanket fabric on top and pin together.  Stitch all the way around, leaving a 3 inch gap on one side for turning.

Turn right side out and hand stitch closed.

Easy Cardigan Making: McCalls 6996 Pattern Review

Well, despite it being February, it feels almost out of season to be showing a wintery sewing project right now.  I'm going for it anyway because this may be the coldest it'll be until next Fall at this rate.  Mainly because of the crazy warm springtime weather we've been experiencing.  It's been in the 60s & sunny, despite the normal temps for this time of year being about 30 on a good day and with a foot of snow on the ground.  I feel like I'm somehow behind on my Spring sewing...It's weird....

Anyway, I made this little number for myself and am trying to get a few wears in before it's time to break out the tank tops in March (I'm only half kidding).  I really like that it's comfy like a robe, but looks pulled together to wear out.  I also like that it's the perfect length to wear with pants or leggings.  It seems really hard to find tops that meet that target, so I figured it was worth sharing.

I used McCalls 6996, view D.  I'd tried view A first but that ended up in the donate bin because the fit was so bad.  Like unfixable bad.  I think using a less floppy fabric for D made a difference, as well as the fact that I made an XS instead of M.  McCalls sizing is whack and, in my experience, should be ignored.  I've noticed this with several of their women's patterns.  They say my measurements are a Medium and it's always MASSIVELY big.  Like I was a kid trying on mom's clothes.  I made this one in the XS and it was perfect, so moral of the story is go with what letter size you normally are and forget their numbers.  

This was made from sweater fleece - basically sweater knit with a fleece wrong side.  It's very forgiving to sew and feels cosy, so good for top layers like this cardigan.      

While I love that it's not boxy & bulky like a lot of similar shapes, making the belt is key.  It's got a flared shape so it'll make hips look larger if just worn open.  Dear McCalls, most women aren't looking for clothes to make hips look wider.

I liked that this was an easy sew - just an afternoon.  The neckband/collar was fairly simple to do and has a ruching at the nape so that it lies just right.  

The medium/heavy weight of the fabric really works with the style.  Anything lighter would tend to bunch or cling to whatever is layered underneath, but this doesn't.  

I bought the pattern on sale for 99 cents and as it doesn't take a lot of fabric, it made it pretty economical.  I think the fabric was on sale too so it cost less than $15 total.  Definitely worth making.  

Free Pattern Finds: The Snapazoo Soft Toy

As much as I like making my own patterns and dreaming up designs with my imagination, sometimes it's relaxing to just start sewing.  And sometimes there are great ideas already created & ready to sew up, like this Free Pattern Find:  The Snapazoo®  Soft Toy.

Like all my Free Pattern Finds, this is a pattern that doesn't cost a thing, so you can go grab it yourself for FREE!   

The Snapazoo toy is clever design from Ross Miller Studio, Inc. that involves a two sided fabric shape and a boatload of snaps that can be folded and snapped into all sort of things.  Like this teddy bear:

or a little fox:

or a sting ray:  

Or some sort of bird/duck:

I think that's what I love most about this idea - the infinite play options.  It's been around for a while and was even sold as a finished toy years ago, as you can see from some of retro videos on the Snapazoo site.  There are links to different templates and how-to's for making it here.  For personal use only though - commercial selling is prohibited. 

This pattern is best suited for fabrics with some weight & a bit of stretch like heavy knits, minky, felt or fleece.  I used anti-pill fleece for mine.  It's a great way to use up scraps, since it's not very big.   

It's an easy sew, so a good project for a beginner.  Literally, just cut & mark based on the downloadable template:

Then stitch:

Turn right side out and set the snaps according to the instructions:

Plastic snaps are ideal because they are strong and you can get fun with the snap colors if you want.  I just used boring grey for our first one, but I feel like some of the shaped snaps in my stash, like stars or flowers, would look fun too.

There are handy instructions here on how to make various animals with it.  Including this elephant and most of the critters shown earlier in my post:

We had fun just making weird & wonderful creatures too, like this....well, I-don't-know-what:

Definitely a fun Free Pattern Find for us.  My kids love the Snapazoo, what about you??  

Got a freebie pattern find you love? Share it in the comments so we can all try it out!



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