Tuesday, January 17, 2017

That Hoodie

For Christmas I made my granddaughter a new coat. She had been over to my house wearing a coat I made several years ago for her, only the sleeves are now barely 3/4 sleeves and it is rapidly becoming a shrug.

The pattern is from this issue of Octobre. In fact, it is on one of the two covers:


As you may know, Octobre is a European (Finnish?) subscription magazine that includes the patterns in each issue. I have loved having some of these for making clothes for the grandchildren. It requires tracing the pattern from a page like this and then adding seam allowances:

Always a little daunting!
The instructions are brief but fine as it is a pretty straight-forward make. The hoodie attaches with an inset corner but otherwise it is a very easy pattern to put together.

My corner on the inset was a little wonky so I covered it with a label.
The fabric is a cotton-linen blend I purchased at Sewing Workshop this past summer. Because it is a jacket, I quilted it, using cotton flannel as the batting and a rayon lining as the back side. Then I assembled it as a single layer.



I used a separating zipper that I've worried is a little stiff. It was a bit fussy to install but not terrible. I inserted elastic in the sleeve hems and a draw string in the hoodie, as well as the coat hem. I used a cotton batik (light blue graphic batik) to finish edges on the inside. It was really quite fun to make.


And here is where the story takes a sad turn. It is not her style. And I get that. I really do. I like to select my clothing too. So, lesson learned. I need to engage her in the selection of pattern and fabric, and even the sewing next time.


Maybe she should just keep it a while. By the time it fits her, she might like it. Or not.



4 comments:

  1. Well, maybe you'll inspire her to start sewing herself! Give a man a fish, etc. The jacket is lovely.

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  2. I love this jacket! She should keep it a while and see how she feels about it later, don't you think? Small children change their style frequently. She might surprise you. I think it is a lovely make!

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  4. Lovely jacket and I feel your pain re her saying it's not her style. I am not renewing my Ottobre childrens' subscription for just that reason. My 10 and 12 year old DGGs have more or less fired me as their fashion designer. What they want now is stuff they can readily buy at Gap or Old Navy. Great fun while it lasted.

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