4.11.12

Autumn and a School Days Jacket

Now's the time when children's noses
All become as red as roses
And the colour of their faces
Makes me think of orchard places
Where the juicy apples grow,
And tomatoes in a row.

-Autumn Song by Katherine Mansfield


Done! The Olive and S School Days Jacket. It's lovely. It's delightful. It's the perfect jacket. The whole time I was sewing I worried baby would be too big for it. I picked the 12-18 month sizing. Our little darling suddenly went up to 18 month clothes and we've even bought some 24 month.

But it seems to fit perfectly. I'm glad it's not any smaller. But I think it will get us through to spring.
Oliver and s proved again to be a wonderful pattern to follow. While challenging, it was not impossible. In fact, the whole thing moved a long smoothly. I had read some sewers had trouble with the hood, but I found that pretty straightforward. I love how it turned out.
The hardest part for me turned out to be the sleeves. I did a lot of learning while I battled it out with FOUR sleeves (darn that awesome lining).

The outside fabric is a corduroy from Mill End. The inside is the softest woolly material from Joann's. I love how the two go together.

All the details give the jacket a professional finish. The top-stitched seams, the hidden "unfinished" work. The pretty toggles on the front. Wonderful.

The lining is made a little big, so there is movement built into the jacket. I just love it.
A special thank you to my parents, who came over and watched the Oregon/USC game and the baby while I sewed. Once I started I couldn't be stopped. It felt great to have some solid hours to get the jacket done.
Even better, though, was the time today to hang out with the little baby who gets to wear this jacket. And she makes it look GOOD.