Happy Birthday to Bella Sunshine Designs!

I decided to sew up the Gabriella's Winter Coat but as more of a spring coat.

The fabric recommendations for the coat is wool or wool blends.

I used a linen fabric I found at the second hand shop in the form of a curtain for the main fabric, and a flannel for the lining so there is some warmth and coziness to the coat for those cool spring days. 

I love how the inside is put together--there is a back pleat that provides ease of movement and a bit of give in the lining. And, there is not a raw edge to be seen inside--which I love!

 I decided to unpick a different seam so that I wouldn't have to slip stitch the lining shut. I just had to top-stitch around the outside of the coat to close the small opening I made on one of the front panels.

I also didn't open the three inner button holes--I just sewed the buttons on top of those, so that it looks like they're buttoned up, so that my daughter won't have to button up 6 buttons--only 3. 

Since it's not spring here yet, just somewhat spring-like weather as the temperature hovers around 0 degrees, it looks like a rather wintry back drop for a spring coat, but that's all I had to work with, and no kids were frozen in the picture-taking process. 

Make sure to hop over and buy your copy of the Gabriella's Winter Coat! 

Also, see what else people have sewn up today.

Bella Sunshine Designs Birthday Blog Tour

Featured Bloggers:

House of Estrela | Pattern Revolution | Pleats & Ruffles 

Itch to Stitch | Fabulous Home Sewn | Sew Sophie Lynn 

Sewing by Ti | Made By Sara | Candice Ayala 

Seaside Notions | Pear Berry Lane | Made By Melli

Adventures With Bubbe and Bug | Crazy Crafty Haute Mama | Rebel & Malice

Sponsors:

Prize Number 1:

Bella Sunshine Designs - 2 Patterns of Choice 

Once Upon A Yard / Sew It Seams Facebook Group - Grab Bag of 7 yards of fabric

Prize Number 2 (Just for the USA):

Bella Sunshine Designs - 2 Pattern of Choice

  Bethany Lane - 3 Sets of "Cute as a Button" wooden buttons (30 buttons total)

Prize Number 3:

Bella Sunshine Designs - 2 Patterns of Choice 

Sofilantjes Patterns - 2 Patterns of Choice 

Knot Sew Normal - 1 Pattern of Choice 

Muffin Head Patterns - Any 1 pattern up to $12.00 

Itch To Stitch - 1 Pattern of Choice 

Rachel Rossi - Squared Fashion Wrap Sewing Pattern 

FABulous Home Sewn - 1 Pattern of choice 

Seaside Notions - 1 pattern of choice 

Laela Jeyne Patterns - Pattern of choice (excludes bundles)

  Pickle Toes Patterns - 1 Pattern of choice.

Enter the giveaway:

Hurry, the giveaway ends on Sunday, February 28th at midnight!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Celebration Sales:

Mabel Madison - 10% off their website with coupon code BELLABIRTHDAY until February 29th. Sew It Seams - 15% off their website with coupon code BELLASUN until February 29th. And of course, you can get 40% off all Bella Sunshine Designs patterns on our website until February 29th. No coupon code needed! Ready for one more surprise? Check the Bella Sunshine Designs's website on Friday for a new release or two!

Winter Wear Designs Blog Tour--the Provence Pea Coat

I've never sewn a real coat before.

 Well, other than when I first started sewing and sewed up a size 3 coat for my then 3 year old. I had followed the measurements exactly, re-measured my son a number of times and compared his measurements to the size chart, and was super excited. He had picked out the lining fabric on his own, and I stretched my sewing skills with a zipper and fully lining a coat. Then he tried it on. He was swimming in it. Seriously. Now, 5 years later, he can still wear the thing. I could have made him a 6 month size and it may have fit him at 3. That was one of the paper patterns from one of the big pattern companies.

So, fit wise, my first and only other coat sewing experience was a complete failure.

But, I wanted to stretch my sewing experience and when I had the opportunity to sew up the Provence Pea Coat from Winter Wear Design, I only hesitated briefly, and that was only because I wanted to be sure I could finish the coat by the time it was due.

What a different experience!

I used the size chart and according to that I graded two sizes together since my measurements spanned two sizes.

You can see the results below.

At over $40 per metre at Fabricland, I opted not to go with a really warm Melton wool.

I wouldn't dare to cut into the fabric!

So, I went with a much more reasonably priced wool suiting in a beautiful black and purple plaid.

The lining is broadcloth. I had picked out a different lining fabric from the clearance section that was nicer, but because it had no original price on it, they wouldn't sell it to me. I even asked the manager if he could just make up a price. But he refused.

Rather nervously I cut into the fabric, and then started the process of sewing.

All the different pieces make it a bit of a longer process, but really add to the shape/fit of the coat.

Other than grading the pattern, the only thing I did different, to avoid hand sewing, is to add seam allowances to the sleeve lining and facing, and then to sew the sleeve lining to the sleeve main by pulling the sleeve through the opening and stitching them right sides together. After turning it right side out again and pressing I top stitched to give it a clean finish.

I love the pockets as well, and they were definitely needed while taking pictures. It was -30 C below with wind chill up here in sunny Alberta. And, with the coat not being a thick Melton wool, it's not quite able to keep the cold out in that kind of weather.

Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to follow along all week and check out the fabulous bloggers!

1/17/16: Larissa from Connected By A Thread

1/18/16: Ula from Lulu & Celeste

1/19/16: Tibeca from Sewing By Ti

1/20/16: Kelly from Handmade Boy & Tameka from Savannah & Co

1/21/16: Essence from Adventures with Bubba & Bug & Teronia from Crazy Crafty Haute Mama

1/22/16: Cindy from Cindy Parrett & Patricia from Sew Far North

1/23/16: Sharon from Sweet Pea & Pumkins & Fenna from Fabulous Home Sewn

Don't forget to pick up your own copy of the patterns featured this week from Winter Wear Designs and save 20% off any purchase of $5 or more through the 25th of Jan with the code BLOGIT20!