Our new School Days Jacket and Coat can be made in multiple ways: as a lined raincoat, as a fall jacket, and as an insulated winter coat with a removable quilted lining. The lining even has options. You can make it either with or without quilted sleeves.
You also have a choice in closure details. You can use either a traditional duffle toggle or a button tab. You may be happy to hear that as a courtesy for our website customers we’ve kitted up a few sets of the duffle toggles, snaps, and leather cording. We’re thinking that some of you who will want to use this hardware may have trouble sourcing it locally.
This post features the raincoat option of the pattern. One reason we decided to do a raincoat is that there are a lot of interesting new laminated fabrics coming on the market in the next season or two. We’ll do a separate post about some of these laminate options soon. Stay tuned for that.
The pattern cover features a laminated print from Michael Miller’s Dumb Dot line, which I like because it’s classic but fun. We used the leather cording and duffle closures on this version.
I especially like some of the details on this pattern: the big patch pockets that are positioned over the side seams (they’re more accessible, I think), the hood (which fits really well, by the way), and the duffle-style details. Since laminates can be rather uncomfortable against the skin, I thought it was important to line this jacket. And of course the lining is half the fun when you’re fabric shopping because you can pick something that either complements the outside fabric or is a complete surprise. In the sample shown in the photo above, we chose a printed quilting cotton that matches the blue dots of the laminate and has an interesting scissors print (I like how that scissors print looks a lot like the Oliver + S logo, too!). Quilting cottons work very well as coat linings since they’re soft and absorbent and come in all sorts of terrific colors and prints.
Here is another version of the coat I made for S using an Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit laminate. (Sorry, this particular fabric isn’t available anymore, but more on that topic soon.) You might notice that on this jacket I skipped the leather cords in favor of cording made from pink cotton fabric, which adds another opportunity for a little pop of color.
What else shall I tell you about this jacket? We decided this should be rated three scissors (out of four), not because it’s difficult but because it’s a more time-consuming project. The set-in sleeves may be a greater challenge in a laminate, and the lining requires some hand stitching to finish it. But, as always, I walk you through the steps gently and methodically. And I know you’ll love the result.
Stay tuned for a post next week on the winter coat version of this pattern and, also later on, a separate post on laminates.
Oh the cuteness is killing me. I can't wait to make many versions of this!
hooray Liesl – can't wait to try it. And if we have another summer like this one, the rain jacket will be seasonless!
a question on laminates: do they have PVC in them? if so, are there alternative fabrics that are PVC free that you can recommend? thanks!
-corinne
I look forward to your post on laminates – I could really use that!
i love the coat. So glad you decided to make one! I was hoping for this all summer ;o)
cheers!
Amélie / France
I would love to make a raincoat for my daughter. Hopefully I can get the pattern and figure out how to put it together! Thanks for the great ideas!
Oh My. I must make this. I personally own 3 toggle coats myself so it is only fair that I make some for my little one. I love the laminates too.
I can barely wait! Could you give me an idea of how many yards I would need of the laminate for a size 7 or 8? I have seen some at a decent price and would love to be "prepared" when the pattern is available!!!!
Victoria,
Yardage requirements are posted here:
http://www.oliverands.com/forums/topic.php?id=62
Todd
A wonderful pattern, just right for my grandchildren!
Adorable!
Are there adult size versions, too?! 🙂 This is sooo cute! I wish we weren't in a drought in Texas, too!