Oversized old coat….
New Babywearing Coat 🙂
I have seen instructions online, but like many things, I like getting the idea and rolling with it my way. The main thing that I saw in other instructions was to buy a coat a size or two bigger and cut a panel out but not all the way down to the bottom.
My coat was a bit snug on me so cutting all the way down to the bottom and adding some material made it fit perfectly. It also gives more space for her growing…
So… my first step was to put Wilhelmina on my back and see where her head was… then draw a line on the coat were I thought it should be and check it in the mirror… The width of the opening was about 10 inches and then the panel extended all the way down to the bottom of the coat.
This is an important step: sew two parallel lines around the panel and cut between the lines so that the coat and stuffing and all the layers that may be in the coat remain intact.
This coat had a bottom drawstring and a waist drawstring, so that I could keep on using the drawstrings to cinch the bottom and waist, I sewed over the string at the back a few times to secure it. In the hole that the drawstring passed through in the bottom panel, I took out the cut string and replaced it with an elastic… That way there would be no air going up the back of the coat when it was done.
In the opening that was on the coat at the top I put in a double layer of a thick ribbed knit (same as with the side panels) this small panel is just to make the opening warm and comfortable for Willa… It is about two inches high (folded) and sewed in and topstiched. I stretched it a bit while sewing so it closes the opening slightly so that there are no drafts that can get in…
Now, working with just the panel itself that has been taken off the coat, I figured I needed about 4-5 inches of material on each side to make the pouch, so I cut out 4 pieces of ribbed knit, about 5 inches at the top and then tapering down to about 2 inches at the bottom. The length is a bit longer then the length of the panel (so that you can hem the bottom).
I then put 2 layers together and serged the edges, finished the bottom and lined them up with the bottom of the coat panel and sewed them to the sides of the panel and topstitched.
For the last piece (the top of the panel) I cut out another two pieces of the ribbed knit about the length of the panel + the width of the side panels… and about 5 inches high (so that it would end up about 2 inches when folded and sewed in) I serged the raw edge and then sewed it to the top of the panel, stretching it slightly as I sewed. Then I finished it by topstitching.
The last step was to sew the finished panel to the coat. Starting at the bottom, I sewed each side. The top part of course extended past the opening so I sewed it down and then folded it over and topstitched it so you could not see the rough edges.
I also added a elastic so the panel behind her neck would be more snug and again, protect from any drafts… it also helps keep her arms in the coat.
This is the finished back….
The bottom and middle drawstrings are still usable from the pouch forward. The elastic at the bottom keeps out drafts and the top pocket is all warm and soft for Wilhelmina…
I just put her on my back in the carrier of my choice, slide the coat over both of us and we will stay warm together. This will definitely last for at least two winters of growth if not more…
Not bad for a 15$ thrift store find, about a .5 m of ribbed knit and about 3 hours of interrupted planning and sewing… 🙂
Excellent DIY effort! No doubt Wilhelmina will enjoy being snug as a bug during the cooler weather!
It looks very comfortable and warm for her.
[…] exemple de manteau de portage fait maison est présenté sur le blog A hippie with a minivan le 22 octobre : peu de photos et des explications rapides… mais ça peut donner des idées […]
I love this idea. I may do something similar for my little munchkin (if I can find the time 😉 Thanks for sharing
[…] are also many patterns and ideas available to make a DIY babywearing jacket or poncho. I completely lack sewing skills, but managed to pull off this great little babywearing […]
[…] are also many patterns and ideas available to make a DIY babywearing jacket or poncho. I completely lack sewing skills, but managed to pull off this great little babywearing […]
you should do a youtube video tutorial! 😀 just a thought 🙂 I would love to make something like this. Unless you already do, then can i please get a link?
I would love to though I have a feeling that I won’t be needing to make one again any time soon…
I love this tutorial! I just wish I could Pin a picture of the coat. But at least I can still link back.
I am actually trying to update all of my features images to be able to pin.. hold on a sec and I will do it right away for this post 🙂
[…] Aside from the above there are also lots of products specifically designed for keeping you and baby warm that I haven’t tried. There are fleeces and coats with cut out bits to give room for your baby, and products that are specifically designed to fit over baby and carrier. A quick google search throws up lots of options. There are also fantastic DIY options much better than donning a coat backwards. Sadly my sewing ability is somewhat lacking (but I am getting lessons!).  Maybe by next Winter I will be able to make one of  these: […]
thank you for your great tutorial- it helped a ton as i made my first BWing coat!!!
[…] Interested in doing it yourself? This mama did! Check out her blog post here: DIY Babywearing Coat. […]
[…] Interested in doing it yourself? This mama did! Check out her blog post here: DIY Babywearing Coat. […]
[…] A Hippie With A Minivan adds a fabric panel to a coat, instead of mashing two coats […]
Thank you for your post. I was able to create a snug back baby wearing coat. We are so cozy! I can’t wait to try it out on our Holiday trip next week.