Snowman Coat Sewing Directions!!

I received an email from Char in SW Pennsylvania and she asked if I would elaborate on the making of my snowman coat.  I had a dream and I was wearing this coat.  This never happened to me before and never happened since.  But I woke up and remembered it and thought, I am going to make that coat because I just love snowmen!!  Here are the steps I took to create my coat.

I started with McCall's pattern # 7409.  I traced the pattern pieces I would be using for the coat with freezer paper.  Starting with the front pattern piece, I started by drawing lines on the freezer paper copy and sectioning off the copy in sort of a crazy quilt pattern.  I used different shapes and sizes. After drawing in my lines, I then assigned a number to each of my pattern pieces and then I added lines and arrows connecting the pieces together, so I would know how to put the pieces back together.  This way I would know if I had my pieces upside down or right side up.   Now, I made another copy exactly like the first one and this would be my guide.  Next, I cut my shapes apart on the first copy and the second copy would be my guide for sewing it back together.  (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Now I took my shapes and cut pieces of jean material and left about a one-inch seam allowance all around the shape.  I also copied pictures of all the snowmen embroidery designs that I was going to use.  I laid them on the pieces where I thought they should be embroidered.  Some pieces I embroidered snowmen on, some I left without.  Each shape after being cutout and decided whether it needed embroidery, I would place it back on my second copy that is my guide.  I could then see where I needed embroidery.  After I was happy with my layout, I embroidered on my pieces and then I started sewing pieces back together.  I drew a line  around each pattern piece for a sewing line.  I left the extra 1-inch on each piece just in case things did not line up right.  This was the first time I attempted a project like this, so I was unsure where I was going with it.  It actually went back together very easily.

After I had the entire front piece sewn back together, I topstitched along each seam with a different  decorative stitch and a different color on my sewing machine, so it would have that crazy quilt stitch look to it.

When I had the seams top stitched, then I placed my #7409 pattern piece back on the material and trimmed it up exactly like the pattern.  I repeated these steps for each pattern piece.  Back, sleeves, etc.

 Next came the zipper, when I tried to add my zipper it looked very messy when I turned back the seam when I followed along the pattern directions.  There was the seams and the topstitching that just did not look good turned back to add the zipper. So I decided to make a placket.  I actually sewed the zipper down two sides of jean material the length of the coat then I attached that to the coat and this looked wonderful.  I also lined the coat by copying the same pattern pieces in a flannel material,  and sewed in a lining.  The pattern does not call for a lining, but it was easy to attach.  This is the warmest coat I ever had.  No wind gets through it.  I hope this helps you understand the steps I took to make this and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.  I can't tell you how many times I have been stopped when I where this coat.  Everyone remarks on it.  Unfortunately, I have lost 30 pounds and now it is a little big on me, so last year, it just hung in the closet. I lost weight, YEAH!! Can't wear my snowman coat, VERY SAD!!

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