Cozy Sherpa Housecoat

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 2 1/2 yds x 60" Sherpa Fleece
• 3 3/4" yds 45" Flannel (for lining & pockets)
• 3/4 yds x 1/2" Elastic
• Size 10 Snaps (4)
• Yarn Skein, Ivory
• Simple Robe Or Jacket (to use to create pattern)
• Clear Ruler
• Coordinating Thread
• Fabric Shears
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Iron-On Interfacing
• Muslin, Interfacing or Kraft Paper (to create a pattern)

DIRECTIONS:

Pattern:

1. Using a robe or jacket that you already have, create a pattern. Trace the pieces of the garment, focusing on one element of the garment at a time.
2. Lay the piece you are tracing flat on your work surface. Cover with muslin, interfacing, or tracing paper. Use your fingers to feel the edges of the seam and transfer the shape of the seam to the surface with a pen or pencil.
3. For pieces that cannot be laid flat, such as the sleeve, trace what is visible at a time, drawing a dotted line where the piece folds so it is not mistaken as a cut line. Move the garment, maintaining the location of the fold, so that you can see the rest of the pattern piece. Match the dotted line to the folded edge and continue tracing the remainder of the pattern piece. Mark where seams from other pieces line up so you can cut notches to assemble the new garment.
4. Once all pieces have been traced, refine lines as needed, and add seam allowance.

Sewing:

1. Cut one of the back pattern pieces from Sherpa and one from flannel.Cut two pieces from Sherpa and two pieces from flannel for the sleeves and front pattern pieces.Cut 4 rectangles of flannel large enough for your hands to create pockets.
2. Add interfacing to the inside of the front pieces of sherpa & flannel from center front.
3. Add interfacing to two pocket pieces.
4. With right sides facing each other, sew an interfaced pocket piece to a plain one, around the edges. Leave 2" open on one side.
5. Clip the corners off, creating straight edges instead of corners, then flip the pockets right-side out through the opening. Press with the opening seam allowance flipped inside.
6. Create a snowflake design with braided pieces of yarn. Sew the pieces down onto the pocket fronts.
7. Pin the pockets in place on the front of the housecoat. Leave the opening upwards, facing the side seams; this is where you can put your hands when wearing, so make sure not to sew it closed.
8. Sew the pockets onto the sherpa around all the edges, except for the pocket's openings.
9. With right sides together, sew the front and back pieces of the sherpa together at the shoulder seams.
10. Sew the sleeves onto the armholes.
11. With right sides together, start at the wrists and sew down the sleeve underarm all the way to the hem of the housecoat.
12. Repeat the last 4 steps with the flannel as well.
13. Sew the neck & center front seams of the flannel lining to the sherpa, with right sides together.
14. Trim excess from the neckline.Sew the flannel lining & Sherpa sleeve hems together. Serge if you have a serger.
15. Pin sleeve edges up 2" to form casings, leaving a 1" opening.Cut two 9" pcs of elastic.Using a large safety pin on the end of the elastic pieces, work them into the casings.
16. Stitch the ends together, overlapping 1/4".
17. Close the 1" hole.
18. Fold the hem up 1 1/4" and top stitch it. Turn housecoat right side out and hand sew on the snaps.

JOANN HACKS:

• A tracing wheel really helps when making patterns. You can mark the paper through the fabric without messing up the fabric.
• Pin the last edge of the elastic onto the fabric so it doesn't pull into the casing. The safety pin on your leading edge makes it easy to push the elastic through the casing.