I almost feel a little silly posting about jackets today since we’re still in long-sleeve weather this week (update: I just went outside and it is COLD!). I grew up in Connecticut, and I remember that snap of cold air that swept through in October every year. Not so in Virginia! It’s definitely slower paced here. And beautiful!
Anyway, I am always so excited for Fall so it’s no surprise to me that I had this corduroy and flannel jacket for Ellery whipped up by the first week of September.
This is the Uptown Girl Jacket by Make it Perfect.
And I love it.
The Uptown is a reversible hooded jacket that closes at the top with one button. It has a curved yoke, and little gathers in the center back, at the top of the sleeves, and in the center of each front panel. Small, but sweet details. This is the ‘Big Uptown Girl’ for ages 6-10, but there is a sister pattern (aptly named the ‘Little Uptown Girl’) for sizes 0-5. I sewed a 6 for my 5 1/2 year old and the fit is spot on.
Ellery hasn’t been able to wear this yet since for more than 5 minutes since it’s still warmish out. Actually, I didn’t originally plan on lining this with flannel, but once I put the two fabrics together (corduroy from Jo-ann, and this Anna Maria flannel), I was kind of feeling it. And then I decided to ‘go big or go home’ by using fusible fleece inside instead of the suggested lightweight interfacing. Why? I dunno… but there’s a heft to this little coat that is pretty darn perfect.
I apologize that you can’t get an idea of what this looks like from the front. Ellery was in total silly mode while I tried to take these photos.
Girl WOULD NOT TAKE DIRECTION FOR SQUAT. There goes her child modeling career.
(p.s. that skirt she’s wearing is one of three circle skirts I made using this tutorial from You and Mie. She wears one of them to school almost every day. No joke. It’s a good thing they’re reversible.)
We still aren’t totally sure about the button (see, no buttonhole yet?). The one below is a basic wooden one that I painted gold. I’m still on the lookout for the perfect one- I’ve even raided my mom’s gazillion color-coded button jars and could not settle on one. Though I did pocket some other cool ones when she wasn’t looking. Thanks Kate! 😉
Back to Ellery being in silly mode. She thought it’d be amusing if she took a sip of my coffee.
She could barely swallow it since she was giggling so much.
In the middle of sewing this jacket I knew it’d be a while until she could wear it, so I quickly started another in some lighter-weight fabrics.
Some plum pinstripe from Jo-ann (I think linen-like?) and an old stash favorite, like 3 years old, some sort of no-name cream colored poplin with stars on it.
It was so easy to put together since I had the pattern handy. I think I sewed most of this in under 2 hours. And that was with a toddler at my feet.
The weight of this one has been perfect for brisk mornings on the way to school.
I highly recommend this pattern to someone who’s had a few successfully completed patterns under their belt. The directions are short and sweet- just the way I like ’em. No, telling you to iron after each little step, or to trim your seams- something I was surprised about at first, but really that becomes common sewing sense once you’ve got the all of the basics down.
Here’s Ellery trying to button it with her eyes closed.
Whoops.
Gotta work on that.
That awesome button above is acrylic with glitter in it. She’s pretty into it.
I should mention that I was on the hunt for a little jacket pattern like this for ages, and was inspired by seeing Gail’s (her post shows a Little Uptown and the Serendipity coat- another from Make it Perfect) and Carolyn’s (hers is quilted!) versions within weeks of each other.
Those are two ladies whose opinions you can trust.
I was sold.
Seeing her wrapped in mama-made warmth is pretty darn satisfying.
-Erin
HUNGIE GUNGIE 
Oh, Erin, I love these!!! And you made two! I’ll have to go check out this pattern, a quilted version sounds great. It was 17 degrees this morning! I love that you are waiting for just the right button, too, I totally get that 🙂 Your girl is such a cutie, I always love your photoshoots.
thank you Monica! It’s really a great easy pattern. I have been thinking about altering it (no gathers, no curved yoke?) for my boy! -E
Erin, they are both so so so cute! Great job! I need to get to work on some of those circle skirts, too.
Allie- we need a circle skirt prep party. they are so fast to make!
both these jackets are great! i’ve been making my kids’ outerwear too, and i love seeing them out and about with handmade jackets and coats. beautiful job!
thanks lisa 🙂
I don’t know which one I love more! Both are beautiful and both SO ELLERY! She is a lucky gal wearing warm threads made with love.
I totally LOVE these coats! Nice work momma!
i love it! you did a fabulous job. i love the fabrics you chose! we’re in texas (from the midwest) and my kids (and me!) are the biggest wimps now. it was 68 degrees one morning and they were in winter jackets. we’re soft.
They are both such great jackets!! And I love both the fabric combos you used. Nice work!
Hope you find the perfect button!!
Both are great! I do love coats with a hood and so does my daughter. It is hard getting these little ones to stand still for us!
I just adore this swing coat! Great job!
Oh I love love love these! And you made two! For ONE child! Such an overachiever! My girls will be lucky to get one jacket (to share) by spring 2014. 😉
dude. this is such an easy pattern… you could totally crank two out!! I know you’re a speed sewer!
Oh both are awwwesome! That looks like a quick/practical/fun little pattern. Love it in corduroy and flannel, love it in the lighter weight materials too! Hmmmm this one might be going on the list. 🙂
Also for the record, mine’s a pretty awful model too. Getting her to just STAND STILL was my biggest challenge until recently…she seems to be getting better…usually.
yeah, it’s a simple pattern. my fave is the corduroy and flannel combo… so plush and cozy!
I love them both!! It’s funny, when I made my first one I also immediately made a second because I wanted her to be able to wear it right away. Sign of a good pattern, right? And the fusible fleece – brilliant! I’m doing that next time. Great fabric choices, too – I kinda love that no-name starry stuff! So glad you made this pattern 🙂
thanks gail! I’m hoping to alter the pattern for my boy by making the yoke straight and omitting gathers… wish me luck! -E
You trust my opinion? That’s a dangerous thing to do 🙂
Your versions turned out fantastic! I love the idea of using fusible fleece to make it warmer. Awesome!
HA… Let me re-phrase: I trust your SEWING opinions. Everything else, well… I dunno.
Love the corduroy jacket… looks oh so snug! And the linings for both are dreamy…
That’s a gorgeous jacket.
These are both so awesome! I’m starting to work on a coat/jacket for K too – now I’m totally inspired to finish it up!
Okay, Erin, these jackets are beautiful… the stripes and stars are so perfect together. And even in silly mode Miss Ellery knows how to rock a jacket!