Flashback Friday - Quilted Jackets

It is 1996 and the twins are closing in on 2 years old.

During this year I found, Hamilton Book and each month that little newspaper would come in the mail.  I would look over the sewing section and usually order at least one book from the monthly budget.  Thanks to this I have several Singer Sewing Library books.

I purchased this one Patchwork Baby copyright 1994

This was one of the first disappointments from my book purchases, just look at this

I know the year was 1996 but I wouldn't had made any of this.

Then on page 80, I found this picture,

 and because of these  jackets, I loved this book and still have it.

First thing was to the copy shop, no full size patterns in this book.  Then off to the fabric store,  I mixed corduroy, quilting cottons and some cute homespuns that were popular in '94.  The red corduroy was used on each jacket.  I went with a navy theme on Kaitlyn's jacket and a green theme on Meredith's jacket.

I had just ordered the Snap Source tool with the intention of using it on both jackets.  I used it on Kaitlyn's and had trouble on a couple of snaps.  Remember, it was my first time using it, Mike said he would try to take out the ones I had inserted incorrectly..  My heart was racing, I thought after all this time, not to mention money in the fabric, have I just ruined the jacket? No worries, Mike was able to remove the snaps, whew!  I didn't have the gumption to put snaps on Meredith's jacket and just went with buttons.

I still have these jackets. I love looking at them and remembering piecing the fabric together, then assembling the jackets. Maybe granddaughters will wear them someday.

The front of Kaitlyn's with those challenging snaps.  I soon mastered those snaps and never looked back.

The back of Meredith's jacket.  The years of wear and washing only made the jackets look better.

The  jackets were made a size too big and the arms a bit longer.  The sleeves could be rolled up and then rolled down as the girls grew.  I felt this was a necessity for the time and money in the jackets.  

Here is Meredith in her jacket sleeves all rolled up.  You like her leaf?

 and Kaitlyn

The above pictures were taken at the Christmas tree farm.  The jackets weren't extremely warm, so I purchased  red zip-up hoodies.  After I bought these, the girls always wore them under the pieced jackets. Plus, always a hood available.  BTW, I made the pants they are wearing, too.  They were a bib overall type pattern.

A picture from 1996, when I realized I had not taken a picture of the back.  We were taking the trash out and they were helping.   The red hoodies were perfect for their custom coats.

If by chance you want a copy of this book, I found it Here