Since I got the new sewing machine for my birthday, I've been working on fun little projects. It only seemed natural that I create a birthday gift from Vespa to Shiloh by using my very own birthday gift! I have plenty of fabric left over from a Thanksgiving sewing project (to be pictured tomorrow with the entire spread), and I knew the fabrics would make for some pretty clothes. I just wasn't sure how I would go about getting started. Then I found it! Caes Vadios, a Portuguese blog that I found by the "next blog" tab at the top, posts pictures of little doggie coats that she makes on a very regular basis for her chihuahua, sometimes a bulldog, and even a cat or two! Nothing is in English, so I can't communicate with the blogger, and there were no patterns or linked websites for pattern reference, but I made some intense observations and tried my best to recreate one of her doggie coats that I liked. Why don't you try taking the measurements of a puppy as described in my last blog entry with a tape measure!!! It was a challenge, but Vespa and I both think Shiloh will love her new winter coat!
Once I had everything sewed together, it was time to try it out on Vespa one last time. It took both me and Carlton to get the coat onto Vespa, and we had to make sure we got it over her head while she was pretty much asleep... otherwise, she would just end up biting it and grabbing it from us. Below are pictures of my very first attempt!
The top pattern is a black and creamy-white houndstooth, and the liner (which sort of peeks out from beneath) is a bright apple green nylon. I especially like the finishing touch the multi-faceted black button adds to the wrap-around belt.
Carlton and I approached Vespa as she was snoozing on the sofa so that hopefully it would be an easy fitting:
"What's going on, huh?"
Success! It fits perfectly!
"Momma, are you done yet? I wanna go back to sleep now."
Shot from above, detail of the wrap belt:
