recycled babywearing coat - diy tragemantel

This coat, about 20 years old, a present from my grandmother (but not hers, I don't want to overdo it here ;) ) has saved me in the wintermonths of my two pregnancies: Baggy and cosy. Non-pregnant, however, 'baggy' is not exactly what you would want for your coat, hanging shouldercaps (here just above the elbow) make it even more baggy and cumbersome to lift your arms.

 On the other hand I have always wanted a babywearing coat for cold winter days. Something that can be worn with but also without baby on the back. So here I went, courageously cutting my way through the coat. First I adapted the shoulders,cutting away lots of material, which in the end was missing lengthwise at the sleeves. The lining had to be adjusted and mended, which was at least as cumbersome as adapting the outer shell of the coat. I used checkered cooked wool for the inserted piece and also for the cuffs:

There are two horizontal zippers from each side to the middle and one vertical. the other vertical zipper of the same brand and length is sewn between two layers of cooked wool of the insert piece. I just found out that it also fits to my fleece jacket, so if ever I want to wear my little one belly to belly and I need a jacket, I have this option, too!

  The insert piece is somewhat egg-shaped. I applied elastic cords horizontally and around the head-support bit (it's not really meant to be supportive for a sleeping baby, but at least it is a good protection against the wind.

Horizontally I added a flap to have some more protection against cold and wind while wearing and to cover the horizontal zippers when I wear the coat without my baby and without the insert.
Actually I had wanted to pimp the coat a bit more with this berry coloured cooked wool - lovely material! - but then other projects came up... But I guess this is the reason, why I didn't post this earlier ;)

I still need to take some pics of the coat without the insert, hopefully soon... 

babywearing when it gets cold

It's freezing cold now in Belgium and it has snowed last night, so we had a beautiful , magic, white winter day today.

When it gets cold, there is always the question, what to do with your baby, how to transport her best, what she should wear so that she is warm enough. wearing your baby has the huge advantage that you have her close to you and can warm her with your own body warmth. This effect, however, is reduced the more layers of clothing there are between you and your baby. On top of that it is a real hassle to tie over a thick winter jacket. The solution is a jacket for two!

Now, for this one I used a very thick fleece jacket, cut a rectangular upside-down U into the back and 'filled' the sides with a V of polkadotted fleece. The top also got a stripe of fleece and an elastic to tighten it around baby's neck.

I made this 2,5 years ago and it's still great for late autumn, early spring. Today, unfortunately, it would have been too cold...