The Pixie Pea Coat – make a coat from blanket
Have any blankets and pants laying around? I’ve got something for you to do with them! {haha} When I was asked to join the Twig and Wale blog tour and the theme was upcycling I was super excited. Super excited, but I had NO IDEA what I was going to make or what materials I was going to use. Before I get into all that I just can’t wait to show you what I made… a coat from a blanket that turned out like THIS!
I could not be happier with the result! I’m calling it the wild things coat because Rose reminds me of a wild thing while wearing it. Okay, so back to what I would make when I was asked to join the tour. I love re-purposing old things to make new {see HERE} and when I saw this green throw blanket on our couch, I thought it would make an adorable coat. So, yep I made a coat, from a blanket!
This is the Pixie Pea Coat from Twig and Tale and I may have take just a few photos… {maybe more than a few!} Check out the blog tour overview page: Twig and Tale for all the fun projects being shared in the tour. Here are the other blogs participating. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of the post {past all the gorgeous photos!} and enter the GIVEAWAY… you could win FOUR GORGEOUS Twig and Tale patterns!
The other blogs playing along…
Day one: Sew Shelly Sew – Handmade Boy –Nap time Creations – Boevenbende
Day two: Stylin Stacy – The Craftingfiend – Gaafmachine –While she was sleeping
Day three: Huisje Boompje Boefjes –Life in our busy household – The Crazy Tailor – Sew Sophie Lynn
Day four: Crafty like a Rox – The Wolf and the Tree – NZ Green Buttons –Vera Luna – Paisley Roots
Here is what I started with… a old pair of pants that my husband gave me to cut up and a green fuzzy blanket from IKEA that we’ve had for several years. I was just going to cut the pants on the seams, then I noticed the extra inch in the seam allowance so I ended up picking out most of the legs. The pants were a little tricky to make work, and I wanted to re-use certain parts so I had to be strategic in cutting.
I also picked out the belt loops to use for the button loops. The buttons were ones I had bought for another project and didn’t use. 
I didn’t have enough pants fabric to cut the back on a fold, so I cut two pieces {added an extra seam allowance so I could sew up the back}
And for the front lining panel I pieced it together because I wanted to re-use the back pants pockets for secret coat pockets. Rose can put all her treasures in these inside pockets. Because the pockets were near the top of the pants, I had to add fabric to the top of the pockets to make the front lining. 
I added front pockets as well from the pattern pieces. These are the perfect size to warm cold hands.
Okay, let’s talk about how to make a coat from a blanket. I had plenty of fabric, even from a throw blanket. I first cut off the end fringe. I wasn’t sure how I was going to use it, but knew I wanted to make a kind of wild thing coat. 
When I saw the actual pattern pieces with the button strip on the front, I knew I could put the fringe on either side of the front. {side note – I think I’m going to move the buttons over farther so the front overlaps a bit more. when I look at all these photos I think I need another inch overlap}
The design of the hood also lends itself to some super cool fringe use! Definitely a wild things jacket!
I have wanted to take photos in this incredible location for years. It’s just a 10 min walk from where we live, and this coat was the perfect project to shoot here… I just couldn’t pick, so here are several more photos. Remember to scroll to the bottom to enter the giveaway
It’s like wearing this coat from a blanket made her take on a different wild girl personality. She was super into the photo shoot. {I may have also bribed her with gummy bears…} You would never know this little jungle is right in the middle of a huge city with roads and highways on all sides… We got a few strange stares from being in here, but the photos are totally worth it. One more link to check out the blog tour overview page: Twig and Tale
Enter to WIN FOUR PATTERNS!!
Inspinration says
Oh wow Emily, this is so amazing! I really love all the details you kept (that pocket on the inside is amazing), but those frills! They really are the best, so smart!
Saskia says
Wow! Amazing jacket, and awesome pictures. She fits right in in this jungle forest…
Jenya says
Emily, I love this coat! What a clever idea 🙂 I cannot help but think of little Max and his adventures where the wild things are looking at these pics 🙂 Glad to hear your girlie had so much fun (also, sweets goa long way when it comes to bribing for photo-shoots hahaha)
Lynn says
I LOVE this coat! This has inspired me to make something like this for my grand daughter.
Sally-Jo says
This looks amazing! And what a great location 🙂 I love how the fringe looks and the colour of the blanket/coat. Very wild indeed! And the inside pockets are perfect too. Very Inspiring.
boevenbende says
I just cannot keep my eyes off your coat, it’s so special and pretty! And the wild location is a perfect match for your pictures.
Rose says
How adorable! I love how you used the fringe and pockets. I might have to copy this.
Dhana Oakman says
I especially love the fringing on the hood. Very Wild Thing!
Jill says
Such a creative way to reuse materials!
Shelley says
I really love this! Especially the fringe-ing:)
Lisa says
So wonderful! Your use of the original back pocket from the pants is GENIUS. I am so going to have to try this sometime 🙂 Tanks so much for joining in with us! Lisa xox
Carolyn Richards says
Fabulous…..i have a perfect blanket for this…..pink and purple ?…you have inspired me
Adrienn Sándor says
Amazing!
corkpop says
I love the coat! Wild thing indeed!
Stacy says
I love how you used the fringe on the coat…it turned out adorable! Those pants pockets inside are a great idea, too. Can not have too many pockets!
Genevieve says
Wow that’s so cute! I love the wild effect! Love the secret pocket!
Crystal S says
Beautiful coat, and beautiful kid! I don’t usually comment on blogs, but I saw your post from Twig + Tale and then I had to check out your blog and saw your adoption story. My husband and I have adopted two boys from China, and as I read your story, it turns out that we were in Guangzhou adopting our son just weeks after you – how neat! We were in China June 21-July 10, 2015 (and also slowed down by the visa delays due to the govt database). Anyway, I love how you did your coat with the fringe, and also the secret pocket on the inside – both my boys would love that! And I love the whole outfit with the pink shoes – so perfect!!
NicoleBlaxy says
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t speak about such subjects. To the next! Cheers!!
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Linda Primmer says
Darling little coat with a secret pocket. The fringe is so fun. Love how you think! Thank you for sharing your creative project at DI&DI.
Samantha says
This coat is so creative and cool! I wish I could make it for my kids. Thanks for joining the Family Joy Link Party!